What is a critical factor to consider with heavy vehicles when merging into traffic?

A critical factor to consider when merging a heavy vehicle into traffic is ensuring there is a sufficient gap size in traffic. Heavy vehicles, due to their size and weight, require more time and space to safely merge than standard passenger vehicles. If a driver attempts to merge without a proper gap, it can lead to unsafe situations, including the risk of collisions with other vehicles, as they may need to slow down or stop suddenly to accommodate the merging vehicle.

In addition to finding an adequate gap, factors like signaling intentions, adjusting mirror angles, and accelerating quickly are important for safety and communication with other drivers. However, without first ensuring that there is enough space to merge safely, the effectiveness of those actions diminishes, and the risk of accidents increases significantly. Therefore, the gap size remains the most critical consideration for heavy vehicles merging into traffic.