Obviously, many of them don't remember what they were taught in Driver's Ed. I just searched for tips and found it to be the same things I was told 52 years ago.
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Why do so many drivers not know how to merge onto the expressway?
- Thread starter Gregg2
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It is all about entitlement these days. "I" am more important than "all of you".
Merge onto the highway at 35mph and don't care what happens behind you
Speed up to cut in front of someone in order to catch a highway exit instead of slowing down and merging behind them
Doing 1 mph slower than the limit in the left lane of 3 lanes
Stopping a lane of traffic trying to catch an exit that you missed
All of the 7 cars that "try to make the yellow and fail"
Late moving on a green light because you were checking your likes, mad because the person behind you honked
And most of all, when guilty, make sure you flip off the person that did nothing wrong.
Merge onto the highway at 35mph and don't care what happens behind you
Speed up to cut in front of someone in order to catch a highway exit instead of slowing down and merging behind them
Doing 1 mph slower than the limit in the left lane of 3 lanes
Stopping a lane of traffic trying to catch an exit that you missed
All of the 7 cars that "try to make the yellow and fail"
Late moving on a green light because you were checking your likes, mad because the person behind you honked
And most of all, when guilty, make sure you flip off the person that did nothing wrong.
I think locale might also have something to do with things as well. I learned to drive in California, got my license (at 16) in 1986. In California there are no merge lanes on the freeway (or at least very few). You take the onramp and you're supposed to be matching freeway traffic speeds and either slip in to the slow lane in front or behind traffic. You're supposed to do that without causing traffic to speed up or brake because of you. That traffic is supposed to adjust their speeds and allow you to merge safely.
Arizona, where I have lived for 24 years has merge lanes. You are supposed to reach the speed of traffic and then move over. According to what my son was taught (he has his license and will be 21 later this month), those merging on to the freeway have to adjust to you in the slow lane. So, if you're cruising along in the slow lane, you can legally be a dick and not adjust your speed to allow others in.
I've just stuck with my California training and if I'm driving in the slow lane I match speeds to those merging from the merge lane so there isn't any issues. But technically, under AZ law, I don't have to do that.
Arizona also doesn't have an anti-gridlock law like California does. In California, it's illegal for traffic to block entrances and exits. You have to leave space. Not illegal here in AZ. You can block people trying to enter or exit all you want.
Arizona, where I have lived for 24 years has merge lanes. You are supposed to reach the speed of traffic and then move over. According to what my son was taught (he has his license and will be 21 later this month), those merging on to the freeway have to adjust to you in the slow lane. So, if you're cruising along in the slow lane, you can legally be a dick and not adjust your speed to allow others in.
I've just stuck with my California training and if I'm driving in the slow lane I match speeds to those merging from the merge lane so there isn't any issues. But technically, under AZ law, I don't have to do that.
Arizona also doesn't have an anti-gridlock law like California does. In California, it's illegal for traffic to block entrances and exits. You have to leave space. Not illegal here in AZ. You can block people trying to enter or exit all you want.
Personally, I put distance between the vehicle in front of me so I can control my speed and merge with traffic. Gives me room to let an 18 wheeler pass and not get forced off the road, or drop the hammer if I see an opening to slide over. You would be amazed how many people flash their lights behind me when there is more than 1 car length in front of me. The people who are in too much of a hurry because they are late, should consider starting their day a bit earlier or leave earlier to give themselves more time. As a consequence, my insurance rates are lower than anyone else I compare too.
Depends on the traffic but in any case merging traffic must yield to cars already established on the freeway (California law). But to answer the question, because most drivers are ***holes.
In fact, that was one thing my instructor taught me not to do when already on the expressway. I was told to maintain my speed, not to brake or coast or accelerate. This gives the merging driver a constant, not something variable and unpredictable.
What hacks me off is drivers who are "merging" at a lower speed and expect the other drivers to stay out of their way. Then, once on the freeway, they decide, after a few seconds, to accelerate to the freeway speed, that is, usually at least 10 mph faster than the speed limit.
Yes, this is what my son was also taught. And if traffic is light and I happen to be in the slow lane then I tend to maintain my speed.
But with traffic in Arizona, most people coming over from the merge lane tend to just 'merge' without thought. They want on the freeway and they will plow through you to get there. If you maintain your speed you're going to end up rear-ending someone. For this reason, I stay out of the slow lane until just before my exit.
I hate these merge lanes in AZ as they are one of the biggest factors in causing traffic jams. Part of the problem is that these lanes go from one major cross street to another major cross street. So, people who aren't actually going to get on the free way use them as a way to avoid stoplights on surface streets. So you also have to be aware then that the car hanging out in the merge lane might not actually be getting on the freeway.
That's interesting. I've wondered why our merge and exit lanes are not continuous between two consecutive streets. I guess it must be to avoid the ambiguity. People still use the freeway to avoid street traffic, getting off at the next exit as you describe. Now, there are probably a few places here that have the continuous extra lane, but most merge lanes end before the next exit.
For traffic flow and driver safety these lanes should not be shared.
Cars on the freeway should not be jockeying to get in/out of the far right lane to exit/enter a freeway. There should be one acceleration lane to merge on, and a separate lane used to exit - - -with rare exceptions.
This fits like a glove in DFW, TX!!
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Do you happen to remember back in the 80's that Central Expressway had these lights that were supposed to provide the perfect timing to get on the freeway?
They didn't.
There's a "lovely" blend of people where I am. Some will plod along slowly, hold up dozens of cars, and refuse to pull over. Others come up behind me (while I'm going at the limit) and pass as soon as possible.
But there's one stretch of road near me that seems to attract speeders. There are two lanes in each direction, and the limit is 50. There's a "50 ahead" sign. Then a normal 50 sign. Then an electronic sign that flashes "50" if you're going faster than 50. Every time I've been on this road and driven at the limit, someone has passed me. My car can tell me the speed of other cars, and around six weeks ago I clocked someone going 92. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I learned of a fatal crash on that same stretch of road where someone was going at around 130.
I work as traffic guard (typically something Dutch) and I see so many people that have no idea how to drive. It's not only merging, but also basic traffic sings.
People are dumb on the road and it's dangerous sometimes.
People are dumb on the road and it's dangerous sometimes.
Traffic control is a terrible job. I would lose my mind and start kicking cars.
This is the sticking point. Most people think they are entitled to drive in the left lane if they are going the speed limit.
But the laws (at least in the US) regarding impeding the flow of traffic don't address what speed you are going. So even if you are going the limit (or even over), you can be cited for impeding the flow. Small chance of that, but the way the laws are written, it is a possibility.
I'm surprised to see that in some places, the law is even stricter than that:
Left-Lane Driving Laws by State: What You Should Know (2024) | AutoInsurance.org
Most states have left-lane driving laws, resulting in fines of up to $1,000. Learn why states ban left lane driving and find all the states with left lane laws here.
www.autoinsurance.org
Although there is no mention of the issue of merging in their categories, I imagine that you're allowed to move left if you are giving someone room to merge even in the "red states". (see link for map) I don't think any state requires you do to that.
Just the other day I observed a driver moving over to let a merging car into the right lane. Then that courteous driver wanted to get back into the right lane, and struggled to do so in time to make the next exit. It would have been better to maintain speed and position and force the merging driver to fall in behind.
Not in California. I wish the laws authorized drivers to use the number 1 lane only when actively overtaking another car on highways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
I'm surprised to see that in some places, the law is even stricter than that:
Left-Lane Driving Laws by State: What You Should Know (2024) | AutoInsurance.org
Most states have left-lane driving laws, resulting in fines of up to $1,000. Learn why states ban left lane driving and find all the states with left lane laws here.
But laws as written don't mean much if they aren't enforced. It is much easier to nail someone doing 12 over on an empty interstate than it is to go chase down someone impeding traffic flow.
I-17 here in AZ is the worst. Up in the hill country where at the crest of one hill you can see down the valley and up the other side, there will be maybe a half dozen trucks in the right lane and everyone else in the left. But no one between the trucks wants to move into the right lane because they know when they get to one of these trucks, they won't be able to get back in the left lane to get around.
And cops they patrol are far and few in that stretch of road. Except if you are the unlucky schlimiel to get caught.
And only having been here a year and a half, I am not sure what it takes to get their attention. I know I came over a rise at at least 15 over and got nailed with laser. Not fast enough to get him to chase me down and give me a ticket.
Back in college I dated a girl who's dad was a FL Highway Patrol. This was just as states were getting to raise limits from 55 and he told me that if you were doing under 80, they didn't have time to mess with you because there were too many people doing 90-100.