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Why do so many drivers not know how to merge onto the expressway?
- Thread starter Gregg2
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What were you told decades ago? Not asked in an adversarial manner.
What I see as the proper merge technique is to speed up to traffic speeds and slot yourself in. Sometimes the merge lane is way to short, but stopping does not work unless it is to avoid collision. The thing is technically when entering the highway, you don’t have the right of way, although some drivers seem to think they do. And on the other hand, those on the highway should be somewhat flexible to allow those entering traffic to get into the traffic without having to come to a complete stop.
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Ok, now that the survey probably has all the answers it's going to get…
What I was taught is to match my speed to the traffic on the expressway as I'm preparing to merge. Select an open spot that I can claim, and merge. If the right lane is jam-packed, I might have to slow down to let someone get ahead of me, then accelerate again to get behind that car.
Most people have picked that option in the survey. The two that didn't probably chose a "wrong" answer as a joke.
What I was taught is to match my speed to the traffic on the expressway as I'm preparing to merge. Select an open spot that I can claim, and merge. If the right lane is jam-packed, I might have to slow down to let someone get ahead of me, then accelerate again to get behind that car.
Most people have picked that option in the survey. The two that didn't probably chose a "wrong" answer as a joke.
Something new (the past year or so) I'm seeing are people exiting from the left lane----to a right lane exit. Sometimes they will cross 3 lanes at the last second from the left lane to exit. I rarely would see this happen a few years ago, but now I'm seeing this at least once a day. Seriously, properly exiting is simple common sense....
Yes, that kind of reckless driving is common where I live also. Many such drivers end up crashing and then running away on foot, if lucky enough to be able to do so. These are usually stolen vehicles, and the drivers/passengers are often young men in their teens or early twenties.
I drive 5 to 8 mph faster than the speed limit on the expressway. I don't pass many cars, most cars pass me. I'm the "slow" driver.
Just had another clueless merger encounter. I needed to stay in the right lane, and maintained my speed. This driver, who turned out to be female, came down the ramp and apparently expected everyone to accommodate her speed so that she could just move over without checking the traffic already flowing on the expressway. Alas, she was required to use that other pedal and move in behind me. She then used the center of her steering wheel.
Just had another clueless merger encounter. I needed to stay in the right lane, and maintained my speed. This driver, who turned out to be female, came down the ramp and apparently expected everyone to accommodate her speed so that she could just move over without checking the traffic already flowing on the expressway. Alas, she was required to use that other pedal and move in behind me. She then used the center of her steering wheel.
I drive 5 to 8 mph faster than the speed limit on the expressway. I don't pass many cars, most cars pass me. I'm the "slow" driver.
Just had another clueless merger encounter. I needed to stay in the right lane, and maintained my speed. This driver, who turned out to be female, came down the ramp and apparently expected everyone to accommodate her speed so that she could just move over without checking the traffic already flowing on the expressway. Alas, she was required to use that other pedal and move in behind me. She then used the center of her steering wheel.
How would that have gone if she had been driving a large tractor trailer?
Discretion is the greater part of valor.
The law of gross tonnage generally always prevails.
It has brakes also. If she had the proper license for the rig, she would know how to merge properly.
My father taught Driver's Education when it was still offered in HS, so I always had a Driver's Education teacher with me when he was in the car .....not always appreciated :0)). The 91% accurate response is heartening. There are, however, the occasional times when you are accelerating to merge and heavy traffic in multiple lanes leaves no way to merge, so you have to slow down or stop and wait for an opening. Nothing to be done about that. So many merging drivers now try to "beat you" by speeding up and forcing themselves into your lane when you are blocked by traffic from moving over to allow them in, which causes you to have to hit the brakes or slow down to avoid an accident.
Honestly, I’ve noticed that recently too. No idea where that behavior is coming from. But I’ve also had people blow by me on the shoulder while I was cruising +5mph in the right lane. Happened twice in the last week. Like, WTH!?
The US is way too lenient with reckless drivers, in part, because you basically can’t work without a vehicle here due to the lack of a good mass transit infrastructure in most areas. I know several people that don’t have licenses because of DUIs, etc and just risk it daily. Crazy.