Merging onto an Interstate

08UltraRider wrote:

NHIrish wrote:
Actually, the key word is yield. That's the law in most states...and most drivers fail to yield when they enter the highway.

Perhaps a lot of the problem is that this is law in a lot of the states like you say but many and where I come from both drivers SHARE the right of way. It's up to the driver in the right lane to either move over (if possible) or make room for the driver merging. It's up to the driver merging to move into that gap. If we are required to yield right of way than to merge then there will be a Yield sign.

Unfortunately.... there are many here who cannot grasp this concept where they will either refuse to let someone merge or will stop on the onramp piling up traffic behind them.

In the boating world, they have changed the terminology to the "stand on vessel" and it applies equally well here. It doesn't change the rules it just eliminates the misperception that as the vehicle with ROW, you get to mess with the other drivers.

It is still very important that drivers know what to expect from other drivers. The driver in the right lane is obliged to maintian a steady speed, so the merging traffic can pick a gap.

Have you ever been trying to merge and suddenly the vehicle in the right lane decides to "help" you out and speed up while you are accelerating to get in front of them...then you slam on the breaks to get behind them but at the same time, they realize you were trying to get in front, so they slam on thier brakes...

If you are in the right lane, your responsibility is to hold a steady speed. The merging vehicles responsibility is to find a gap and match speed.