Tips for merging

turbojimmy wrote:

Signal your intention and make a move to your intended lane. The seas will part. Otherwise you'll find yourself in a worse position being stopped in an acceleration lane with cars behind you going around you thus doubling the danger.

What if they can't move? I've seen two tractor trailers side by side heading towards me while I'm on the ramp. Sometimes, it's simply impossible for them to move out of the slow lane. What if there is construction and it's one lane only and you are merging on to that one lane and an identical MH towing an identical toad is in that lane? Who moves then?

GMandJM wrote:
So, Zach (OP): Have you gained any confidence and/or knowledge on merging into traffic?

Or have we managed to scare you off?

Haha. I think somewhere in mix there are a couple posts that actually addressed my particular question. ;)

Don't know if it still exist, but years ago I was on long vacations in Athens, Greece.
The main street, 3 lanes in each direction street had 70kph=45 mph speed limit.
When we stop at red light, we had 3 lanes for moving straight ahead, plus 1 line for left turn plus 1 line for right turn.
So when the green light comes on, the cars rev high, burn the rubber and all 5 lanes of the cars move straight forward into 3 traffic lanes on other side of the interaction.
they all merge with no accidents and smiles on the faces.
It is the skills.

So, Zach (OP): Have you gained any confidence and/or knowledge on merging into traffic?

Or have we managed to scare you off?

Reader1 wrote:
Well... since I will be no help and my "scared" noises don't help my husband, I close my eyes and count 60 seconds. By the time I open my eyes we are already down the road. (True, but I thought I would lighten up the mood a little here.)

Very nice try. :)
But I'm afraid nothing will derail this runaway train. :E

turbojimmy wrote:

Signal your intention and make a move to your intended lane. The seas will part. .

And what happens if they don't move?

Another failure of a driving test and just a dangerous attitude. It's odd that so many here just push their way into traffic, I've never had that problem, I don't cut people off, I don't push my way in or cut people off. Oh, that's right I was a commercial driver and know how to merge properly. If you have to stop, that's what you're supposed to do, BY LAW. You MUST Yield to the traffic, they don't yield for entering traffic. Rules of the road.

You should be planning your merge as soon as you can see the highway, not when you're half way down the ramp. It's just a new thing where people expect drivers with the right of way to get out of the way and if they don't it's okay to push them out of the way.

Vulcan Rider wrote:
Tip #3: Do not try to make a hole where there isn't one.

The problem with this logic is that it assumes that a) holes exist and b) any holes that might exist aren't immediately closed by drivers that don't want to be behind your massive RV. In many situations, if I waited for holes I'd have to pull over to the shoulder and wait until the middle of the night until there's no traffic.

Signal your intention and make a move to your intended lane. The seas will part. Otherwise you'll find yourself in a worse position being stopped in an acceleration lane with cars behind you going around you thus doubling the danger.

Tip #1: Get as close to the prevailing speed on the main road as possible (Pedal to the metal).

Tip #2: Find an available hole in the traffic and TAKE IT (assuming that you are close to the right speed.)

Tip #3: Do not try to make a hole where there isn't one.

Tip #1: Put the pedal to the metal as early as possible.

Tip #2: If you're nearing the merge point (and the vehicle in the through lane isn't bigger than you), make a feint toward merging. As your vehicle gets to the lane line, the other vehicle may either step on the accelerator or brake and let you in.

rgatijnet1 wrote:


Exactly! In every state, the drivers on the interstate highway always have the right of way. Any vehicle merging must yield.

This is true but then you get people who actually believe statements like this, " If there IS a space in traffic, that becomes my merge point. If some moron closes that gap in the few seconds that it takes me to get into it.......THAT IS HIS PROBLEM AND NOT MINE."