Tips for merging

We'll keep that in mind next time we all drive our RVs on the Autobahn. Thank you. ;)

Well, driving slow on left freeway lane is legal in most of the states.
DON'T try that on autobahn. German Police cares about road safety.

JumboJet wrote:

Now we need another thread on driving below the speed limit in the left hand lane. The one where the old fart says "I pay taxes and drive where I darn well please!"

Georgia recently passed the slow poke law. If your'e in the way you get a ticket.

Vulcan Rider wrote:

When both parties in a fight are aggressors, they both go to jail.....usually.

Since when is a driver an aggressor simply for driving down the highway?

Except for being egotistical and confrontational, why would you NOT cooperate and give just a little when you easily can ??

Because many times you can't. I'll give you an example. Driving down the highway I had a row of semis running the middle lane. I couldn't merge into the center lane if I wanted. Me driving in the slow lane at 5mph under the speed limit at 65 and have a semi on my behind because I'm doing 65.. Here comes a motorhome up the ramp, doing about 40mph and really not accelerating. There is no room in front of me for him to merge as there is a row of cars in front of me and I'm maintain speed. I had no where to go and he does what many here do. He ends up trying to merge at 40 mph and he ends up next my side entry door at the end of the ramp. He did the smart thing and drove down the break down lane until he tucked in behind the row of semis behind me. 15 or so miles down the road pulls up next to me and gives me the finger. Really?

Just because the law says you have the "right of way" does not necessarily mean that you should insist on exercising it.

Maintaining your speed on the highway is not "insisting". That's what they want you to do, not jamming on your breaks because some idiot has their own theory on merging. Why do you think they call it the "right of way", because they expect people to follow the rules of the road and learn how to merge properly. You know they tell you what to do if you you have to yield the right of way. You know why they do that? They want you to follow the rules of the road and not some made up merge that not everyone can agree on.

I love this thread. Merging traffic brings out either the best in us or the worst in us. Maybe a little in between. Pedal to the metal and skill at timing the traffic works. Nervous nellies create chaos.

Now we need another thread on driving below the speed limit in the left hand lane. The one where the old fart says "I pay taxes and drive where I darn well please!"

mpierce wrote:
Same as above. Usually merging with my Peterbilt long hood pulling a 53' Reefer behind it. Makes my 40' Bluebird seem tiny! No problem. Biggest key is SPEED! Get up to the speed of the traffic. If you do, then you only need a little hole to fit into. However, if you are only doing 20mph, and the traffic is doing 65, you need a BIG hole! MUCH more dangerous.

good thing you told everyone it is a long hood, and a 53 ft trailer, and that you drive a 40 ft bluebird. you da man

That's correct, it's not who's right,...it's who's left.

creeper wrote:
or think it's others jobs to get out of their way.

The other side of that coin is:
It IS their job to not purposely get IN the way.

When both parties in a fight are aggressors, they both go to jail.....usually.

Except for being egotistical and confrontational, why would you NOT cooperate and give just a little when you easily can ??

Just because the law says you have the "right of way" does not necessarily mean that you should insist on exercising it.

turbojimmy wrote:

creeper wrote:
And that would be the exact reason I have a dash cam, for those who are going to force their way around the interstate or think it's others jobs to get out of their way.

Careful with that - it works both ways. A friend of mine is a local attorney that works with a trucking union. Despite that fact that people think they are enforcing "the law" by not letting others in, if the camera shows you could clearly see the merging vehicle's intention and made no attempt to avoid a collision, or worse made sure you closed any gap they had, it would work against you in court.

it's a blood sport.

I'm not closing any gap with me being 55 ft long, I just don't have that kind of acceleration. Their intention does not matter they have to yield to me, closing a gap on purpose could be an issue. Then again, I don't have to hand over any video, but I don't see any need that I wouldn't. Then again the dash cam doesn't show what is behind or to my left. Since I've been using dash cams since the late 80's they've never hurt me, but helped me on a number of occasions. I drive below the speed limit at 30,000 lbs, maintain my speed and don't change lanes often.

The OP can see that a good portion of the replies here are about merging into traffic by pushing their way in or enforcing their will upon by intimidation to let them merge. Causing an accident and acting like may have you end up in handcuffs.

In the end obey the law on merging and if you can't merge either stop until you can (which is the law) or use the break down lane to merge. Any response about forcing your way in or making your own hole are just idiotic, dangerous and unlawful. It's really not hard, the me first attitude is what makes it hard and dangerous.

I do notice if there is a patrol car in the immediate area these "i'll push my way in" kind of drivers all of sudden learn how to merge properly.

There is no blind spot if you do as others said !Move that head !Also indicate w ith signals you are planning to come out an do it early.You will observe the truck drivers probably also use his signal to indicate he will move overFOR YOU.It is how we 53ft drivers show courtesy to others.HOWEVER REMEMBER HE AN OTHERS ARE DRIVING 60===70 MPH AN THERE MIGHT BE VEHICLES AT HIS LEFT SIDE or right depending on right or left ramp AN HE CAN NOT MOVE OVER FOR YOU.It is your responsibility to recognise that an you must YIELD.