Highway merging rant
I guess I’ll never stop being amazed how most people merge onto highways from on-ramps. It practically never fails – here I am almost exclusively in the right hand lane, where I’m legally supposed to be pulling @ 60 mph, approaching an on-ramp, watching the cars coming about to merge and they aren’t looking at my slow-going 50 feet + mass taking up the very lane they wish to occupy until they are in the shadow of my rig. What to do? Well, you could easily step on this thing called the accelerator and take advantage of the several hundred feet left of your merge lane and be on your merry way (believe me, there is ALWAYS space ahead of me when you drive at my speed), but no, you must slam on your brakes (creating a dangerous situation with others trying to merge) and go all the way around me eventually passing me up on left hand side. Oh, by the way, it’s almost always impossible for me to simply “move over” to the other lane, clearing the way for these merging folks.
When I’m merging while not pulling, you better believe I’m scoping the traffic flow and if I see some honking semi or RV rig moving along in my merge lane, I’m making sure I’m positioned in a way that will benefit me and avoid being stuck broadside with these type of vehicles.
Now look – I know there are times when traffic is bad enough this method is not possible. And yes, I know there are some without the flexibility in their necks to allow this “look over the shoulder”. These situations are exempt. But I’m not talking about these! I’m talking about 80% of the people merging onto the highways when traffic allows them to completely avoid this. It happens time and time and time again, over and over.
Considering most everyone reading this pulls something or operates a large vehicle - you MUST see the same thing I’m expressing here…
When I’m merging while not pulling, you better believe I’m scoping the traffic flow and if I see some honking semi or RV rig moving along in my merge lane, I’m making sure I’m positioned in a way that will benefit me and avoid being stuck broadside with these type of vehicles.
Now look – I know there are times when traffic is bad enough this method is not possible. And yes, I know there are some without the flexibility in their necks to allow this “look over the shoulder”. These situations are exempt. But I’m not talking about these! I’m talking about 80% of the people merging onto the highways when traffic allows them to completely avoid this. It happens time and time and time again, over and over.
Considering most everyone reading this pulls something or operates a large vehicle - you MUST see the same thing I’m expressing here…
