Traffic challenge

dodge guy wrote:
Yep, it`s called "failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident" it can be written on the merging vehicle as well as the vehicle on the hwy!

It is the job of the person behind the wheel to keep things safe, for both you and the people around you. If this means slowing down, speeding up or changing lanes then that`s what you have to do. I believe that was covered in drivers ed!

In Texas you have no obligation to slow down. The law clearly states that the traffic on the highway has the right of way.

Sec. 545.061. DRIVING ON MULTIPLE-LANE ROADWAY. On a roadway divided into three or more lanes and providing for one-way movement of traffic, an operator entering a lane of traffic from a lane to the right shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle entering the same lane of traffic from a lane to the left.

This law applies to traffic entering the freeway as well as lane changes. The person on the right has the responsibility to not create the accident. It's pretty simple. If a vehicle merging from the right hits you, it's their fault. The transportation code also gives the person entering the freeway options to temporarily ride the shoulder if necessary.

Sec. 545.058. DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER. (a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:
...
(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;
...
(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
...
(7) to avoid a collision.

This has all been interesting, but the OP was talking about a situation where he had no choices other than to maintain his speed, not move over and hope for the best.

Still of the opinion that a the best offense is a good DEFENSE, so when push comes to shove, if I have a choice I'll either move over, slow down or speed up depending on the situation....the avoidance of an accident is the main objective.

Side note, personal opinion is that 67 is a bit faster than most of us travel and I am not comfortable at that speed....I feel less in control of the truck and trailer. Traveling speed is a topic that has been beaten to death and hope this doesn't start another.

Safe travels, all.

valhalla360 wrote:

Heymon wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

I'd have to dig it up but unless your state makes an exception to the uniform vehicle code, you are required to hold a steady speed when someone is merging in.

As I've said in previous posts, if you can move to the left, that's fine and probably better (though not a requirment) BUT that wasn't available to the OP because there was a semi in that lane and while it's nice to say you would never get in that position, sooner or later it will happen.

Also, if you are going to hang in the middle lane, make sure you are keeping up with the faster traffic. Yeah, you will burn some extra gas but if you run a 55 in the middle lane and they want to go 70 you are creating a new safety problem.

You can dig if you want, but I do not know of any rule that "requires" you to maintain a speed in this case. The vehicle that is already on the freeway has the right of way over the vehicle trying to get onto the freeway, that much is true. But I defy any officer or anyone else to cite someone who slows down to allow a person to merge ahead of them. Stubbornly keeping a speed when it is all too obvious that someone will be hitting you can actually end up having you at least partially at fault for an accident for failing to take available evasive action.

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As I said, states can override sections of the code but most follow it.

Worst case senario if there is an accident and you were clearly not holding a steady speed, you can still be held accountable for intentionally blocking the merging vehicle at that point it won't matter.

Yep, it`s called "failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident" it can be written on the merging vehicle as well as the vehicle on the hwy!

It is the job of the person behind the wheel to keep things safe, for both you and the people around you. If this means slowing down, speeding up or changing lanes then that`s what you have to do. I believe that was covered in drivers ed!

In the almost 15 years of RV`ing I`ve never had an issue at an entrance ramp! I don`t know how or why so many here have issues? I keep my speed set around 67mph. this keeps me at the same speed as the semis rarely do I have to vary my speed by more than a couple MPH. I would much rather travel at that speed than travel slower and stay parked next to a semi for hundreds of miles! this also allows me to let in the people that don`t know how to merge at an entrance ramp. whether they are supposed to merge or not doesn`t matter to me, I would rather be the one to change lanes to let them in. it`s called defensive driving, which is probably why I have never had a close call in all these years.

Yes during rush hour you don`t have much of a choice, but traffic is usually traveling around 30-40 mph so it is a non-issue.

Yes I have traveled I65, several times!, all the way down to Louisville KY. I65 is one of the easiest drives out there.

Heymon wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

I'd have to dig it up but unless your state makes an exception to the uniform vehicle code, you are required to hold a steady speed when someone is merging in.

As I've said in previous posts, if you can move to the left, that's fine and probably better (though not a requirment) BUT that wasn't available to the OP because there was a semi in that lane and while it's nice to say you would never get in that position, sooner or later it will happen.

Also, if you are going to hang in the middle lane, make sure you are keeping up with the faster traffic. Yeah, you will burn some extra gas but if you run a 55 in the middle lane and they want to go 70 you are creating a new safety problem.

You can dig if you want, but I do not know of any rule that "requires" you to maintain a speed in this case. The vehicle that is already on the freeway has the right of way over the vehicle trying to get onto the freeway, that much is true. But I defy any officer or anyone else to cite someone who slows down to allow a person to merge ahead of them. Stubbornly keeping a speed when it is all too obvious that someone will be hitting you can actually end up having you at least partially at fault for an accident for failing to take available evasive action.

.

As I said, states can override sections of the code but most follow it.

Worst case senario if there is an accident and you were clearly not holding a steady speed, you can still be held accountable for intentionally blocking the merging vehicle at that point it won't matter.

They do that a lot in Missouri and Arkansas. I don't have that much Tennessee driving experience, but Memphis is right there where thre three states meet.

I like going home to Michigan, it is one of the states where drivers have learned howbto merge. Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas aren't too bad, but states between Oklahoma and Michigan have some different driving customs. As a traveller, I learn to adapt.

In PA mergers do not have the right of way. Yield signs are on the ramp and specifically say RAMP on them to help the idiots. You are in the right lane and do not have to yield. I prefer highways vs 50mph roads riddled with stoplights. I have one crash under my belt for 50 mph valley light in the rain. I was only doing 30 yet still locked up the trailer and slid into car at the green light. I had 2 cars in front braking, I was at 30, in from left comes the classic cut off and brake hard. 12000lbs vs a idiot in front who wins that battle?

The State Police in Oklahoma said this. It is the entering vehicle operators job to either speed up or slow down to get on a freeway. If you were to move over and get in an accident because you were yielding to him, he'd just drive on up the road. When stupid people do that I wave at them and grin. Drove a big truck too far to get mad.

WyoTraveler wrote:
Sorry, I brake for incompetent drivers. I would rather have her in front of me than behind and run into me later.

X2. I want them where I can see them

The powers that be can’t codify every conceivable situation. If the oncoming vehicle is going slower, I may may find it appropriate and safer to speed up and get past them more quickly. If they’re going faster, it’d be better maybe to slow down a little to give them more room.

But I’ve tried in the past to slow when a car is pacing me, and we’ve slowed at the same time. I’ve wound up going much slower than I want in heavy traffic because now I fear if I try to pass them, they’ll decide now’s the time to enter. Neither knows what the other is planning, and it gets dicey.

Hindsight is always 20/20. After it’s all over it’s very easy to say what should have been done, but I’ve decided that if their intentions are not fairly obvious, I’ll hold my speed and let them make the decision.

Ideally, I wouldn’t let myself get into that situation. My other ride is about 8 feet long and will do 60 to 80 in about 4 seconds. On that thing I’ve got some serious options. But with my little pickup and this trailer that’s half-again as long and heavy, if someone puts themselves in the position she put herself in, she just needs to work it out because no matter what I try to do, it could easily go wrong.