Merging onto an Interstate

[sidney]

What method do you use to enter an interstate from the on ramp to merge with traffic when towing?

[empty_nest]

greenflyingdragon wrote:

Twomed wrote:

sunkatcher wrote:
Remember; “Education is Our Responsibility”, the key and I have done my share is that drivers will learn when I pull that left hand turn signal on it means I AM MOVING LEFT not I want to move left.

AND Remember the last sign you saw on the merge ramp said YIELD!!

If you ever just "punch it" and clobber someone while you are telling them "I am coming out" with your turn signal....and they can't move... you hit them... it will be on you. 🙂

Somewhere in the last twenty years of losing civility in this nation, folks seem to have forgotten that the established moving traffic lane has the right of way. I expect to see that from four wheelers, but not reflected here on the boards.

Just sayin' think about it. 🙂 🙂

Well said, and worth reminding everyone here that in all 50 US states the merging vehicle is required to give way to established traffic. It sure is nice when drivers render a little courtesy though! If they don't, however, and the merging vehicle forces the issue in such a way that an accident results, you can expect a citation and your insurance company will likely increase your premium at the same time they are declining your claim.

I always move over to allow merging traffic to get in, WHEN POSSIBLE! However, I'm afraid that many drivers have gotten so used to the idea, that they "forget" that I actually have the right of way. I have even been flipped off because I wouldn't let someone merge in front of me. The 18-wheeler to my left might have had something to do with that!!

[HD_Hauler]

I strongly recommend to be signaling as you are approaching the highway and if people are courteous as they should they should move over to let you in, but signal signal signal and again "Punch It"

[greenflyingdrag]

Twomed wrote:

sunkatcher wrote:
Remember; “Education is Our Responsibility”, the key and I have done my share is that drivers will learn when I pull that left hand turn signal on it means I AM MOVING LEFT not I want to move left.

AND Remember the last sign you saw on the merge ramp said YIELD!!

If you ever just "punch it" and clobber someone while you are telling them "I am coming out" with your turn signal....and they can't move... you hit them... it will be on you. 🙂

Somewhere in the last twenty years of losing civility in this nation, folks seem to have forgotten that the established moving traffic lane has the right of way. I expect to see that from four wheelers, but not reflected here on the boards.

Just sayin' think about it. 🙂 🙂

Well said, and worth reminding everyone here that in all 50 US states the merging vehicle is required to give way to established traffic. It sure is nice when drivers render a little courtesy though! If they don't, however, and the merging vehicle forces the issue in such a way that an accident results, you can expect a citation and your insurance company will likely increase your premium at the same time they are declining your claim.

[valhalla360]

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.

[noteven]

Tonnage rules?

[Cummins12V98]

LED lights make a huge difference!

I will move over if it is safe, I may even speed up.

Just love the idiots that wait until the last minute to even look and then get that oh my god look on their face. They can stop and wait for a opening as far as I am concerned.

[NuttyTexans]

Blinkers on early - throttle down. As a rule no problem.

[NuttyTexans]

Blinkers on-throttle down. As a rule no problem.

[C_Schomer]

I worked at Casper Wy. for nearly a year building the Star Tribune building. They have the shortest ramps I ever saw. I got a surprise the first time I got on the hiway with a service van with a 300 6! Better plan ahead AND go like h_ll. Craig

[john_bet]

jevanb wrote:
when I hit the on ramp I mash it and by the time I hit the interstate I am up to 70 or greater if need be.. sure is nice to have 524hp at the wheels on tap. it pulls the 13k 5er with out a sweat

Yip, to bad the same hp semis cant do it even empty.

[08UltraRider]

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.

[jevanb]

when I hit the on ramp I mash it and by the time I hit the interstate I am up to 70 or greater if need be.. sure is nice to have 524hp at the wheels on tap. it pulls the 13k 5er with out a sweat

[fred42]

silvercorvette wrote:
I absolutely love it when the car in front of me slowly drives the full length of the merge / acceleration ramp then come to a full stop to wait for an opening in traffic.

Yes, this is why as my eyes are looking at the side mirror or back up the interstate, the copilots job is to focus on the ramp ahead to look out for these types and warn me about them.

[2oldman]

I haven't read all these posts, but the 'getting up to speed' part is nice but not my experience.

Especially when ramps are uphill, there's no way I'll be up to speed to merge. Semis are not either, and I've learned from them to use my blinker generously. Your best hope is that the fwy is not too crowded nor you have to endure a rude person who will not move over to let you in.