New law I missed??? Merging traffic?

[sandman2234]

I drive a tractor trailer, but I am sure many of you experience the same problems when towing your tractors from place to place, if you venture out onto the interstate system.
Since I tend to drive with the slower part of the traffic flow, I generally hang out in the right lane of the Interstate while doing my job. I do have a truck capable of left lane speeds, but that takes fuel and my boss appreciates it when I keep my fuel mileage up. Staying in the right lane tends to have it's problems, with people going slower, but that is ok. The other problem I have noticed is merging traffic. Over the years, as a courteous driver, I tend to notice that the better drivers try to move over for merging traffic, partly from courteous and the other because if they don't, they will get slowed down from them, which isn't something we making a living (or paying for the fuel) want. So we move over as cars come up the acceleration ramps. However, if a vehicle is in the left lane next to us, invisible to the merging vehicle, it isn't possible for us to move over. In the last few years I have noticed vehicle (ok, CAR!!) drivers coming up the ramp and NEVER looking until they are at the end of the ramp. If the truck driver hasn't had the courtesy, the room, or just the inclination to move over, the CAR!! has to jam on their brakes and wait for an opening in traffic to go from a dead stop into 70mph traffic. After pulling out in front of somebody else, the next thing they do is chase the truck down, pass them, and wave frantically with one finger, or better yet, pull over in front of them and SLAM on the brakes, causing the trucker to HAVE to slow down for them. (upsetting the load, the driver, and possible killing the CAR driver, reactions)
I have heard that there are laws on the books in some states (rumored to be CT for one, but not wanting to pick on CT) but did somebody pass a law in the states of Fl, GA, Al, Tn that I didn't know about??? I realize that courtesy should have the vehicles on the interstate move over, but what happened to people LOOKING as they started entering the acceleration ramp for a place to merge into, and adjusting their speed to meet that spot in traffic? And are these "non-looker's" the people who recipocate to us truck drivers by refusing to give us a break as we try to merge into traffic? Trust me, it takes a LOT more to get a truck onto an Interstate than a car, especially if the truck is loaded! Moving over to allow a car onto the interstate takes a little more than most people would think, because we have to find an opening large enough to put almost a hundred foot long vehicle in, without making the faster vehicle traveling in that lane mad at the same time. So we have to judge it's speed as well as room to move over, and don't forget the trucks blind spot needs to be checked (ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN ALMOST RUN OVER BY A TRUCK CHANGING LANES CAN ATTEST TO THAT BLIND SPOT!) So the easiest thing to do for all involved would be the merging driver simply look ahead and increase their speed to merge into traffic, like the laws I learned under dictate.
In case any of you haven't figured it out...Rant off.
David from jax

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I'm more likely to move to the left for trucks / motor homes than for cars, but as you stated depends on other traffic.

That aside, I feel the onus is on the vehicle attempting to merge to do so safely AND to do so without expecting those already on the highway to get out of their way. Unfortunately, as you have noted it seems a majority of the merging vehicles feel it is their right to just pull in when / as they want and that other traffic should get out of their way or slow down so they themselves are not inconvenienced.

Having said that I find it extremely annoying and potentially dangerous when I'm the one trying to merge, the oncoming vehicle stays in the right lane and is close enough I don't want to cut in front, so I proceed to slow down so I can merge in behind. What does he do - starts to slow down as well, and stays in the right lane. Now we are both half stopped, the merge lane is running out and I have to really accelerate to get in the right lane ahead of him before the merge lane runs out.

Yes he was trying to be courteous, simply having him maintain his speed etc would have worked a lot better for both of us and for following traffic.

 

[sandman2234]

I'm more likely to move to the left for trucks / motor homes than for cars, but as you stated depends on other traffic.

That aside, I feel the onus is on the vehicle attempting to merge to do so safely AND to do so without expecting those already on the highway to get out of their way. Unfortunately, as you have noted it seems a majority of the merging vehicles feel it is their right to just pull in when / as they want and that other traffic should get out of their way or slow down so they themselves are not inconvenienced.

Having said that I find it extremely annoying and potentially dangerous when I'm the one trying to merge, the oncoming vehicle stays in the right lane and is close enough I don't want to cut in front, so I proceed to slow down so I can merge in behind. What does he do - starts to slow down as well, and stays in the right lane. Now we are both half stopped, the merge lane is running out and I have to really accelerate to get in the right lane ahead of him before the merge lane runs out.

Yes he was trying to be courteous, simply having him maintain his speed etc would have worked a lot better for both of us and for following traffic.

Let a loaded truck driver slow down for the merging vehicle and see what he does to the flow of traffic behind him as he takes the mile or so to get back up to speeds!
I hear what your saying, and totally agree, but apparently it isn't you that waved at me, lol!! I had a Blue Honda Accord passenger wave at me in Cartersville, Ga with tinted windows, and I ignored it, to a point that they rolled the window down and did it again just to make sure I saw. Way too much effort to show just how stupid they are.
David from jax

 

[Skyco]

The person getting on has to yield is what I've always known.
I noticed a couple of years ago that SC no longer has yield signs on the acceleration lane/on ramps though...budget? Don't know but I think many younger drivers have NO IDEA they are the ones that must yield when getting on.
I do move over if I can, but frequently can't because of traffic to my left. I will not brake to let someone on who planned poorly though. We all know the ones, go down the whole ramp at 30 then get upset when they can't merge into 70 mph traffic:confused3:
I've actually considered placing a home made sign on the ramp I use every day that says "What part of ACCELERATION lane do you not understand?"

 

[Hematite]

Unfortunately, because people have yielded their right of way to make it easier for vehicles to merge, now some people expect it. In some cases, as pointed out above, that is impossible because of traffic. It doesn't change the expectations, however.

Fact is, it is up to the merging vehicles to merge safely with the vehicles that have the right of way not the other way around. Along with many other aspects of our society, the quality of drivers on the road has also gone down noticeably and their self importance has gone up, leading to road rage when they are not treated the way they expect to be. I do notice that they are very quick to display the number of their IQ with their finger, though.

 

[jeffster]

Totally agree with skyco about slow cars. The freeway speed is 70 where I am at and I kid you not, some lady was in front of me a couple days ago (and a number of cars were behind me) and managed to get up to a whopping 40mph as she merged. So now you have 5 or 6 cars trying to get on a busy freeway all doing 40. Just awesome way to get someone killed. I haven't been that mad in a long time.

 

[westcliffe01]

European law is the opposite: Anyone in the right lane HAS TO allow someone coming down the on ramp to enter the right lane. The vehicle on the on ramp has right of way. If you cut someone off, it will cost you your drivers license.

The result is that people do not merge so fearfully and actually speed up as they go down the on ramp.

This particular issue was the single biggest "culture shock" item I experienced when I moved to the US in 2003. It seemed that everyone, no matter what they were driving absolutely 100% had to speed up so that they could cut you off when you were trying to merge, including semi drivers. It seems a national past time to see who can out accelerate each other in doing this. I personally think it is the primary reason why Americans favor big motors (dragsters), since the speed limit is otherwise 70 or in a very few states 75mph on the interstates. Go to Europe and many autobahns allow unlimited speeds yet most people drive cars with engines half the size. Can you imagine what would happen in germany with people doing 130 to 170mph and not yielding to someone trying to merge in the right lane ? Carnage is the word and they have known that for a long time.

It is long overdue that this stupid law be changed here in the US to give right of way to the "weaker party" (the one merging) and those already on the highway simply have to plan ahead when they see a merging lane coming up.

 

[Bird]

You guys are talking about one of my pet peeves.:laughing: I live within sight of I-35E which has too much traffic now and they're working on plans to more than double its size, but I don't expect that to happen in my lifetime. But so many cars come onto the freeway slowly causing other traffic to slow down, then once the idiot is completely on the freeway he/she will speed up to at least 10 mph over the limit if traffic allows.

This also always reminds me of my wife learning to drive. Even though she was 21 when I met her, she'd never driven and didn't get her license until we'd been married over a year. So in teaching her to drive, I guess I kind of stressed accelerating pretty rapidly to get onto freeways. We had a 1966 Ford sedan with a 289 cu. in. engine. Then in 1968, I traded for a new Plymouth Road Runner. I came home from work the first day she'd used it and she and a neighbor lady who had gone shopping with her were both sitting in the living room. I asked my wife how she liked that new car and she said it was real nice, "but when I went to get onto Central Expressway it made a funny noise". The other lady looked astonished and said, "That was your rear tires. I thought you knew what you were doing!" I reckon she accelerated briskly enough.

 

[jeffsw6]

If the police spent more time giving traffic tickets to people who are actually doing dangerous things, and a little less citing people for going 10 MPH over the speed limit when there is no traffic and no hazard, I think our roads would be much safer. How many people do you know who habitually tail-gate, don't use their turn signals, etc. and how many of those have EVER been stopped and cited for those things? The problem with peoples' unsafe driving habits is the police doing a bad job of enforcing the laws IMO.

 

[sparc]

If the police spent more time giving traffic tickets to people who are actually doing dangerous things, and a little less citing people for going 10 MPH over the speed limit when there is no traffic and no hazard, I think our roads would be much safer. How many people do you know who habitually tail-gate, don't use their turn signals, etc. and how many of those have EVER been stopped and cited for those things? The problem with peoples' unsafe driving habits is the police doing a bad job of enforcing the laws IMO.

You hit the nail on the head with those comments.

This is a significant part of the problem...AND a contributor to higher insurance rates in your state. When people don't know the rules of the road and the MV laws of the state are not enforced, there are more accidents and that results in higher rates even for good drivers because insurance companies factor in accident rates in your area when they calculate your rates. So the cop who lets a bad driver off the hook or doesn't stop them at all does us all a disservice in my opinion.

 

[Bird]

If the police spent more time giving traffic tickets to people who are actually doing dangerous things, and a little less citing people for going 10 MPH over the speed limit when there is no traffic and no hazard, I think our roads would be much safer. How many people do you know who habitually tail-gate, don't use their turn signals, etc. and how many of those have EVER been stopped and cited for those things? The problem with peoples' unsafe driving habits is the police doing a bad job of enforcing the laws IMO.

Yeah, and who do you think decides on what the police will be doing? If they're doing a bad job, it's because your elected officials who are their bosses want them to do what they are doing. You think the police should be writing mroe tickets for the things you dislike, but not for speeding. Others think the speeders need to be fined and slowed down. And those who get the tickets think the police should leave them alone and go after the thieves and killers.:laughing::laughing:

Everyone knows what the police should be doing. To bad all those folks who know what the police should be doing don't apply for the job themselves.

 

[Ken45101]

How many people do you know who habitually tail-gate, don't use their turn signals, etc.

You mean like police cars???? I hate it when they tail gate!

To the OP, I try to be accommodating to merging traffic. If I can't safely move over, I'm willing to slow down a little bit to allow them to merge ahead, especially when I'm driving with the trailer. HOWEVER, my willingness to accommodate ends when they don't even try to match the speed but dawdle along as they come up the ramp. Wake up and use the acceleration ramp for the purpose they built it!

I also see absolutely zero reason for me to move over (always has a slight risk associated with it) when they don't even try to merge in properly. If there is plenty of room ahead of me if they would just pick up speed, then it's their problem, not mine.

Ken

 

[blueriver]

How about being full load on a two lane ... nice speed built up and just a few yards ahead someone enters the highway heads the same direction you are going and they reach a top speed of about 45 mph.

 

[5030]

How about being full load on a two lane ... nice speed built up and just a few yards ahead someone enters the highway heads the same direction you are going and they reach a top speed of about 45 mph.

Gee, 45 is ths minimum LEGAL speed on any highway in this country where the posted limit is more than that.

Should have left earlier.

 

[tcartwri]

I also drive a heavy truck for work, and I will move over for another truck merging and sometimes a car if its practical. However, in Ontario we now have speed limiters installed to appease the nannies who are frightened of transports. So I am even more reluctant to move over now, because I will get hung out to dry in the fast lane piddling along at 106km/h when those same drivers who are incapable of merging pass me on the inside, or worse pace me for a couple of km holding up scores of people behind us.

 

[5030]

You ontario plated trucks on the Ohio Toll Road are assuredly SMV's.

 

[LD1]

If the police spent more time giving traffic tickets to people who are actually doing dangerous things, and a little less citing people for going 10 MPH over the speed limit when there is no traffic and no hazard, I think our roads would be much safer. How many people do you know who habitually tail-gate, don't use their turn signals, etc. and how many of those have EVER been stopped and cited for those things? The problem with peoples' unsafe driving habits is the police doing a bad job of enforcing the laws IMO.

I agree with this too:thumbsup:

The freeways where I drive, less than 8-10MPH over is going to get you ran over:thumbsup:

I usually run 73-75MPH or so (65MPH limit) and that is about the average flow of traffic in general. I have just as many people pass me as the number of people I pass. To me, (even though it is over the limits), this is not as unsafe as someone doing (leagally) 8-10MPH UNDER.

And that is certainly safer that those who like to bop-and-weave in and out of traffic. Of the ones who want to get right on your arse because you are going 73 and passing a truck going 65. And when I pass another vehichle, I dont cut back over the very second I clear his bumper. When I was taught to drive, it was "wait until you see BOTH the headlights in your center mirror, this will allow assured clear distance." But that ~3-4 car-lengths is just enough for that idiot behind you to squeeze in there, and pass you in the right lane, and give the #1 jesture because you "didnt get over" for him:confused2: We all know these types of people. And IMO (and I think most will agree) they are MUCH more of a danger than those going 8 MPH over the limit.

And the other one that always gets me is (we have one I drive every day) when a lane ends. There is PLEANTY of notice. Starting 1/2mile out. But still people insist on flying like h$ll to pass ever last car they can before the cut into the big line of traffic. I have put more than one of these idiots into the median If I can get over, I will. I will always drive in the farthest right lane I can. But sometimes traffic is just heavy, and there is a good steady line in both lanes (especially when going from 3 to 2).

 

[The Haymaker]

We have a 6 mile stretch of '95 in Bangor with a LOT of merging traffic. Speed limit is 55. I bump the speed to 60 and stay in the left lane unless traffic volumes are low. Doesn't make for any friends, for sure, but I don't care. My job is to keep all four corners on my truck and make sure all the yahoos make it home alive.

Yeah, law says they will yield, but I'm not trusting them with my driving record. Someone blamed the police, but it's a lost cause at this point. I look at this this way, there are 900,000 licensed vehicle operators, and a whole lot more unlicensed I'm sure, here in Maine. Me, or all the law enforcement in the state, will never teach them laws or good sense. It's far easier, and safer, for me to adapt.

I'm not saying that's the "correct" answer, but it's the answer for me. In a fail to yield incident, yeah, they were wrong by law, but THE DRIVER was wrong for allowing to happen. We are the professionals.

I'm at 1.6 million miles, so something must be right.

 

[George2615]

As far as I know the merging traffic has to yield to the flow of highway traffic. When I get on an on ramp I check the slow lane traffic and adjust my speed to merge without disrupting the highway flow.

Not to hi jack your post but wanted to state another fact I see a lot.
What I hate is when road crews are working, say on a three lane highway. They post 55 MPH signs almost a mile before the construction area along with signs that say right two lanes closed ahead merge left. As soon as I see the sign I slow to the 55 limit and merge to the left lane only to be passed on the right by everyone else. 80 % of drivers continue at the 65 limit and do not slow down or merge until the last minute. This creates a bottleneck and slows traffic to almost a stop.
If all drivers would slow down and merge when they see the signs traffic would flow through the construction area at the 55 limit and there would be less road rage.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've been in a number of states and I've always seen a "YIELD" sign (and sometimes a STOP sign for traffic merging into a highway. I have never seen anything on the main thoroughfare other then a sign warning of "Heavy Merge Area Ahead".
Most the time, if traffic permits, I go to the left lane...

The merging drivers that really piss me off is those who don't speed up or slow down...you're driving along side them and you know they're going to run out of lane. At the end of the merge lane, it's a game of chicken sometimes...pretty stupid, eh?