Merging on a Highway

[Robber Baron]

You technically had right of way

But I would have pulled out to let him in then pulled back in

I did this the other day. I'm in right lane and a car is in the merge lane. Nobody is in left lane so I pull over there so he can merge.

He merges into right lane then immediately pulls into left lane behind me.

As soon as he pulls in behind me he gets right on my tail and starts flashing his lights for me to move over.

I was not having happy thoughts about him.

 

[RedHead0186]

I did this the other day. I'm in right lane and a car is in the merge lane. Nobody is in left lane so I pull over there so he can merge.

He merges into right lane then immediately pulls into left lane behind me.

As soon as he pulls in behind me he gets right on my tail and starts flashing his lights for me to move over.

I was not having happy thoughts about him.

(My angry reaction is at him, not you.)

 

[Mysterian]

I think many people forget driving rules.

Including cops.

 

[Judique]

Right... the "human" side. So zippering might be "best" on paper, but is it really the best in the "real" world?

Yes.

 

[Judique]

What people should do is start to merge as soon as they see signs indicating an upcoming lane closure. In the real world where I drive, it is always the entitled ones who stay in the lane that is closing as LONG as possible so they can zoom by others who have already merged, then try to merge at the last possible moment and expect others to let them in.

I used to feel as you do and many more of my age group and generation (boomer) grew up with that mindset.

Now I understand that zippers work and move traffic along more efficiently.

I now see a mostly zippered experience, with a few holdouts who haven't let go the old way.

Sometimes you have to move with the times.

 

[Christine]

I used to feel as you do and many more of my age group and generation (boomer) grew up with that mindset.

Now I understand that zippers work and move traffic along more efficiently.

I now see a mostly zippered experience, with a few holdouts who haven't let go the old way.

Sometimes you have to move with the times.

Was it really the "old" way? I am a boomer, albeit, one of the youngest and I was taught zipper merge in driver's ed back in the late 70s.

 

[dioxide45]

One reason to get over early is so you won't need to worry about some dick not letting you over when it comes time to try and zipper merge. The problem is, that right at the merge point the cars in the through lane are bumper to bumper. You are at the mercy of someone letting you merge in.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Whatever it takes to avoid a collision, that's your best option.

 

[Robber Baron]

One reason to get over early is so you won't need to worry about some dick not letting you over when it comes time to try and zipper merge. The problem is, that right at the merge point the cars in the through lane are bumper to bumper. You are at the mercy of someone letting you merge in.

Correct. It only takes one person to screw up a good zipper.

 

[goofyernmost]

BTW, in regards to merging for a lane closure, the "traffic science" for that is settled - zipper merging is always best for flow,

Only if you are in the front of that line. If you are at the end it is like standby for Avatar Flight of Passage. It is line cutting in vehicles. Besides no one has ever said, I'm gonna stay in this lane that is about to end because it will "speed up the flow". For them maybe, but no one else that is behind them.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

One reason to get over early is so you won't need to worry about some dick not letting you over when it comes time to try and zipper merge. The problem is, that right at the merge point the cars in the through lane are bumper to bumper. You are at the mercy of someone letting you merge in.

When I make a right turn into the right lane of my road that has two lanes going in my direction (one of which will eventually end), the left lane is already backed up bumper to bumper, and the right lane is often the same way. Should I stop the limited flow of the right hand lane to try and wedge myself into the left in between people who already don't want to let me in?

I'm at the mercy of someone letting me in whether I do it when I first get on this clogged road or whether I wait until the merge point. Difference is, when I wait for the merge point, I'm not blocking the flow of the right lane, I'm not adding to the congestion of cars that want to turn left off this road, and most people know at the merge point that each lane takes turns.

 

[goofyernmost]

Was it really the "old" way? I am a boomer, albeit, one of the youngest and I was taught zipper merge in driver's ed back in the late 70s.

Yes, but it only works if you are far enough back that you can merge easily with no slowing up or stops. Otherwise it is line cutting and done only to get ahead of others. I had Drivers ED in the 60's and they taught a lot of things back then that aren't relevant in todays traffic.

 

[goofyernmost]

When I make a right turn into the right lane of my road that has two lanes going in my direction (one of which will eventually end), the left lane is already backed up bumper to bumper, and the right lane is often the same way. Should I stop the limited flow of the right hand lane to try and wedge myself into the left in between people who already don't want to let me in?

I'm at the mercy of someone letting me in whether I do it when I first get on this clogged road or whether I wait until the merge point. Difference is, when I wait for the merge point, I'm not blocking the flow of the right lane, I'm not adding to the congestion of cars that want to turn left off this road, and most people know at the merge point that each lane takes turns.

No you should just go to the end of the line. It's particularly offensive if you are familiar with the area and are only doing it to get ahead of others. The exceptions are people for other areas that aren't aware of the traffic turns before hand.

 

[spewey]

I'm the one who referenced "traffic science". And perhaps I should have been more clear - by that I mean multiple real-world measures and studies, all including actual humans, that have shown without a doubt zippering is best for flow.

People are absolutely right that humans are unpredictable, and often poor decision makers when driving. For those and other reasons traffic management is very complex and challenging, and the best solutions are sometimes counter-intuitive. Don't get me started about Braess's Paradox.

 

[denisenh]

Who has the right of way on a highway - the car already on the highway or the car merging onto the highway?

I'm pretty sure I was in the right in this situation, but the other car was clearly mad at me so I'm asking here. I was driving to work this morning and I was in the right lane as I was getting off in about a mile. Traffic was light and there were no other cars directly in front of or behind me.
I drove by an on ramp going a steady speed and a car coming onto the highway drove up right alongside me and laid on his horn when I didn't hit my brakes to let him in. The lane was wide open behind me. I think it was on him to adjust his speed to be able to merge into my lane.

They also got off at my exit and honked at me again when I was waiting at a light to make a left turn.

As others have said yes, you had the right of way. My husband and I get into these discussions a lot when he is driving. IMO, He is an inconsiderate driver. When he tries to defend himself in OP's type of situation, I remind him that he has control over one person and it's not the other person, it's he himself. I remember back in the day, a popular bumper sticker that read "A little courtesy won't kill you." It's still true. Don't engage with antagonistic drivers. Just get from point A to point B safely.

 

[gmi3804]

Correct. It only takes one person to screw up a good zipper.

Again with the Pete threads!

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

No you should just go to the end of the line. It's particularly offensive if you are familiar with the area and are only doing it to get ahead of others. The exceptions are people for other areas that aren't aware of the traffic turns before hand.

So you think I should turn the wrong way (not the way I need to be going), and go the incorrect direction until the traffic thins out and the line headed opposite to me is starting to form, then turn around so I can get in the line at the beginning of it's formation in the direction I need to be going? That's not how anyone drives. Whether it's a road or a highway, there are entry and exit points all over the place, and you aren't expected to turn around and head the wrong way so you can 'get in line.'

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

It's kind of surprising how many people don't seem to understand the concept of zipper merging and how it keeps traffic flowing better. Glad I'm in an area where most people get it. I'll see the occasional car practically rear ending the one in front of them trying to keep someone out and force them off the road, but most people know how to take turns.

 

[snowwite]

Who has the right of way on a highway - the car already on the highway or the car merging onto the highway?

I'm pretty sure I was in the right in this situation, but the other car was clearly mad at me so I'm asking here. I was driving to work this morning and I was in the right lane as I was getting off in about a mile. Traffic was light and there were no other cars directly in front of or behind me.
I drove by an on ramp going a steady speed and a car coming onto the highway drove up right alongside me and laid on his horn when I didn't hit my brakes to let him in. The lane was wide open behind me. I think it was on him to adjust his speed to be able to merge into my lane.

They also got off at my exit and honked at me again when I was waiting at a light to make a left turn.

You have the right of way. Entering traffic from the ramp is supposed to yield to traffic. No one knows how to yield or merge. It’s like when people see the sign about their lane ending but remain In it until the cones. It’s always so frustrating.

 

[gmi3804]

Ever driven in Nashville? People in the left turn lane with a green light wait AT THE LINE to turn left, instead of proceeding halfway into the intersection to wait until there's an opportunity to turn! It's infuriating.