What is your lane change technique?

[DizBelle]

For me, I put on my signal and then start looking for a gap to move in to.

DH starts looking for a gap. Complains that no one is giving him space. THEN he puts on his signal right before he is changing lanes.

 

[soccerdad72]

Didn't you already post a thread about this in the past?

 

[DizBelle]

Didn't you already post a thread about this in the past?

I don't recall. Did I? I'll search.... It's a recurring topic in our house.

ETA: Dang, I did earlier this year. I spend quite a bit of time driving on the highway so it's a constant in my life.

You can disregard this thread if you like.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Idk... Look for room, turn on blinker, change lanes?

I've never thought about it before.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I signal and hope someone will let me in.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I don't turn on my blinker until I see a gap.

 

[soccerdad72]

I don't recall. Did I? I'll search.... It's a recurring topic in our house.

ETA: Dang, I did earlier this year. I spend quite a bit of time driving on the highway so it's a constant in my life.

You can disregard this thread if you like.

Not sure why it stuck in my head - usually, I suck at remembering stuff like that.

To answer the question, though, I usually put on my turn signal as I'm looking for a gap. More in unison rather than one before the other. The only time I get frustrated with other drivers is when they clearly are riding the bumper of the car in front of them to intentionally not allow me to move lanes.

 

[snoodledoo]

Depends on traffic. In lighter traffic, I use your husband's strategy and in heavier traffic, I use your strategy.

 

[xlxo]

Please also remember to increase your speed during a lane change. I hate people who do a lane change and then slow down in front of me.

It's also a good custom to give someone the wave when they let you in. Please use all your fingers.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My mom drives me bonkers because she puts on her signal and waits and waits and waits to merge into another lane no matter if on the highway or normal road.

Ideally on the highway I'm putting on my signal with enough time to alert other drivers but not enough time that a bunch are passing me because then my signal is useless and getting over is hard. Basically in most situations I'm not putting on my turn signal when the other lane is full of cars passing;I'm waiting til the line of cars has thinned out.

In heavy traffic around us you're putting on your signal just before you merge;that is of course ensuring that someone isn't in your blindspot. If you put on your signal and then wait for a gap in heavy traffic here you'll never get through and you're also holding up your lane of traffic because the people behind you are giving you space to merge into another lane.

 

[happily single]

I look to see if I can get in. Then I put my directional on, wait three seconds (shaking my head-not sure why), look again and proceed.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Please also remember to increase your speed during a lane change. I hate people who do a lane change and then slow down in front of me.

It's also a good custom to give someone the wave when they let you in. Please use all your fingers.

I'd agree with that in most situations. Heavy traffic you more than likely wouldn't be able to speed up if it is bumper to bumper traffic but still needed to merge over to another lane.

I wave but only when it's appearant the person actually slowed down to let me through. I don't wave if they just naturally left a gap because of their driving speed.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Signal.
Mirrors.
Blind spot.
Move.

Of if you're in Chicago Blind spot, move quickly before the guy just far enough back to squeeze in front of realizes you're coming and speeds up to cut you off.

 

[mnrose]

Depends on traffic. In lighter traffic, I use your husband's strategy and in heavier traffic, I use your strategy.

Perfect answer. Describes what I do as well.

 

[Meriweather]

signal and then look for gap

 

[10MoreMinutes]

In light traffic, I look, then turn on my signal, then look to make sure no one is in my blind spot, then merge.

In heavy traffic, I turn on my signal earlier in hopes that someone will let me over. If someone does, I wave...or more accurately, I raise my hand to them and mouth "thank you." If no one lets me in, I wait for a gap I can squeeze into.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

Signal.
Of if you're in Chicago Blind spot, move quickly before the guy just far enough back to squeeze in front of realizes you're coming and speeds up to cut you off.

OMG that's so funny and so true!

To answer the question (and yes I think of this every time) mirror, blinker, blind spot, then move. But I only turn on my blinker if there is a spot for me to move over when I look in the mirror. Very rarely will I let someone in front of me just because they have their blinker on, unless I see they're going about my speed and are coming up on someone moving very slow.

 

[Minniesgal]

I was always taught to look for a gap then signal before moving. i was taught if you signal while it is busy a car driver can think it is in your blind spot and that you are going to hit him and take unnecessary evasive action.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

OMG that's so funny and so true!

To answer the question (and yes I think of this every time) mirror, blinker, blind spot, then move. But I only turn on my blinker if there is a spot for me to move over when I look in the mirror. Very rarely will I let someone in front of me just because they have their blinker on, unless I see they're going about my speed and are coming up on someone moving very slow.

How bad are things when you don't use your blinker because the guy behind you in the next lane will stomp it to keep you from coming over if he sees it? That's Chicago. Blind Spot. Move quick. I guess several cities are like that though. I could have easily said Atlanta too.

 

[Bluestars]

I try to give myself plenty of time if I need to turn, so I usually look for a gap, use my turn signal, and then move into the lane. If traffic is horrible and I can't find a gap, I will put on my turn signal and hope somebody lets me in. When I need to turn, I always get into the lane I need to be in long before I turn.