Turn on the car's turn signal light. If the safety sensor notice lights up that a car is in that lane I make adjustments on when I'm coming over. If the lane is clear, I see this visually, I move over to the other lane.
My mother does what your husband does, waits and waits and waits with no signal on. It drives me crazy! Put the signal on. That's what it's for. People may still not let you in, but if you never turn on the signal how do they know you even want to get over?
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.