When should you merge?

[KramBerries]

When I was driving through Oklahoma recently, I noticed an odd sign. We were approaching a place where the road went from two southbound lanes to one southbound lane. Well before the extra lane merged away, they had a sign saying something to the effect that you had to merge at that point rather than where the lane went away.

In the absence of a sign like I saw in Oklahoma, when are you supposed to merge? Is there a reason why you are supposed to merge well in advance of the merge point?

Having lived in Oklahoma for a while, I suspect they are trying to deal with the problem of people reaching the merge point and getting stuck because the people in both lanes are trying to be nice and let the other person in first.

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't know if there is a hard and fast rule. If I see that a lane is going to disappear, I will merge as soon as possible. I, personally, hate it when folks wait until the last second to speed up and cut in front of me with very little clearance.

 

[MM27]

They are giving you a heads up that there will be a merge ahead. Here in NJ people use that sign to mean, let me speed up so the person in the other lane doesn't get in front of me. If both cars arrive at the point of merging at the same time, it's survival of the fittest or quickest I guess

 

[Disney Ella]

If you are merging on to a road that isn't very busy, you can merge at the end of the ramp, but if you are merging on to a major highway in rush hour, you need to merge in where ever you can find a spot. If you wait until you reach the end of the merge lane, you may not be able to get over.

 

[locolala]

They are giving you a heads up that there will be a merge ahead. Here in NJ people use that sign to mean, let me speed up so the person in the other lane doesn't get in front of me. If both cars arrive at the point of merging at the same time, it's survival of the fittest or quickest I guess

If you are merging on to a road that isn't very busy, you can merge at the end of the ramp, but if you are merging on to a major highway in rush hour, you need to merge in where ever you can find a spot. If you wait until you reach the end of the merge lane, you may not be able to get over.

Yeah, that about sums it up. I love the people who whip around me when I'm waiting patiently to merge, only to get stuck up ahead.. then I pass them. I generally look right at them and laugh, much like this

 

[golfgal]

There was a big controversy here about that not too long ago. A major road is under construction and there was issues about merging. The official from the department of transportation said the most "efficient' way to merge is the "zipper" method where you drive up in both lanes and take turns at the merge point. Most people however think that people driving too long in the lane that is going away are being rude and therefore most people merge when the sign first says to merge.

 

[DizBelle]

There was a big controversy here about that not too long ago. A major road is under construction and there was issues about merging. The official from the department of transportation said the most "efficient' way to merge is the "zipper" method where you drive up in both lanes and take turns at the merge point. Most people however think that people driving too long in the lane that is going away are being rude and therefore most people merge when the sign first says to merge.

Yep. Zipper, people, zipper. This make the most sense and is the most efficient and least dangerous.

 

[LoraJ]

If everyone merged at the actual merge point, it would be much more efficient.

 

[Disney Commando]

This is where the traffic jams start, you have people who don't know how to merge and people who use that lane to get in front of anyone. It should be if you are in the lane continuing, you let one car in front of you. Now her's the problem you let the guy mergeing in front of you now the next guy tries to get in front of you and so on , or the guy in the continuing lane does not let anyone in front of him because he knows people ride that lane to get ahead.
Basicly it's common courtesy which almost is extinct. Merge as soon as you can.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Not sure where you were driving, but there are several spots that have the "State Law: Must Merge Here" or something like that sign because of construction. I haven't noticed any non-construction signs like that in our neck of the Sooner State.

 

[Quacktatty]

We have a merge point on a major road here in Connecticut and the sign actually says, "Alternate Merging". I love it, but it's the only one I have ever seen.

 

[Squirlz]

As soon as you can safely, efficiently, and seamlessly.