"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
09/19/2014 at 09:41 • Filed to: Rant
3
7|
"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
09/19/2014 at 09:41 • Filed to: Rant | 3
| 7 |
Merge - verb - to cause to combine, unite, or coalesce; to blend or come together without abrupt change
That was not the case this morning.
Here is a section of highway that I was merging onto this morning (and have been every morning since my move. I'm familiar with this ramp as it is also how I would get home from visiting my grandmother for the past, well, forever.
The section in question is on the left where the on ramp reaches those dotted lines for the merge into traffic. Not once have I had an issue here, until today.
Below is a terrible drawing of the situation.
It's flipped in this case because of my perspective (that's my excuse). Yellow car was ahead of me and had used the ample time allotted (it is a long section before merging) to reach a respectable 50 mph. He was going to move in right behind that grey box. There was room for me to follow suit and then about three car lengths before that brown box car. A Jeep behind me was going for the same space. Suddenly, the yellow car slams on his brakes! He comes to a complete and total stop at the end of the dotted lines! I slam on my brakes while leaning on the horn and down shifting like crazy (kinda proud of that sequence) and the Jeep slams on his brakes. Brown box goes flying by and then, oh hey! A truck! He flies bye blasting his horn as well.
Now we have to merge from a dead stop onto the highway in Massachusetts. HELL.
Someone actually slows down a lot to leave space for all of us and we go on our way.
Now let us revisit that definition of "merge": To combine or unite. Well, I was almost one with a truck or the wall to my right. Maybe the second part of the definition is more helpful and a little safer: to blend or come together without abrupt change.
I call the slamming of brakes an abrupt change.
So here is the PSA portion of the rant: DO NOT COME TO A STOP WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC!!!!! Use the on ramp to optain a safe and manageable speed that will help blend into the flow of traffic. Use that space to not only gain speed but to check the lane you will be merging into for a spot in the flow of traffic for you to slide into. Drivers on the highway obviously have the right of way while parties merging onto the highway must yield but coming to a stop is not a safe decision. We have established the "zipper" method of merging to be the most efficient merging practice (through QOTD and general conversation) so please, please, PLEASE instill this principle in the minds of everyone you know. I am sure the marvels of modern technology and automotive safety would have ensured my survival in the event of me getting rear ended by a truck traveling at 60mph but I would rather not find out the hard way.
KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
> cazzyodo
09/19/2014 at 09:45 |
|
Sadly, I've watched this happen in North Carolina, specifically getting on to I-77.
I am fully supportive of revoking the license of someone who does this. Technically an on ramp is a yield to traffic on the freeway, but in practice, merging is the only way anything gets accomplished.
Sn210
> cazzyodo
09/19/2014 at 09:47 |
|
I had a lady do this to me when I was trying to get on 24. The on ramps for 24 are way to short to begin with, so I'm on the gas looking for my merge window when suddenly: brake lights!
FKA-RacecaR
> cazzyodo
09/19/2014 at 09:51 |
|
This image is giving me crazy vertigo.
OPPOsaurus WRX
> cazzyodo
09/19/2014 at 09:53 |
|
o come on the dude just wanted to check his 0-60 times
|
cazzyodo
> Sn210
09/19/2014 at 10:05 |
|
Lord have mercy! 24's on and off ramps are absurdly short and the distances between them make it a free-for-all for anyone trying to get on and off at the same time.
|
cazzyodo
> FKA-RacecaR
09/19/2014 at 10:07 |
|
Lucky I didn't do the whole on ramp section. It's weird...actually two lanes where the right one can continue up to the right and into a neighborhood while the left lane is actually both an "off-ramp" and an on-ramp separated from the highway by a raised island. So messed up because to get on the highway you have to make sure you don't get hit by someone exiting the highway first, then get to speed, then merge.
Two Drink Minimum
> KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/19/2014 at 11:42 |
|
I am fully supportive of revoking the license of someone who does this.
Seconded.