A note on merging/letting people merge

"As Du Volant" (skuhnphoto) 05/22/2015 at 08:57 • Filed to: psa

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After almost getting into an accident this morning I thought this was worth mentioning.

You know how every highway on-ramp has a “yield” sign at the end of it? That means merging traffic has to wait for an opening in the freeway traffic before merging in. That also means that if it’s not safe for cars on the freeway to let someone in, they shouldn’t let that person in.

This morning as I was driving to work in a somewhat congested area I approached an on-ramp where cars often have difficulty merging into traffic because of the heavy flow. Sure enough there was someone stopped at the end of the ramp waiting for an opening.

So what did the person in front of me do? Slow down to 25 M.P.H. to let them in.

DO. NOT. EVER. DO. THIS.

Fortunately I noticed them lift off the throttle when they approached the on-ramp, so I eased off as well and increased my following distance so I didn’t have to make an emergency stop when the brake lights inevitably came on. The person behind me wasn’t paying as close attention though, and I had a bit of a pucker moment when they barreled up behind me and nearly hit me.

Seriously, people. If you’re driving on the highway and the people on the on-ramp can’t merge in due to the traffic flow, just keep going. If they try to butt in and hit you it’s their fault, but if you slam on your brakes and cause a pileup it’s YOUR fault.

Alfalfa Romeo > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:03

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You know how every highway on-ramp has a “yield” sign at the end of it?

I think I’ve seen this twice.

But I digress, no one should be slamming their brakes to let someone in regardless.

OPPOsaurus WRX > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:04

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Merging on yesterday the old lady took forever to break just 45 mph. at first we had a ton of space but now the people who are probably going 70+ are quickly catching up. I almost got rear ended.

Racescort666 > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:06

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People seriously need to be taught to merge. I see it as a problem of both the person in front of you and the person trying to merge. The on ramp is for accelerating to match speeds with traffic rather than casually meandering into high speed traffic where you could get someone killed.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:09

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In Alberta there is no yield sign, you are supposed to let the merger in if it is safe to do so.

spanfucker retire bitch > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:15

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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Yield sign at the end of the on-ramps around here.

I do usually try to move over if there’s a large contingent of vehicles that trying to merge onto the highway. Makes it easier for everyone involved if that’s doable.

crowmolly > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:18

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That means merging traffic has to wait for an opening in the freeway traffic before merging in.

See, here’s the problem. If people actually yielded then nobody would have to slow down.

40mph less than the limit is excessive. But if you don’t watch out for the dumb fuck merging straight-faced out onto the highway you’re gonna have a bad time.

Slave2anMG > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:24

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Actually if you rear end somebody you’re as likely to get cited for following too closely or similar. Yes it’s stupid but that’s what happens...

AthomSfere > Racescort666 05/22/2015 at 09:26

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Unfortunately, the classic cloverleaf doesn’t really allow this a lot of times. I know a few ramps where approach length is far too short for even a moderately fast car to hit speed in time. But on average you are correct, sir.

handyjoe > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:26

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Corollary: If you can safely change lanes to allow someone to merge, DO IT. Seriously. It makes things way easier, allows everyone to get up to speed, and things will sort themselves out. Driving is not nearly as hard as people make it out to be.

Rainbow > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:31

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I’ve never seen a yield sign on an on-ramp. In fact, the far right lane is responsible for moving over or slowing down slightly in order to allow merging traffic to get on without stopping.

Of course, when both cars are doing 70, this just means you slow to 65-ish (or floor it) until you’re no longer neck-and-neck. There’s enough space for that. People who slow down to more than ten under the limit are insane.

TheRealBicycleBuck > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:36

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Merging should be an easy skill. There are two people involved and each has certain responsibilities which make the process easier.

Those Attempting to Merge

Shall accelerate to match the current traffic speed on the freeway.

Shall indicate an intention to merge.

Shall not pass slower traffic on the freeway in a bid to run to the end of the merge lane and force their way in.

Shall match pace with and position their car in the gap between two cars already on the freeway and shall move smoothly into the flow of traffic.

Those Already on the Freeway

Shall maintain a steady pace - no accelerating to close gaps or decelerating to a speed well below the current traffic flow.

Shall create a gap large enough for a car from the merge lane to enter safely.

Shall be smart enough to recognize that jockeying for position in order to prevent merging just creates bigger traffic problems for those behind them.

jariten1781 > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:37

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While I agree with your sentiment, if you read end someone who slows to allow merging traffic that’s 100% your fault. While they shouldn’t be slowing to 25 or whatever on a freeway, that’s not an excuse that will fly with the police, with your insurance, or in civil court if you whack them in the rear.

horspowr1001 > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 09:46

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We really need to replace all of the merge signs with Zipper Merge signs. I’d take it even further and make it mandatory.

Also these idiots:

BKosher84 > Racescort666 05/22/2015 at 09:54

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This. MOST on-ramps are designed in a way that by the time it merges into the freeway, you should be up to highway speed with normal acceleration..

Justin Hughes > BKosher84 05/22/2015 at 10:02

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Not in Massachusetts. Here, on-ramps are usually designed with a sharp, blind, decreasing radius turn just before entering the highway. They’re completely unmarked, except by the numerous skid marks going off the outside of the turn.

Then again, in Massachusetts, Yield signs are a waste of perfectly good sheet metal in the first place, because nobody ever does.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Justin Hughes 05/22/2015 at 11:06

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This. I hate Boston-area highways so much, they are all terrible! The comedy on ramps, the potholes, the construction, the 55mph speed limits on 5 lane highways... hello?! The cops simply need to turn on their radar guns at the end of the month to meet their quotas; everyone is doing 85 so they can just cherry pick the out of state drivers/people with expensive cars.

Noah - Now with more boost. > As Du Volant 05/22/2015 at 11:11

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It would also be really nice if most people MOVED TO THE MIDDLE LANE FOR A SECOND when they noticed someone merging and a quick courtesy lane change is an option. Seems like 99% of the population is too lazy/unimaginative/selfish/??? to do this, and prefers braking to 25mph instead

Xyl0c41n3 > Racescort666 05/26/2015 at 13:58

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There are two other problems that irk me about merging onto a freeway:

1. when the person merging goes 25 - 45 mph and doesn’t speed up to match the 70-75 mph limit of the highway (yay fast Texas highways!). It’s even worse when you’ve already come up pretty close to speed thanks to the generous frontage roads/on ramps on Texas highways and some moron ahead of you turns from a side street and then pulls the driving-Miss-Daisy speed so you have to bleed off all that speed and start over again. Grrrr.

2. This one isn’t as major, but is just a courtesy thing. I know people on the freeway aren’t obligated to move over when they see merging traffic, but if you’ve got 3-4 lanes of space and you’re the only car on the road (on that particular span of traffic) and you’re in the right lane and you don’t move over a lane? You’re kind of a dick. Bonus dick if you’re going below the posted speed limit.

Oooh, I just thought of a third one: light hoppers. The people who hop on and off the freeway for a quarter mile just to avoid a traffic light at street level, and who occupy the entirety of the entrance/exit ramp going below the highway’s speed, thereby endangering the safety of traffic that’s legitimately trying to merge on or merge off the highway. Those people suck.

Xyl0c41n3 > As Du Volant 05/26/2015 at 13:59

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You know how every highway on-ramp has a “yield” sign at the end of it?

Your highways have yield signs at the ends of entrance ramps? Ours don’t. It’s kind of a wild wild west “good luck with that” here in Texas. Heh.