MERGING TRAFFIC SAFELY
THE WRONG AND RIGHT WAYS TO MERGE TRAFFIC:
Merging two traffic streams into one lane is one of the most difficult parts of driving.
Even the Indianapolis 500-mile race often has merging accidents.
There are several reasons why this is so difficult:
- Drivers often must look back over their shoulders to see other merging cars.
- Many greedy drivers use up spaces needed for other drivers to merge.
- Many construction contractors have wrong ideas on making a safe merge.
- Laws forcing vehicles with trailers to stay in the merge lane are dangerous.
- Most drivers don't know who has the right-of-way.
- Some officials make merges as cheaply as the can.
- Many officials have 1920s ideas of how to make a safe merge.
- Merges with YIELD signs are always dangerous.
RULES FOR MERGING
ALWAYS OBEY THESE RULES FOR MERGING NO MATTER WHAT SIGNS ARE THERE.
- ALWAYS TAKE TURNS.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE.
Being selfish makes drivers brake hard and slows down all traffic.
- NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN A MERGE.
Those in front should have priority over those behind. This is taking
turns.
IT IS ALWAYS YOUR DUTY TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER CARS TO MERGE.
The MERGE sign is a command to do this.
- SPREAD OUT JUST BEFORE THE MERGE.
Leave room for merging traffic to enter.
- NEVER PASS OTHER VEHICLES WITHIN THE MERGE AREA.
NEVER SPEED UP to keep vehicles from merging in
front of you.
- NEVER STAY ALONGSIDE ANOTHER CAR IN THE MERGE.
Alternate positions so there is room to merge (as in the second
image below). Take turns.
- CHANGE TO LANES AWAY FROM THE MERGING AREA IF YOU CAN.
Leave more room for merging traffic to enter.
- NEVER BE SELFISH. MAKE ROOM FOR CARS TO ENTER.
SLOW DOWN TO LET THEN IN.
The merge lane is not long enough for drivers to suddenly select
other gap openings.
- NEVER LEAVE CRUISE CONTROL ON IF IN A MERGING LANE.
You need precise throttle control to match the gaps in the other
stream.
- IF YOU ARE PULLING A TRAILER, GET OUT OF THE MERGE LANE IF YOU CAN.
Your vehicle is too long for a merging driver to find a safe gap.
This includes semis.
THE CORRECT WAY TO MERGE A LANE DROP
| THE WRONG WAY TO MERGE |
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Wrong methods:
- Traffic lines up bumper-to-bumper in the lane that continues.
- Some traffic tries to pass in the lane that ends.
- The traffic that tries to pass has to wait for drivers in the line to let them in.
- Drivers in the ending lane have to look behind them to find a gap.
- Drivers have to make split-second decisions.
- Selfish drivers can cause all cars to have to stop.
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| THE RIGHT WAY TO MERGE |
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Correct methods:
- Traffic is not told which lane ends until the merge.
- Traffic flows slowly in both lanes as directed by signs.
- As traffic approaches the merge point, it spreads out in staggered form to leave room
for merging.
- Drivers know not to pass other cars once the cars line up in staggered form.
- There is plenty of time to line up cars with gaps in the other lane.
- Drivers don't have to look behind them to find gaps.
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If there are two lanes to the left of the ending lane, some cars can move to the left lane
to make room.
The correct way should really be used for all merges.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MERGES
Priv = traffic has privileged right-of-way.
Burd = traffic is burdened to yield the right-of-way.
