When the Safe 7 is unsafe

My husband has always wondered how a car could get on a ramp and just stop instead of merging, but after having been in some of the states where they have the metered guard rail up, I have concluded this has led to the problem.

I looked up info about merging since it seems like so many people have no clue as to what to do. When we were in school it was up to the mergee to get on and polite if the running traffic let them do so. According to what I have found out on the internet, no one is subject to being responsible to give leeway, and this includes on city streets where they have yield signs. I think this has led to more of an aggressive type, its' my space type driving.

In the case of trucks moving over a lane, there has been debate on here before about it. A lot of times you move over to let the car merge, then as you try to move safely back over, some moron tries skinnying up on your right side as you proceed to move over, you are put in a dangerous situation right there.

Unless they start getting back to some of the old rules, such as no passing period on the right, or move over to let merging traffic on, there is always going to be a debate. Cars are the ones who really need to be taught this though since they seem to be the ones who violate it most.

 

Once you've reached the point of not stopping I don't see any point in accelerating. The fraction of a second sooner you will get through the intersection is less important than the increased reaction and stopping time you will have as your momentum is increasing and your foot is on the go pedal. Cover the brake and coast on through IMO.

 

Most interstate on-ramps do not have yield signs, so technically no one has the right of way. All you can do is be alert and do what is safest on a case by case basis. Just go ahead and assume that the other guy is going to do the dumbest possible thing and be prepared to react accordingly.

 

Do a search on the laws. I have never seen a ramp with the right of way yet.

 

Don't you know all trucks are to yield to all 4 wheelers?

 

Thanks to you, some will be thinking they do now.

 

Merging isn't that complicated. One vehicle is changing lanes, one is not. It goes without saying who is responsible for the safe lane change.

 

Because people have NO idea how to merge, period. Then, when they DO finally merge, they do a whopping 20 miles an hour. Do they not know that traffic coming behind them are doing 50+ mph?

 

Sometimes you can help them out by changing lanes or reducing speed, sometimes you just can't do anything to help them out and they have to figure it out on their own. That's what I teach.