Is changing lanes approaching on-ramps a good habit?

I tend to avoid this problem by running in the middle lane in congested areas with a lot of on-ramps merging into traffic. There is always some overly nice driver (4 wheeler or 18 wheeler) that will practically come to a stop in order to let somebody merge in, and I've seen more accidents caused by the sudden stopping of traffic behind the do-gooder than from the person merging hitting somebody who won't move over for them. Yes, I sometimes piss of other drivers who don't like rigs riding the center lane, but tough #### for them.

 

I agree with @Dockbumper.
Do your best, be courteous when you can and realize that most people don't know what we know.
I think of my daughter sometimes and think about the way I'd wish someone would treat her or if she was the one trying to get on the highway.

All that said, if you think about it, its pros trying to negotiate around the amateurs. Its like bringing a '72 Camero to a NASCAR race.

I guess my bottom line is, they don't know what you know and they don't have the skills you have. Kindness never goes out of fashion. Do your best, slide when you can and if you can't, oh well.

 

"They're amateurs" argument needs to be done away with. We're professionals, but if we drive to our abilities we can get a ticket for speeding. DOT needs to start acting like professionals and ticketing "amateurs" who make the road less safe. They had to pass a test to get their driving privileges, that handbook included things like merging, lane signaling, etc...

 

Take a pill and calm down and reach out to reality.
My bet is that your one of those guys that when I let you on, you feel the need to race me instead of backing off and letting me come back over.
Dude, its just a day. And the 10 seconds of kindness and courtesy that you show to someone else won't cost you a dime.
That said, being a jerk usually has it's own rewards.

 

Nope, I take it slow, then when traffic allows I come by. It's not an argument concerning speed, or even "lost time", it's about holding people accountable. You can drive all day in Colorado or Illinois and watch people slam on their brakes at the end of the ramp, when all they had to do is slightly accelerate or often even just maintain the speed they had been at. My job is to get freight from A to B safely, and I do so. If I can move over I will, but if that individual is too stupid to merge in mild congestion it doesn't hurt me feelings watching them hit a barrier.

 

Wow. Well, there ya go.
What offends me most, is that people think that I am you.
Best wishes.

 

I don't have a problem with making it easier for others to merge.

The thing is, they have to make their intentions known. If they are just loitering along side my truck, going the same speed, I don't know if they intend to speed up or slow down.

What if both truck, and ditzy car slow down at the same time as the ramp comes to an end? A bad situation gets worse.

If they are hanging out at my right, then I'm just going to do the same because I don't know if they are going to punch it or brake it when they finally put their phone down.

Also backed up off ramps create an additional concern because you will always have morons that will throw themselves out into the middle lane to try and escape the delay. So the middle lane traveling along at a happy speed can all of the sudden have a 5 MPH Subaru with some soccer mom driver on her phone.

 

Has everyone forgot as a CDL holder and professional driver. "Protecting the motoring public." Part of the job is to protect the idiots from themselves.

What's the harm of backing off if you see a 4wheeler coming up the ramp? Or if traffic allows, moving over. Heck I move over for other trucks. Else I'll have to slow way down.

 

If I can move over safely, and the timing is appropriate, I'll move over.
I'm a lot less inclined to move when I'm loaded vs empty...
I drive fuel tanker , and often have 1 compartment that's sloshy, usually one of my big ones, and that makes it necessary to be very gentle with any steering changes.
I endeavor to be the driver that is courteous and respectful when sharing the road, but it's not always possible.
Sometimes I gotta be the rock others gotta move around for the safety of all.
Hauling gas is nerve wracking enough, without making it worse by stupid actions.