Need your advice about cars merging

Well said and correct.

 

Companies used to teach truckers to use the 'path of least resistance' meaning the next lane over to avoid confrontations with merging traffic.

I have been doing it for years in urban areas, but here in California I got pulled over for what the CHP said was an Out of Lane Violation.

I would say, much like the 'which lane should I be in for the double right turn...' conversation, just do whatever it takes to get through the territory without hitting or being hit. There really is no concrete answer like your trainer is telling you. Be flexible and use your best judgement, always.

 

And it may be difficult to get back into the right lane if there is a lot of traffic.

Cars and trucks alike like to move to the right lane to pass you on the right because you are 'slowing them down'.
No one wants to simply back off for a few seconds to let you back over.
And since nearly everyone likes to tailgate these days, when that exodus to the right lane to pass you starts... it may never end.

 

My general rule of thumb is off the throttle for 5 seconds to allow a merge. And if they come down nose to tail I just pick the one who I'll get behind and chuckle at the mayhem .

I'm pleased when I can teach at least one vehicle a day that their turn signal does not afford them right of way when merging onto a highway.
And when they wait till the gore point to check the side mirror, straining as they lean forward, instead of turning the head to look over a shoulder...well..
At that point it's much too late for me to accommodate the attempt.
And before I turn to enter a ramp I look back to check overall conditions and try to set up a good merge area.
And I will turn on my signal all the way down the ramp as sometimes the blinky thing gets noticed.

 

its always situational depending on various factors

main thing is expect the 4 wheelers to do the dumbest thing possible and you will rarely be disappointed

 

if i move left they won't let me back over so i find it easier to just go ahead and slow down versus moving left

 

This is typical normal behavior for the North East part of the country. I have seen my self many times, but never a gun pointing at me.

I never in all my life realized how different it was when I left Virginia in a truck how much the North East is from the rest of the country. Very impatient, and hostile.

 

I evaluate each situation and do what seems to be the logic safest thing to do. Sometimes, I slow down to let them merge in front of me, sometimes I'll change lanes, sometimes I hammer down and try to speed up as best I can. It's just a combination of the congestion, the speeds of the merging cars and mine and doing whatever seems the safest thing for the situation. Although, technically, it is the responsibility of the merging traffic, if having me slow down simplifies it all, that's what I do.

 

Please don't slow down. When I'm getting on the expressway it's much, much easier for me to jude what speed I need to be at if you are not changing speed.
Yes, sometimes it's the best option to slow down, but mostly it's not.

If I get charged by the company for an accident that's 100% not my fault I'm not sure I'd care as that's not a company I'd be staying at much longer....