What's the correct way to merge onto a highway?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jonathan Worsley, Feb 25, 2019.

  1. REALITY098765

    REALITY098765 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,496
    Thanks Received:
    1,328
    0
    Where is the merge and\or yield signs?
     
  2. HighwaySuperTramp

    HighwaySuperTramp Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2015
    Messages:
    316
    Thanks Received:
    349
    0
    See I always hate this topic because trainers and driving instructors are morons and mush heads, and you can tell them I called them that.

    The vehicles on the highway are under no legal obligation to move out of your way. There is no law, no written statute anywhere that states a vehicle already travelling at highway speed, in the flow of traffic, is under any legal obligation to slow, stop, speed up, or move over for a vehicle that is not in the flow of traffic or entering it. There is a law though stating that if you are merging into a safe gap and someone purposely closes it, that is illegal. So remember that.

    The two styles of merge are essentially the same with one big difference, one is a yield, one is a merge. Both work the same way until the end. Yield ramps are normally shorter, and the ramp is normally multi purpose ( on/off combined) in which case highway traffic has the right of way.

    A merge ramp is designed to allow you to get as close to highway speed as possible. Pick a safe gap in the flow and safely merge into it. Most big trucks have issues getting up to speed so most times we are at the mercy of the smaller faster cars. The basics never change though, get up to highway speed, see gap, match gap, signal intent, merge.

    Boom.
     
  3. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    Messages:
    3,233
    Thanks Received:
    12,905
    Location:
    Texas
    0
    Everything you say may be true. But there's no law against stupid and it's the stupid we need to watch. If some bozo is merging, and they're matching my speed while I'm in my lane, I'll move left everyday...assuming there's a gap that will take me.
     
  4. Woodchuck88

    Woodchuck88 Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Messages:
    553
    Thanks Received:
    1,103
    Location:
    New York
    0
    Me’s A comin’ over
     
  5. Woodchuck88

    Woodchuck88 Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Messages:
    553
    Thanks Received:
    1,103
    Location:
    New York
    0