# Driving "rules" that they don't teach you in driver's ed **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254 "2010-02-01T16:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/201 "2010-02-03T23:14:41Z")
> [@robby](#): > > As Ronald Reagan put it, “There you go again.” 😉 > > If the late-merger is in the lane that is ending, proceeding along until he gets to the merge point, **then he is not a line-cutter**. Ideally, there would be a whole line of drivers ahead of him doing the same thing, but if everyone else is determined to jump over early, then so be it. > > And you are absolutely wrong to state that late-mergers are “actively harming the rest of the line.” It’s the early-mergers who do the harm. Studies have shown that the early-mergers are the ones who create the traffic back-up in the first place! > > Ideally, you wouldn’t need signs. Everyone would use both lanes up to the merge point, and then merge. You’re just wrong, chum, you’re just wrong. If, as described, there is a line-up of cars already merged into the continuing lane, then people who zip around at higher speed will invariably cause a shockwave effect. I’ve observed it countless times on the road, and also observed the calming and smoothing effect when it is forcibly corrected by someone behaving as I describerd earlier. When people aren’t intimidated by the idea of someone cutting in front of them, they naturally allow more space between cars, and this naturally leads to a smoother merge point. When people are concerned about line jumpers, invariably ranks close up more, and fewer people are willing to allow the line-jumpers to merge, which causes worse traffic. You’re arguing for some ideal-world scenario, and I am arguing for what actualy happens in the real world. Speeding around queued up traffic is a douche thing to do. Yes, the early mergers may have created a sub-optimal situation, but line-cutters make the situation worse. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/202 "2010-02-03T23:23:25Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Yes, this is part of the reason my husband told me to shift into neutral to brake on ice and snow. I disagree. Braking in nasty conditions may require you to accelerate to avoid an obstacle or another car that is unable to brake in time. I prefer (and most driving manuals I’ve seen recommend) that you always have the car in gear when moving so you have more control of the environment. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/203 "2010-02-03T23:26:08Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > If 90% of the people are early mergers, it’s best for the other 10% to go with the accepted solution rather than try to force the optimal solution on them. This doesn’t make sense to me logically. If the other 10% went with what the other 90% were doing, then you have 100% compliance, in which case you don’t have any problems. In fact if you had 100% compliance then as a whole, the population of drivers would be able to pull off a proper zipper merge. However, the _reality_ is that there will always be that 10% (or 5 or 1%). So it really makes more sense for _more_ of the 90%, not less, to say, hey why don’t I use this other lane and try to do the zipper. To put it another way, if it weren’t for early mergers, the problem wouldn’t exist. On the other hand, if _everyone_ was a late merger, then true, you don’t have angry people – but you have a backup that’s twice as long as it needs to be. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/204 "2010-02-04T01:50:14Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > On the other hand, if _everyone_ was a late merger, then true, you don’t have angry people – but you have a backup that’s twice as long as it needs to be. Actually this is completely backwards. Even assuming that early merging does not slow down traffic, early merging will cause a backup twice as long as it needs to be. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/205 "2010-02-04T02:26:41Z")
You merge-arguers keep saying the same thing over and over and over. Just agree to disagree already (I’m a late merger, btw - a recent convert, actually.) ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/206 "2010-02-04T03:50:49Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Actually this is completely backwards. Even assuming that early merging does not slow down traffic, early merging will cause a backup twice as long as it needs to be. Oops, I meant to say early merger. If everyone was an early merger then no one would be angry but the backup would be twice as long. If everyone was a late merger, zipper win. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/207 "2010-02-04T04:03:54Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I disagree. Braking in nasty conditions may require you to accelerate to avoid an obstacle or another car that is unable to brake in time. I prefer (and most driving manuals I’ve seen recommend) that you always have the car in gear when moving so you have more control of the environment. Yep. As another snow driver I agree. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/208 "2010-02-04T04:18:56Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Actually this is completely backwards. Even assuming that early merging does not slow down traffic, early merging will cause a backup twice as long as it needs to be. Late merging turns it into stop and go mess. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/209 "2010-02-04T04:21:21Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > You’re just wrong, chum, you’re just wrong. OK, then, I’m going to ask for a cite. I provided one back in Post #177. Do you have one? > [@crazyjoe](#): > > If, as described, there is a line-up of cars already merged into the continuing lane, then people who zip around at higher speed will invariably cause a shockwave effect. I’ve observed it countless times on the road, and also observed the calming and smoothing effect when it is forcibly corrected by someone behaving as I describerd earlier. When people aren’t intimidated by the idea of someone cutting in front of them, they naturally allow more space between cars, and this naturally leads to a smoother merge point. When people are concerned about line jumpers, invariably ranks close up more, and fewer people are willing to allow the line-jumpers to merge, which causes worse traffic. > > You’re arguing for some ideal-world scenario, and I am arguing for what actualy happens in the real world. Speeding around queued up traffic is a douche thing to do. Yes, the early mergers may have created a sub-optimal situation, but line-cutters make the situation worse. If, as described, you have a whole line of cars occupying the lane that is ending, then it is impossible to have anyone zipping around anybody, provided that everyone merges at the end of the lane, which is the proper merge point. The problem is created by the early mergers, who tend to open the lane up. The problem is not created by people who take advantage of the open lane. Ideally, the situation would never arise, though, if people would wait to merge. What’s interesting is that a significantly greater rate of cars get through BOTH lanes (as much as twice as much, IIRC) if everybody does a late merge at a single merge point. This is discussed in the book I cited. Yes, it’s counterintuitive. Early mergers think they are helping by getting over, but they are actually slowing traffic down and creating a situation that is not helpful for anybody. To switch gears, it reminds me of another do-gooder tactic that drives me up the wall. You’re trying to make a left turn across several lanes of traffic, and some idiot stops to wave you in front of them, instead of taking their right-of-way. I’ve seen at least two accidents because of this. In each case, the guy waving the person in front of them wasn’t aware of another vehicle passing them in the adjacent lane, and the person making the turn couldn’t see that vehicle because the do-gooder idiot is blocking their view. A collision ensued in each case. I had a similar situation arise a few weeks ago, except that I was driving behind the do-gooder. I almost rear-ended her because I did not expect her to come to a complete stop in the middle of a street with nobody in front of her. It is far safer for everyone concerned if people would TAKE THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY! Don’t wave people through when you have the right of way. Predictability is better than courtesy. I expect people to take their right-of-way. I do not expect people to stop in the middle of the street. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/210 "2010-02-04T04:25:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Late merging turns it into stop and go mess. Not if done properly at a single merge point. (Assuming traffic is heavy and moving relatively slowly.) Have none of you encountered a merge with the signs “USE BOTH LANES TO MERGE POINT” followed by a “MERGE HERE” sign? It actually works wonderfully. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/211 "2010-02-04T15:03:54Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Not if done properly at a single merge point. (Assuming traffic is heavy and moving relatively slowly.) > > Have none of you encountered a merge with the signs “USE BOTH LANES TO MERGE POINT” followed by a “MERGE HERE” sign? > > It actually works wonderfully. When traffic is heavy, it’s a different situation. You may not be able to move over until forced to at the merge point. Really, how hard is it? Left lane ends 2500 feet. Left lane ends 1000 feet. Left lane ends 500 feet. Accompanied by flashing lights, arrows on trucks and painted on the ground. The left lane is gonna end. This means that if you are in the left lane, and want to continue, you should get in the through lane. Sheesse. On the road that I travel they even have a big sign over the right lane next to the left lane ends sign pointing down stating ‘Through Lane’. Yes, it is a pet peeve of mine when people cobble this up because they are either not paying attention, or just have to try to pass one more car before moving over. Enough with the merging for me. > [@robby](#): > > It is far safer for everyone concerned if people would TAKE THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY! YES! This drives me nuts and happened to me yesterday. I was caught trying to make a left across a two way street and there was lots of traffic and pedestrians. Do not stop and wave me in. I have a completely different picture of the traffic than you do. It’s different when it’s gridlock and you stop to keep from blocking the intersection. But if you have the ROW and your way is clear, TAKE IT! Don’t be unpredictable. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/212 "2010-02-04T15:43:14Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > But if you have the ROW and your way is clear, TAKE IT! Don’t be unpredictable. This annoys me as a pedestrian as well. I’f I’m at the side of the road waiting for you to pass so I can cross, don’t slow and stop to wave me across! Your passing will take less time than that, and then the road is clear. (If I’m already on the road crossing it, that’s a different matter.) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/213 "2010-02-04T16:25:34Z")
Here’s a good study on the merge dilema: [U.S. DOT merge control concept](http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/workshops/accessible/McCoy.htm). It’s summarized in the conclusion portion. Basically it says for slow heavy congestion a late merge system is ideal and for faster lighter traffic the conventional early merge system is ideal. Designing a dynamic system that directs people how to merge under various traffic levels is the goal but is a more costly solution. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/214 "2010-02-04T16:43:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > When traffic is heavy, it’s a different situation. Just to be clear, I’m only talking about when there is heavy traffic. If traffic is light and we’re all moving at a decent clip then I don’t really care when people merge, as long as it’s not into my quarter panel. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/215 "2010-02-04T18:49:06Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > This annoys me as a pedestrian as well. I’f I’m at the side of the road waiting for you to pass so I can cross, don’t slow and stop to wave me across! Your passing will take less time than that, and then the road is clear. > > (If I’m already on the road crossing it, that’s a different matter.) If you’re a pedestrian in Calgary and standing anywhere near a crosswalk, me proceeding in my car after you wave me on could cost me $500, if the cops are watching. Pedestrians need to take their right-of-way, too (carefully!). On the other hand, cars that stop for jay-walkers are endangering the pedestrians, and I won’t do that if I can help it. Interesting to see that the issue that’s emerged from this driving thread is merging, instead of the usual “driving slower in the left lane.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/216 "2010-02-04T19:10:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > If you’re a pedestrian in Calgary and standing anywhere near a crosswalk, me proceeding in my car after you wave me on could cost me $500, if the cops are watching. Pedestrians need to take their right-of-way, too (carefully!). On the other hand, cars that stop for jay-walkers are endangering the pedestrians, and I won’t do that if I can help it. I was going to say something similar. There are lots of crosswalks in a town I drive through. It’s a tourist town and lots of folks don’t seem to know where they are going. Some will stand in the crosswalk, and when you stop for them, they wave you on. Maybe not worth a :mad:, but make up your mind people. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/217 "2010-02-04T20:55:40Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > On the other hand, cars that stop for jay-walkers are endangering the pedestrians, and I won’t do that if I can help it. So, you hit jaywalkers?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/218 "2010-02-05T03:19:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > So, you hit jaywalkers?😉 I only nudge them a bit - “You go back to the sidewalk and find a proper crosswalk now.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/219 "2010-02-05T03:29:39Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > 1. Keep at least a half car length behind the car in front of you at a traffic light. This avoids trapping yourself should you become the target of a car-jacking or other unfortunate scenario. 1 time in a zillion,meanwhile 50% of the time you will have made it so you have blocked someone who wants to get into the left turn lane, but now can’t, due to 5 cars each with a 1 car gap also. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254/220 "2010-02-05T03:38:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Weird. I had to do the thing where you go to “driver school” when you get a ticket, and the Sheriff teaching the class told us several things people commonly _believe_ about traffic rules, which are not actually _laws_. This was in California (Irvine, to be exact) and one of the myths he mentioned was the changing lanes thing. He told us, in no uncertain terms, that changing lanes in an intersection is just fine. > > So I’ve been doing it ever since! Uh oh! > > Other things he told us: It’s okay to drive without shoes, it’s okay to cut through a parking lot, it’s okay to walk across in the middle of the street as long as there aren’t traffic signals on both sides of the segment you’re walking across, and there were a couple of others that have slipped my mind. Now I’m worried! You’re right, he’s wrong. Yes, changing lanes in an intersection can be a “unsafe lane change”, but there’s nothing magical about an intersection that makes it illegal, nor does his cite say that. You’re right about the Jaywalking. except on certain types of highways, etc, of course! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-rules-that-they-dont-teach-you-in-drivers-ed/527254.md?page=12)