# Good drivers - Please read Re: Merging

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-drivers-please-read-re-merging/251359>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [June 20, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-drivers-please-read-re-merging/251359 "2004-06-20T22:38:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-drivers-please-read-re-merging/251359/21 "2004-06-21T23:08:41Z")

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Unfortunately, any “system” is doomed to failure if everyone isn’t aware of it. And the signs rarely, if ever, make it clear what the actual procedure is supposed to be.

[HYPOTHESIS] Neither merging early or merging late is the best route to take. If everyone merged early, it would create a longer bottleneck of single-lane traffic. If everyone merged late (which we’re all familiar with) you get infuriating butting-into-line-at-the-last-possible-minute-causing-the-50-cars-behind-you-to brake-for-your-ass maneuver.

The best rule IMHO, is for cars to use both lanes without passing; with the continuing-lane-driver leaving space for the other driver to merge right before the lane ends. You may see professional drivers (truckers) doing this maneuver from time to time: two abreast without passing until the merge actually occurs. [/HYPOTHESIS]

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-drivers-please-read-re-merging/251359/22 "2004-06-22T00:38:37Z")

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Finally a flicker of hope.

But I must take some objection too:

> [@](#):
>
> You may see professional drivers (truckers)

Because not all truckers are professional drivers and not all professional drivers are truckers. There are a good deal of what I would consider to be professional drivers who drive trucks, but unfortunatly there are still many who should not be allowed to drive a yugo on a public road. Making such a blanket statement just goes to convince the bad truck drivers that they are pros, and the true pros don’t need the complement.

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