I take a major highway (Hwy A) most of the way to work each morning. My exit is also a lane that comes off of a highway that runs perpendicular to the one I’m on (Hwy B). The lane runs for about 200m beside Hwy A with access blocked to or from Hwy A, and then for about 500m beside Hwy A with full access into that lane for those wishing to exit at that street or out of that lane for those merging from the Hwy B onto Hwy A. I hope that made some sense.
Most mornings it is relatively easy for me to merge into that lane when access opens up as there are sufficient gaps or enough people merging onto Hwy A, allowing space in the lane they’re vacating. This morning, though, it was solid for the whole 500m, not a soul coming onto Hwy A and a line almost bumper to bumper coming off Hwy B in the lane exiting at my street.
My question is, what is the best way to get from Hwy A into the exit lane, pissing off as few people as possible? Traffic in the lane I’m already in on Hwy A would be going about 100km/hr, so I don’t want to end up having to slow too much or stop to wait for a gap in the exit lane, but forcing my way into the traffic in the exit lane doesn’t seem ideal either.
I’d like to think that people notice people with a signal on trying to merge and allow them in, but when that just doesn’t happen what is one supposed to do?
I live in Chicago and bumper-to-bumper traffic is the norm.
Generally as the various lanes inch forward drivers are not glued to the car in front of them. Usually you will find a gap open when the driver behind one car does not instantly respond to the car moving in front. Since speeds are barely at idle you just poke your nose in and establish your spot. Most other drivers do not take exception to this. People need to merge.
If other drivers are being exceptionally difficult then ever so slowly keep inching your way into the other lane. Again you are moving so slowly this is safe. Cars will swerve around you but sooner or later you get so far into the lane the cars behind you have to leave you with your spot.
Again people usually do not get pissed off about this.
That’s what I did do this morning, and earned myself a horn blare and a finger, which led me to wonder what did the driver I poked in in front of expect me to do? I couldn’t have come to a complete stop in the 100km/hr flow I was leaving to wait for who knows how long for a gap, but vetbridge’s response would require me to add about 45 minutes to my 30 minute commute, which seems unreasonable to me. That’s why I wonder, is there an actual law or rule that dictates how to get into a lane when nobody will “let” you?
