This is a situation I have to deal with on my regular commute, and I didn’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d post it here.
I know that when one lane is ending, the lane that is not ending has the right of way. I also know that “alternate merge” signs mean that neither lane has the right of way, and people are supposed to take turns.
What about when there are no signs, and the roadway looks like it could go either way?
This had the added benefit of happening as traffic exits a newly built rotary side-by-side (in similar fashion as at this one; the one in question is new enough that the complete version doesn’t show up in Google maps).
Most of the time, everyone just alternates, and is surprisingly quite civil about it. Given the way the road is built, it seems like they intended it to be an alternating situation.
Maine does have a law that says a person “entering and passing around a rotary or traffic circle … shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle on the operator’s left …” (Title 29-A, §2053, Subsection 6B), but this merge point is after you exit the circle, so I’m not really sure if that would apply or not.
When lanes merge neither lane has the right a way. When the white line between The two cars ends the car in the lead has the right a way and the 2nd car should slow and drop behind the 1st car. When two lines are merging driving straddle the white line is against most DMV rules. I know that many divers will disagree with me.
Many roads have the left lane or right lane ending, with the lane ending marked, and “merge left” or “merge right” equivalent signs , arrows, etc.
But if its not clear then its not clear, oh well the same steps to take apply …
Even if the other lane is ending the vehicle in it may suddenly change into your lane, so where ever lanes end, watch out , keep clear, and match speeds, and try to drive so the other driver can predict what you are doing. (Don’t brake too hard and then accelerate too ?)
Also. if there is traffic banked up in the through lane, don’t be the asshole who puts the foot down and speeds up the ending lane, then tries to muscle in. I see this most days.
If the traffic is congested in the through lane and the ending lane is empty, then that’s exactly what they should be doing. It’s silly to subtract pavement from the problem for no reason.
In Cali all of our merges seem to be the “everyone just fit” type. Yes, there are asshats that try to get around everyone and take advantage of the situation. I think the general rule is to use the zipper effect.
Very true, but I guess that’s at the cost of a lot of other motorists’ blood pressure.
The problem is exacerbated when the traffic is heavy but still moving. You only need one person to push in up ahead to ruin the zipper effect, and then you suddenly find there’s a speed differential between the two lanes, making it harder for all subsequent merges.
You generally yield right-of-way when you pass a car that’s on your left, so don’t do that.
Otherwise, I’m not sure. In any case, it could depend on which state you’re in, since all traffic laws are state laws. Fortunately, they’re pretty similar in most states.
I bet you’re right about straddling the white line. The line is there for a reason, and the reason is generally to drive on one side of it or the other!