That right there is the key; looking ahead (or, in this case, using your mirrors ;)) and anticipating what will come next.
I also used to drive OTR and I took great pride in being overly cautious. If I was caught in a high traffic, high stress situation I would imagine that my own wife and children were in the cars around me and drove accordingly.
This brings up an excellent point. It has been my experience that professional truck drivers are much better drivers than people like to think they are.[grammar?]
No you’re a jerk because your doing some thing totally inconsiderate.Your response of “fuck em” only reveals your superiorty complex .Those other faceless drivers are your neighbors on this planet.Being considerate and cooperative makes for a better neighborhood.
You know… I used that stupid left hand lane for two years before a friend of mine pointed out that the other lane was moving faster. The first time I did it it cut TEN MINUTES off my drive. So, yeah, screw 'em (not “fuck 'em” - YOU said thatm not me) if they can’t figure out that you don’t have to fly over to the left lane immediately, then park for ten minutes. As long as I get over there before the half mile is up, then I’m doing NOTHING WRONG. The pavement’s there for a reason. USE IT.
You know, I even yield (if it’s safe) to let vehicles ON the highway at on-ramps - which is something that I don’t have to do. I could be like MOST of the other people on the road and just sit in the lane and ignore the people trying to get on, but no, I let 'em in. You do that? I flash my headlights to let truckers know it’s safe to pull back in fronmt of me when they pass me. You do that? I do ONE thing when I drive where I decide to let me have the advantage, and I’M a jerk? Fuck you.
Fine.You are also sometimes courteous driver.I actually fall into the some category being a some what agressive driver but not to the point of de personalizing everyone else on the road.In the case of the two lane merging, one hazard you fail to over look and I have seen many onstances of another impatient driver pulling out of the line and into the path of the speeding passer .I’m sure there are afew collisions in this situation as I’ve witnessed many near misses.Truce?
Yes I do yield to merging traffic and have flashed my l;ights to truckers since I was 16. my father taught me that aloing with many courtesies that keep you on top of the situation and making a contribution to a safe flow on the road.thanks for the lively exchange.
khalidee I bet when you go shopping you go to the line that’s the longest too. Way to go - thank you. Me I’ll chose the shorter line as long as it’s open.
Sometimes at ski areas, lines for lifts get backed up. Some of these lifts have entries at both sides (left and right) with a merge. I have numerous times went around the long way(to the other side of the lift) to avoid a long line on the close easy-to-get-to side.
Also I wish to mention that the way I pointed out is fairer then your’s given human nature. You are bringing the merge point to the point where traffic is backing up - Who are you to set the merge point - it was set by the hwy dept of construction crew. and may I point out that taking up to lanes is illeagle and ticketable. You are clearly in the wrong and are a hazard to people in the lane w/o traffic.
CHILDREN, CHILDREN, DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR!!!
mojo filter got me thinking that perhaps I was mistaken in what I saw on the Turnpike. So, being a lazy Sunday morn, I decided to hop in the Maxima, throw a disk into the Mavica and take a drive south.
As I mentioned before, the times that I’ve been through here, I’ve not seen a merge problem. Pretty remarkable for a state full of fussbudgets and NASCAR wannabees.
The merge point may have started way forward and thefollowing drivers merged leaving space ahead inthe reducing lane allowing the inconsiderate few to assert their right to jump way forward past those who merged safely and voluntarily early.Anyway there are so many variables in this situation presenting safe outlets sometimes and reckless situations othertimes.I frequent ski areas some 100 days per season and ski lift lines present many opportunities to observe rage in top form.I assure you I’m well versed in lift line strategy.The best strategy of course is to get there early,milk the first tracks and be heading home for lunch when everyone else is backed up in the parking lot.
OK, kids, I don’t know who started this pissing contest, and I don’t care. It ends right here. I suggest that both lawoot and khalidee, and anyone else thinking of getting involved, forget that this argument ever took place. If you’re not capable of doing that, then take it to e-mail. If I see one more post in this thread continuing that fight, then Lynn will be hearing the name of whoever made that post. Got that?
I would have accepted the offered truce earlier, but I was out doing some yard work. I apologize to all involved,
but mostly to khalidee, whom I unfairly released some unrelated work anger upon. (That’s why I went to do the yard work. Needed to blow off some steam in a positive way) Again, sorry.
In the absence of ANY sign which indicates which lane is to merge into the other, I’d think the car on the right has ROW (this goes back to pre-automobile rules of the road for naval vessels on which many automobile rules are based).
There may also be an angle that concerns the ROW for an auto in the lane that ORIGINALLY existed; you know, before the turn lane or merge lane was added, or road was widened to provide the extra lane. I’d think the auto in the original lane might be viewed as having ROW in that case.
Ha! Found the answer to my question at last. Sadly, i was unable to find the answer to the OP at this site. Interestingly, Texas statutes do not make use of the word “merge” in the context of lanes.
[hijack] Professional drivers have to be better drivers. Truckers drive a long tall vehicle that bends in the middle, in all kinds of road conditions, unfamiliar cities & routes, with a constantly changing load. Often driving in a month what the average driver covers in a year on familiar routes. And truckers are subject to the same point system against a license as anybody else…do the math.
I think people often think truckers are “bad” drivers because they are intimidated by the big scary trucks. [/hijack]
dqa That makes sense, of course. Yielding to the often faster-moving traffic on the left, much as one enters a freeway, is common sense.
This is easy. The merging lane has to yield to the through lane. In a civilized world, with slower traffic, left right left right is the polite thing to do, but if you come flying up on me and get your nose ahead of mine, and come into my lane; I will hit you, you will be at fault, ticketed, and pay for my damage that you coursed. Except for no fault states.
