What is the law concerning vehicles entering Interstate Highways? When the traffic is heavy on a two lane road, what is the responsibility of the vehicle on the highway towards the vehicle entering?
You are doing 60 + MPH and the vehicle entering just putts along, begins to run out of on ramp, and then the driver wants to pull into the lane you are in. Often times, you can not pull over into the left lane due to traffic. Are you expected to hit the brakes, to allow him into the lane in front of you?
In other words, who has to yield to whom?
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Law gives you the "right of way", as he is supposed to yield onto the highway, but as you know, you more often than not, Most folks will slow down to allow them to enter. But, you also have a much better view of what is happening.....looking directly at them, not in a side view mirror...
What are your options....crash into the back/side of this other vehicle, and then explain to the State Trooper: "Yes, I saw him trying to get on, but I didn't care, and I didn't want to lose any time!" (And now, you've been sitting on the side of the road for the past hour)
I was always taught that NOBODY has the right of way...and that it's always best to be a DEFENSIVE driver....but that's me.
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Merge seems to me to mean it is the traffics responsibility to get in with traffic.
It should be mutual , but I find like you mentioned that they don't seem to look until it is too late or try to match the speed of the expressway traffic.
That is what the ramp is for, to excel to traffic speed.
dogpatch: That is a great question. Growing up in a country with few freeways I also wondered . Logic would dictate that the vehicle on the highway has the right of way. But after being almost pushed over and lots of honking and cursing from the approaching vehicles I began to think I was wrong. I asked a state trooper and he replied that I was correct. The vehicle on the highway has the right of way. However being in the right means nothing if the other vehicle keeps on coming. When possible I move over. When not possible I will try to slow down or speed up so the other vehicle can merge. If not possible I give him or her the air horn and dirty looks. Have you also noticed how those merging drivers stare straight ahead and at the last minute glance at the highway!! Exercising your right of way will just lead to a preventable accident.
Yup, you have the right of way traveling along the highway. In reality though, the way the vast majority of folks drive, it is my observation that the person who "takes" the right of way is the person entering the highway on the entry ramp. I have found that I just give in. It violates my "principles", but provides a much less stressful ride.
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Yep, the through traffic has the right of way and my actions are geared to the merging drivers actions. If they try to match the speed and merge in a responsible way, I try and make room for them. If they are busy texting and to busy to drive, then I will wait till they realize they are out of lane and try to yank the wheel left and then I will honk at them and watch them yank the wheel right. Other words, you drive defensively, and I will too. You drive with your head up your a__ and I will help you see how dark it is up there....
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For those already on the expressway, sstay alert for traffic entering ahead. If possible, move out of the right lane as you approach entrances to allow more room for merging traffic.Know where to get on and off the expressway, and be prepared to get into the proper lanes for your entrance and exit. If you miss an exit, however, never back up to get back on the expressway. Get off at the next exit, and look for signs that tell you how to get back on the expressway going the other way.
For those entering the expressway, unless there is a STOP or YIELD sign or traffic light on the entrance ramp, use the ramp to accelerate to expressway speed and blend with traffic. Signal, then look over your shoulder for approaching traffic already on the expressway. If necessary, slow down to safely merge into traffic.
If the entrance lane is too short to allow acceleration to expressway speed, the safest way to enter is to stop and wait for a large gap in traffic. Then enter the expressway and accelerate quickly. To avoid conflicts with other entrance lane traffic, stop only if necessary and merge into expressway traffic as soon as possible.
PapPappy wrote: Law gives you the "right of way", as he is supposed to yield onto the highway, but as you know, you more often than not, Most folks will slow down to allow them to enter. But, you also have a much better view of what is happening.....looking directly at them, not in a side view mirror...
What are your options....crash into the back/side of this other vehicle, and then explain to the State Trooper: "Yes, I saw him trying to get on, but I didn't care, and I didn't want to lose any time!" (And now, you've been sitting on the side of the road for the past hour)
I was always taught that NOBODY has the right of way...and that it's always best to be a DEFENSIVE driver....but that's me.
Which helps as a School Bus Driver
X2! Especially the last paragraph!
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Despite the vehicle on the highway having the right of way to the vehicle entering, drive defensively....you can't fix stupid and a lot of other drivers are exactly that.
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