How to Merge into One Lane

[LVSteve]

Well...that wouldn't be very successful. They use their turn signals over there, almost without fail. They use them when pulling out from a parallel parking place; when changing lanes; when turning right or left; and even when leaving a roundabout.

Here's something else they do that we don't: They actually stop at stop signs and red lights. (And there is no right-turn-on-red allowed.)

They drive in the right lane, and use the left lane for passing. They never cruise in the left lane, and they never pass on the right...either transgression is strictly illegal, and will get you in trouble with the Polizei...

Where there are speed limits, they obey them religiously. There are programmable speed limit signs on the Autobahn, that can be changed according to weather conditions. Motorists will hit their brakes to slow to a legal speed, and then drive at that speed until signs indicate an increase.

The biggest difference between driving here and driving there is that in Europe (at least in Germanic countries) motorists treat each other as kindred spirits, whereas here we treat each other as adversaries to be bested in some sort of manhood test.

It's very strange...

The difference is that Germans are trained to drive, rather than shown how to pass a pathetic excuse for a driving test as happens here.

FWIW, the Germans have the same view of the British test. The Finns, of course, smirk because they know their driver training is the best in the world.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I think being respectful means using your turn signal and waiting patiently for a driver in the lane you want to merge to slow, indicating "go ahead and merge." I find many drivers don't want to allow you to merge, and will speed up when they see my turn signal. But I find if I wait, turn signal on, pretty soon, a driver will slow for me, allowing me to merge.

I drive fairly aggressively, the car and me, I mean, but whenever I see a driver ahead of me signaling it wants to enter my lane, I pause and wait.



This. This is what I do if one can merge at a reasonable speed. But when it is bumper to bumper, stop and go, I will go to the very end to merge.

The other thing I'd like to point out is the gap between your car and the car in front of you. The point LVSteve makes. More space is better. It is safer. And if everyone is going 80 MPH, and someone wants to get in front of you in that big gap, so what? And conversely, if it is stop and go, what's a car length lost?

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So far, 81% are with the merge as soon as possible camp. Interesting. Maybe this is because US drivers feel insulted or challenged or whatever when someone wants to merge in front of them?

It’s all about respect. Not just merging.

People here will cut you off in a heartbeat. They take away your safe follow distance. They expect you to speed up or slow down because they’re too stupid to look ahead instead of the rear bumper on the car in front of them.

Some leap frog dangerously in bumper to bumper traffic. Ever notice what the most prevalent car accidents are? Yes. Rear ended.

They drive too fast. Too close or not paying attention. All because they lack the respect of other drivers.

Also, have you ever noticed that in conservative areas traffic generally moves smoother? That’s because people are respectful and patient.

Heck, people here have been shot at on the highways because they were in the way!

Don’t get me started on immigrants with “student driver” bumper stickers that obviously need more training before they went off by themselves.

 

[rwsmith]

Reason for my answer.......

It works best when everybody KEEPS MOVING.

 

[Skeet 028]

I don't know...I always liked the lights and siren on that big ol Fire truck

 

[Rudi]

I had a class B CDL for many years. There is no shortage of fools who will do anything to be infront. In all aspects of driving these morons are dangerous.