why can't american drivers merge properly?

[gpandas]

i drove to ohio from florida this week. naturally there were a few instances of two lanes of traffic merging into one lane. ideally, there would be a point at which the two lanes alternate moving forward. this seems as apparent as the nose on one's face. you go, then i go. it's that fucking simple. how about some ideas concerning what can be done about this situation, or, as i observe, is a solution impossible in this mostly me-first culture.

[seabeyond]

1. people around here, a couple car length difference

and if they think you are comin in their lane, THEIR lane they speed up, to like say, no this is mine lane you cant have it

i dont get it. stupid

[Vincardog]

4. A half mile back swing wide and block both lanes.

It workers best if you are a big rig. These me first aholes often have a W04 sticker on. They have no comprehension of cooperation. If you slow down to let them merge on the highway and they will stop in disbelief!

[seabeyond]

6. yes yes yes you are funny and it is true

i have never seen anything like it. i let people in all the time. they dont know how to do. end up causing problem instead of just a thanks and jump in, get on with life, they sit frozen, bah hahahahah like sheep in headlite, not a clue what to do. you dont know in a decade how many times i have had this happen. that is the funniest, but is true

[gpandas]

7. i have performed this action on several occasions...

and some will ride the shoulder to get past me!

[Ironpost]

30. I was needing a laugh wheeeu

[lonestarnot]

9. People territorial by nature...the bubble space concept...

[seabeyond]

12. do you think it is more male, cause i dont have to piss

on my territory. mark it

teasing

[lonestarnot]

17. Nope women just as territorial.

[CrispyQ]

2. I don't get it either -- the "I gotta be first" mentality

One whole car length means that much to them???????

[dbt]

10. Another legacy of Rush Limbaugh

[Demit]

3. I think the philosophy is, First I go, then you can go right after me, LOL

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. In the Mid-Atlantic region, there is no concept of "lanes"

People here seem to think they can just cross the lines whenever the fuck they feel like it, regardless of whether or not there is already a car in that lane. Oh, and I think directional signals are optional on cars sold here too, because no one seems to use them.

[seabeyond]

8. bah hahahaha

funny

[gpandas]

11. also, there appears to be...

many drivers who think if they use their turn signal THEY ARE GRANTED THE RIGHT OF WAY, and can make a lane change regardless of whom is coming.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. That is true as well.

But only regardless of whom is coming, but also regardless of how fast that person is coming and how likely they are to be able to stop quickly enough. Of course, when you rear end this species I like to call "assholes", it's your fault in the eyes of the insurance companies.

[BlueEyedSon]

13. Try driving in Italy or Greece.

You'll be AMAZED at how civilized we seem after that.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. True dat.

Their highways make our demolition derbies seem tame.

[Arugula Latte]

15. I have to say

here in Portland I am often pleasantly surprised by drivers' kindness. Yes there are plenty of A-holes (SUVs w/ W stickers, usually) who will not yield no matter what, but plenty of other people will wave you in or let you pull ahead of them in a lane if they see your signal. I try to look for opportunities to be polite because I'm a big believer in driving karma. Polite behavior in the car is one thing likely to directly influence people's attitudes and practices and that can only benefit everyone.

[gpandas]

18. "surprised" is operant word here. n/t

[MsUSA]

35. ditto to that Oregonian. I love when the lane switchers are

jockeying to get ahead of everyone else and end up first in line at the red light and I'll be a car behind them. I love that.

[redqueen]

19. Culture of 'individuality'

There's little concept of altruism or even polite consideration.

As for a solution, it has to start when people are young... most don't want to change as they're convinced that 'individuality' (which so easily becomes selfishness) is a 'good thing'.

For those who aren't immediately opposed to doing something that doesn't benefit them directly, change is possible at any time... however I'm increasingly convinced these people are a tiny minority.

[gpandas]

26. maybe just you and me, red queen

LOL!

[seabeyond]

29. we have a rule in my car with my boys

patience with the old, and teenagers. teenagers inexperience so we be nice, adn weary, and old people, slow...........so we be nice and patient. then one day it went to and mommies. cause she could have kids in back seat bickering and fighting, hey like you two boys. we took it further, to the tired father that has had a tough day and wants to get home

we repeat that often. then when in a hurry and i say move it.........son will say, mom he is old. and i know exactly what he is telling me

[gpandas]

36. cool idea for kids, hope it catches on

[begin_within]

20. In southern California it is actually illegal to use your turn signals ; )

[aeolian]

21. Stop signs seem to give people problems, too.

And let's not even get into the apparant complexity of the Yield sign.

[seabeyond]

23. hey, that is called a california stop

and i have gotten out of more tickets telling these texan cops, that in california that is called a californian stop and totally legit

who has gotten out of the most tickets,......raising hand

[minerva50]

38. When I lived in CA, my boss took a business trip back east.

He eased through a stop sign and was stopped by a cop saying, "You pulled a CA stop there, buddy." My boss sheepishly pulled out his CA DL. He said the cop didn't even crack a smile as he wrote out the ticket.

[seabeyond]

39. bah hahahaha

i know, it really is called a calif stop, and when you are a calif girl, they do break a smile, lol

[begin_within]

22. Americans get tremendous satisfaction in getting home 4 seconds earlier

[seabeyond]

25. loll lol i ma thinking this is the most funny thread

speed up and rush to the red stop lite. that is me. lol lol

[starwolf]

24. I ride a motorcycle most days

And all of the cagers are out to get me, regardless of political affiliation.

Closest call was with a soccer mom with a bunch of Kerry and pro choice stickers. Three times she drifted into my lane in traffic. At the next light knocked on her window and asked her to stay in her lane.

Best shouting match was with a military wife who thought her signaling before moving in my lane made the accident my fault. Not sure she realized until later the noise she heard was me kicking the side of her door since she was ignoring my horn.

[seabeyond]

27. was me kicking the side of her door

that is just funny. you all are funny. you motorcycle people scarre me. i try to give you lotsa space.

[carnie_sf]

34. As well you should n/t

[starwolf]

41. And thats a good thing

I am a daily rider, not a fair weather weekend leather poser. I a flashing headlight (legal on motorcycles) and a fire engine yellow jacket. Yet there are those who do not see me.
On all of my vehicles I have installed a pair of 125db horns. They deafening and often make people spill their coffee. Still some people manage to not hear them. For those deaf and blind drivers there are my metal edged motocross boots that do amazing damage to paint and metal. They almost always get their attention.

Serious, when driving around MCs be aware that they will never want to be beside you, in back of or preferably in front. Its a survival thing. When following one, stay back some. We can stop much faster than you can. Don't mind if we lane split sometimes, since bikes overheat much quicker in traffic.

I have a 10 year old bike which I maintain myself. It gets great mileage. As the cost of fuel rises I expect to see more weekend pleasure machines pressed into service as daily rides, especially as summer is upon us. Look out for us out there.

[KansDem]

28. Hmmm, in answer to your question. Could it be that "merging" ...

...suggests "yielding" and we Americans yield to no one?

[gpandas]

32. always did hate that "yield" sign.

[JHB]

31. You missed whole species of can't-merges...

...the ones who think highway merge lanes have stop-signs on them, and those who don't notice when you are letting them in so they practically force you into a stop on a busy road -- and just when you give up on the courtesy and return to normal driving speed, THEN they decide to hop in...

[minerva50]

33. I drive frequently in DC area and also in Wilmington NC area

I notice a definite difference in behavior in the two places when two lanes are merging or when one will become a turn-only lane. The NC drivers move into the proper lane way ahead of time. The DC drivers drive aggressively as far forward in the dying lane as possible and merge at the last minute. Actually both systems work, and I think the DC method may be more efficient. I must confess I sometimes take advantage of my out-of-state plates in NC and drive forward in the dying lane, pretending ignorance and jumping ahead.

[newportdadde]

37. I'm currently getting a dose of it everyday on the way home.

Here on the east side of KC I-70 goes from 3 to 2 lanes and they redo the westbound lanes and the westbound traffic is diverted over to share two of our lanes.

So as we go home the left most lane dies, now of course the middle is slow because of people merging and the far right is slow as people exit and enter the highway. So these assholes who by now KNOW the lane ends gun it and run right up to the very end of it to try and squeeze in. The worst are the truck drivers who will be in the middle lane, will see the left lane dieing then change into the left lane so they boogie on up 300 feet with their big rig.. what a joke.

Also a joy are the people who speed up to squeeze in front of me even though BEHIND me there is 10 car lengths of empty space... :wtf:

I don't mind taking turns to let someone in if they try to merge early but when I let someone in it means I'm letting THEM in, not them and you and the six cars behind you.

[seabeyond]

40. see the post above you, she pretends

ignorance, lol lol lol

on edit: and you can pretend all you like, we all know better as we watch you cut in line, wink