Merging – Come on Guys lets zipper!

Ok, this is the first of a series of driving posts. Whether its comments on driving habits and getting it off my chest, or suggestions on road improvements.

See view from street at the bottom of post

Where do these people learn to merge?
Part 1 of 2:
This all started with some guy stopping to merge. I was going down Claiborne on the ramp/bridge over Earheart/the tracks on the interchange with I-10/the Crescent City Connection/Poydras-Approximately 1100 S. Claiborne Ave, 70113, and this guy had his blinker on. I slow enough to let him in, and he stops. Swell, now he is holding up several people, and has to wait for a couple dozen cars coming out of the light at MLK Boulevard.

He has the whole shoulder ahead to stop in. There was no debris. Instead, he’s blocking the ramp, holding up traffic, and increasing the possibility of a wreck of at least a couple dozen cars. The rule is what is the safest move. Its generally accepted that you can overflow to the shoulder if necessary when merging, but do not count on it.         …. Its Considered an emergency maneuver.  NOTE: if he would have merged, he could have easily gotten in front of me rather than stopping. i.e. match speed and get into the lane.

Quote from: lowestpricetrafficschool.com
All expressway entrances have three basic parts: an entrance ramp, an acceleration lane, and a merging area. Follow these guidelines to enter an expressway safely:

* On the entrance ramp, begin checking for an opening in traffic. Signal for your turn.
* As the ramp straightens into the acceleration lane, speed up. Try to adjust your speed so that you can move into the traffic when you reach the end of the acceleration lane.
* Merge into traffic when you can do so safely. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the expressway. You cannot always count on other drivers moving over to give you room to enter, but do not stop on an acceleration lane unless traffic is too heavy and there is no space for you to enter safely.

Merge defined by dictionary.reference.com

1. to cause to combine or coalesce; unite. [edit: i.e. two lanes of traffic]
4. to combine or unite into a single enterprise, organization, body, etc.: The two firms merged last year.  [Edit: Single Lane / Flow of traffic]

MORE on merging….. Part 2 of 2

http://jeffcaylor.com/2008/09/19/i-dont-know-everything-the-zipper-merge/

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1 Response to Merging – Come on Guys lets zipper!

  1. Pingback: More on merging…. The Zipper | Lets Talk

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