Navigation
User login
Merging Traffic
It seems that drivers in BC generally have a big problem when it comes to merging. In this case let's say from two lanes to one. In the normal course of events merging shouldn't be any hassle at all - take turns, one from the left then one from the right - it all moves along nicely, and has a minimal effect on holding up traffic. Not in BC! Here it appears to be everyone for him/herself.
In a perfect world the reader would never have raised this issue. We would all be courteous to each other and take turns when we were presented with a situation where merging was required. All would proceed happily and no one would have to spend more time than the other waiting their turn.
In my travels, I rarely see a merge sign on BC's highways. More often than not, you see a sign indicating that the lane ends ahead, and in this case it is the responsibility of the driver in the lane that is ending to make a safe lane change in order to carry on. Of course, the courteous driver in the adjacent lane should realize this and adjust their speed to allow the other driver room to move in, but it is not required by law.
In the case of a sign that actually displays the word merge on it, neither driver has right of way over the other. Both drivers must take care to accomodate each other as they move to take up positions to enter the single lane ahead. The RoadSense for Drivers manual does not contain specific information for this situation.
Remember that right of way is something granted, not something that a driver insists upon taking. Defensive driving often means making exceptions for the selfish or socially handicapped drivers among us in order to promote safety.
Resources:
Section 151 MVA - Driving on Laned Roadway
Page 51 - Chapter 4, Road Sense for Drivers
Comments
Squeezling
In your post you have indicated that being kind and making way for others is the correct way of handling merging traffic. Further you admit that in a perfect world this would be the case. However, the flip side of this pollyanna view of "how things ought to be" is the "squeezlers". You know who I mean, the folks who can see the very large white arrows on the pavement indicating they are now running out of space, but refuse to smoothly merge. Instead they press onward until there is no space left and then force their way into the lane you are occupying. Then if you don't stand on your own brakes to accomodate them, you get the lecture of "but you are supppooosed to TAKE TURNS!" [said with righteous indignation]
THIS is why is it not a law, and it is not a reasonable suggestion to drivers to expect or even demand that every other driver who has payed attention to the signs and safely moved into the correct lane, make way for someone not driving proactively and with full attention to the roadway. It is the very unsafe practice of entitlement that your solution suggests that create chaos. As I understand it, every driver is expected by law to understand and follow the posted roadway signs and or lane markers. For the drivers that do so to suddenly be placed in a situation where they have to brake to avoid a collision by someone that is obviously not paying attention, or is simply trying to get ahead, is unsafe and unreasonable. Promoting the "lets all take turns and play nice" sets up the situation we have currently, people that ride the right lane till the pavement ends and feel entitled to the space you are driving in. Bottom line is, be responsible for your control/placement of your vehicle and do not assume that another driver is responsible for YOUR safety for you.
Mixed Message
Well, there is a difference between a merge and a lane ending. When it is a genuine merge, then you are required to take turns. When it is a lane ending, then the responsibility is that the driver leaving the lane that is ending must do so without affecting others.
This is an article about merging, not about lane ending, which is also dealt with on the site in a separate article.
Point taken, thank you.
Point taken, thank you.
Merging vs squeezing
Here is a scenario that confuses me. You are in a lane that has a merging lane coming into it. In the merging lane beside you there is a big truck and you are beside the front of his truck. He decides to move over into your lane and just drives over when the only place you have to go is on the shoulder or get run into by him. Does the truck have the right to run you off the road or should he be attempting to move over once you are completely clear of his front bumper?
Terminology
I'm going to assume that you mean a situation where two lanes in one direction are ending and the truck is in the right lane and you are in the left lane. The truck comes to the end of the right lane and begins to move to the left where you are. If this is not the case, let me know!
This is not a merge situation, it is the case of the truck's lane ending and the driver being required to change lanes. He must do so without affecting any other traffic, which means in this case that he should slow and drop in behind you. Hopefully there is room there and that any traffic behind you is not jammed up on your bumper intent on being ahead of the truck.
Legally, they can drive like this and it is up to the truck to find a way in, but practically, sharing the road is a good thing to do. A defensive driver would be anticipating the difficulty and rather than forcing the truck to brake at the end of the lane would have made room to accomodate it.