On Ramp Etiquette

I try to be accommodating while in those situations, but, in cities where there are a lot of on ramps, in probably going to be in lane 2 more often than lane 1. There are more interactions when in the merging lane, which are more opportunities for something to go wrong. Also, it kills your fuel economy if you are having to speed up and slow down constantly.

The problem is that most cities now have the "no trucks in left lanes" rule. That needs to go away. Here is, in my opinion, how it should work. On a 4 lane through a city, left lane should be for fast through traffic, maybe put a minimum speed of 68mph. Lane 3 should be for slower through traffic, minimum speed 60mph. Lane 2 for local travel, maximum speed 60 mph, and lane 1 for traffic merging on and off the freeway.

Not sure if that would work but seems like it would make traffic flow more easily, or some variant of this approach.

In a perfect world, yes. But do you really expect some 4 wheelers and even truckers to abide by that?

G-Town emphasis on SAFETY is very important please make Safety your number 1 priority and that should include your PRE-TRIP. Got a 1 million dollars claim paid out today because this lady was driving behind a big rig on a ramp getting on the highway and the trailer got detached from the truck and we all know what happened (RIP), so I share this so that those who want to wonder why there is a huge emphasis on SAFETY and PRE-TRIP understand the HUGE IMPORTANCE that it carries.

Safety should always be your guide in a situation like this. Always, no exceptions.

Part of our job is to stay out of trouble or in the case you described, remove ourselves from the troublesome situation. You must always assume the driver trying to enter the interstate has no clue, you must drive for yourself and to some extent for them. Imagine the worst possible move the car could make in a situation like that; not yielding to you and forcing there way in, causing an accident that might involve you. Let 'em on...drop your speed to 58-60. Not about being a jerk...it's about reducing the risk of an accident.

At some point they are all merging lanes though as folks in lane 1 aren't staying there and now folks from 4 have to go 3 lanes when it's there time to exit. I also tend to run in the 2nd lane to avoid exiting and merging traffic but if I see a big truck coming up behind me I'll move to lane 1 to let him by. Fuel economy ranks behind safety but I also understand changing lanes really increase safety risk. It's a constant battle out there. Best of luck to everyone.

I try to be accommodating while in those situations, but, in cities where there are a lot of on ramps, in probably going to be in lane 2 more often than lane 1. There are more interactions when in the merging lane, which are more opportunities for something to go wrong. Also, it kills your fuel economy if you are having to speed up and slow down constantly.

The problem is that most cities now have the "no trucks in left lanes" rule. That needs to go away. Here is, in my opinion, how it should work. On a 4 lane through a city, left lane should be for fast through traffic, maybe put a minimum speed of 68mph. Lane 3 should be for slower through traffic, minimum speed 60mph. Lane 2 for local travel, maximum speed 60 mph, and lane 1 for traffic merging on and off the freeway.

Not sure if that would work but seems like it would make traffic flow more easily, or some variant of this approach.

This goes to Brett's post on courtesy.

So assuming your left side is blocked, or many fast movers coming up.

Other rigs, pretty easy. Heavy and slow I'll go by, light and quick I'll slow and let in.

The question is 4wheelers. When am I being a jerk or not.

If you pace me coming down the on ramp no, I'm not going to back out of it. At best I'm doing 62, you can accelerate up to posted speed, or wait 5 seconds and go around.

Am I becoming one of those guys?

I think this is one of my biggest annoyances. I drive on 495 in Massachusetts almost every day and there seems to be something about that area, a lot of drivers seem to think they have the right of way when coming on an on ramp. And I'm governed at 60. Most of the traffic is going to go faster than that, but they want to make me slow down before they'll hit the gas.

Anyway, just recently it dawned on me that I think there's kind of an unconscious etiquette for merging on to the highway: vehicles on the on ramp match the traffic speed then wait to see what the other traffic does as kind of a cue to whether or they should merge in ahead or behind. The problem is I'm going my max speed so I can't speed up, and I don't want to have to slow down. But I've resigned myself to the idea that I often have to slow down a little just to give the merging traffic "permission" to go in front of me.

And of course we all love when you can't get over because traffic has you pinned in the right lane and someone merging rides alongside you waiting for you to move. When they finally have to hit the brakes and fall in behind you, they get mad, mash the throttle to the floor, and whiz by you at 80 mph in the left lane with their middle finger out the window.

Of course it's like, "If you woulda hit the gas like that in the first place.......but noooo.....and now you're mad and your middle finger is covered with bugs."

People may hate it but I always drive in the middle lane in cities. Yeah I'll have traffic passing me on both sides but I don't have to deal with the dangers of merging traffic or changing lanes when the right lane turns exit only.

One time i was driving in TN, was in the right lane. Car is coming down the entrance ramp. I can't move over so I slow down to let the car in. The car merging also slows down, being afraid to merge in front of me. Eventually the car stopped on the ramp since she now had to wait for another opening.

There really is no perfect systematic solution other than just ride the middle lane. I usually try not to do that though because of Colorado's law--"keep right except to pass." All it takes is an over-zealous cop to decide I absolutely must stay in the right lane, even though I'm trying to avoid a collision with merging traffic. And lots of other states don't allow trucks in the far left lane, so I'm forcing them to either stay behind me or pass on the right. So, personally, I've found it really helps to just slow down in cities in general. I turn off the cruise and go around 55 mph or less--seems to help avoid unpleasant encounters with kamikaze drivers.

But still, if there's a lot of traffic merging all at once, or if a truck is trying to merge, I'll get over if I can.

Like I said, no perfect solution... just do your best to cope with the chaos and not hit anything.

Not all highways have 3 lanes as y all know..... take I 57 after the I 80 junction in chicago

Not all highways have 3 lanes as y all know..... take I 57 after the I 80 junction in chicago

What? I had no idea.

And of course we all love when you can't get over because traffic has you pinned in the right lane and someone merging rides alongside you waiting for you to move. When they finally have to hit the brakes and fall in behind you, they get mad, mash the throttle to the floor, and whiz by you at 80 mph in the left lane with their middle finger out the window.

Of course it's like, "If you woulda hit the gas like that in the first place.......but noooo.....and now you're mad and your middle finger is covered with bugs."

Exactly! When did people start putting down the on ramp, and then hit the gas once they hit the freeway, it didn't used to be like that long ago. The on ramp is for acceleration, so get on with it.....

I wonder if it has to do with people trying to save fuel. Higher gas prices means people are afraid to mash the pedal?