Community Forums

Winepress · 05-08-2013, 03:48 PM

This has happened to me more than once.

Driving my MH with toad in the slow lane as required by law on two lane each direction divided highway. Car is merging on to the highway. There is a car next to me so I can't get over, I can't rapidly accelerate and don't want to slam on my brakes and get rear ended. Driver looks and sees me next to him as he is merging and can't merge. Driver flips me the bird and all in a huff.

I see the situation as the driver not looking over his shoulder to see what's coming.

How to avoid? Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

dsbear · 05-08-2013, 03:51 PM

When I see that situation about to happen I try to brake well in advance so the merging traffic has a place to go. Don't know that what I do is best just what I do b

Jim_HiTek · 05-08-2013, 03:52 PM

No way you can avoid it, and you can't fix stupid. What you hope is that as the jerk pulls in behind you s/he notices that there was another car already there preventing you from pulling over.

Tony Lee · 05-08-2013, 03:54 PM

Merely a case of TWO drivers failing to respond to the situation where road markings clearly indicate that neither vehicle has absolute right of way and they need to drive cooperatively to sort things out. Given that these sort of situations are normally apparent several hundred yards ahead, it is usually possible
Perhaps if one driver had lifted his foot for a second or two and the other one had accelerated slightly, there would have been no conflict.

Luckiest Dreamer · 05-08-2013, 03:58 PM

It is your required action to maintain your speed and his to adjust and merge. I find it a bit irritating when the person in the driving lane decides to help by either speeding up or braking in an attempt to help. What usually happens is what ever my decision was it quite often matches what the helper decided to do and I end up unable to do the proper merging action. Unfortunatly many people tend to attempt to help the merging car by changing lanes to make it easier for them. They then come to a conclusion that is exactly what everyone should do and when it does not happen you get the salute! My suggestion is to continue along your way at the speed that you are maintaining and let them do what they need to do. It is also your responsibility to be a defensive driver. At that point it is nessesary for you to take the action that will keep everyone safe! Good luck!

Chillbilly · 05-08-2013, 04:00 PM

I see it mostly as you do. This has happened to me also. I feel that drivers should know the meaning of and how to maneuver a "merge", which means giving the right-of-way to the traffic you are merging into. Some want to "just get ahead of the RV" no matter what, and try to push their way in and you out of their way. These are known as bullies. Others try to gun it and speed in front of you. Others respect the fact that you're in control of a 20000+ lb vehicle, and try to slow down to where they can fit in behind you. I usually try to give them merging room if I can get over or slow down. If I can't because of traffic in the near lane or behind me, I stand my ground, hoping that the idiot will either speed up or slow down enough to keep from getting hit. Some are rude. These I simply ignore. It's all you can do. Many drivers don't give much respect to RVers and truckers. You have to be on guard at all times. Drive safe.

Muddypaws · 05-08-2013, 04:00 PM

That's why so many RVers have adopted the use of dash cams.

More than once I've had someone drive down the shoulder and cut in short and THEN slam on their brakes. They seem to think that if you rear end them it's automatically your fault. WRONG

Mr_D · 05-08-2013, 04:17 PM

The driver on the main roadway has the right of way, the merging driver is required to adjust their speed to the mainline traffic.
Here in WA state the drivers manuals state that every onramp has an implicit "YIELD" sign on it.

Francesca · 05-08-2013, 04:22 PM

Hoo boy...To think that it's only been a little over a month since over 300 posts were made on this subject!

I'd cut-and paste it all in here 'cept I'm afraid that would blow the sides off the Virtual Building, so I'll settle for doing this:

I hereby Officially Quote/Restate everything that everybody including myself said in the discussion at http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/why-d...in-146517.html

doc · 05-08-2013, 04:37 PM

I sure rather than slow down and let the merging traffic get in front. if he is in hurry, he is going to pass me anyway.

CapnMorgan · 05-08-2013, 04:44 PM

99.9% of the time that I have a moment of weakness and slow down to allow the other driver room to pass, they will decide that they want to slow down and go to my rear. By the time I realize that they are slowing we have become a hazard. Now I do my best to move to other lane, but rarely to I break speed.

Lindsay Richards · 05-08-2013, 04:44 PM

When I mash the gas on my coach, I increase the sound, but get very little speed increase. I am left with slowing down. For the last 5 years, I have gone to the horn system. We have a very loud aftermarket horn put on by the previous owner and toot it very early to get their attention. If we are still in a bad situation, I go for the long blast. It works. Usually, they are putting on eye makeup or texting. In many states, in ccongested areas on 6 lane roads (3 each way) trucks are not allowed in the left lane, so if you want to go the speed limit or below, the middle lane is impeding them and they get rambunctious.

Caveman CBB · 05-08-2013, 05:12 PM

I've been in both situations. It kinda depends on how heavy the traffic is. If I see a person coming down the ramp about to merge I back off way ahead of time to give space in front of me so they can do it. Also, you are suppose to be in the right lane but, if possible(and many time's it's not) you can slow down enough to let the person to the left of you get ahead, then get in the left lane, then pull back over to the right when traffic permits.

On, the other hand if I'm trying to pull on to the highway I'll try to find a space to squeeze in and adjust me speed to do so. But, there are times when it seems like the people on the highway are just not willing to let anybody in at all.

And, finally, if the traffic was light and you were roiling along with a car to the left of you for a long period of time you should have slowed down to let that car get ahead of you. It's a bad idea to keep that car over there; if you can avoid it;.

One thing I really hate is when you have two vehicles, both going under the posted limit, side by side for mile after bloody mile. For god's sake somebody change there speed and let the rest of us pass.

There are to many variables to say what was happening for sure in your case.

StevieG · 05-08-2013, 06:01 PM

I'm usually going the speed limit plus a few... If I can get over, I will... If not, I maintain my speed and stay put. I am not going to kill myself and my family so somebody can be in front of me... As previously said, merging traffic is supposed to yield to highway traffic...