Merging onto the freeway, who has the right of way?

Hoeboy · Feb 19, 2003

Twice this week I almost got into a car accident on the freeway because some ass did not want to let me merge onto the freeway. The first occurance I even signaled and was way ahead of the guy so he definately saw me trying to merge. But he was probably busting 80mph and did not want to slow down a tad bit for me to get in. I mean I was already halfway into the lane and the ass still did not slow down. He was definately going faster than I did and if I had done a complete lane merge, he would have rammed me in the back. I ended up having to swerve back out and he had the nerve to look at me like I did something wrong.

Second time was this morning. I was merging onto the freeway and this guy definately saw me merging as well. He did not want to slow down either and thought he could pass me up before I completely merged. The result? I could literally look into his f ucken passenger side mirror. His car was THAT close to mines. I was about to swerve to the right lane because after the end of the merge, there was another lane opening up to my right. But there was a car to my right. I was pinned between two cars, driving on two lanes. The car to my right saw what was happening and had the decentcy to move to the shoulders a bit to let me have room to get out of the way.

I mean holy sh!t if I got into an accident those two times, would I be liable? I mean at least have the goddamn courtesy for merging traffic.

Evadman · Feb 19, 2003

Depends on the state. here, it would be the one already on the freeway.

Colt45 · Feb 19, 2003

the guy that isnt merging

Hoeboy · Feb 19, 2003

yeah but in both cases, the merging lane ends real quick. it's not like i could take my sweet time. and in both cases the drivers saw me coming and knew my intention.

Zenmervolt · Feb 19, 2003

In Ohio, the person on the freeway has the right of way. IIRC it's the same in all states. In both cases you were wrong and would have been cited for any resultant accident.

ZV

neovan · Feb 19, 2003

the one who is already in the lane that you want to merge onto.

308nato · Feb 19, 2003

Its like a sanctioned chicken match at 70 mph really.....

Ryan · Feb 19, 2003

The person on the highway has the right of way.

bunker · Feb 19, 2003

If you would have jumped into the lane and got rear-ended it would of been the other driver's fault.

As far as who has the right of way, not sure.

Zenmervolt · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
yeah but in both cases, the merging lane ends real quick. it's not like i could take my sweet time. and in both cases the drivers saw me coming and knew my intention.

You should have your spot chosen very early in the merge lane and slow down or speed up accordingly. At the end of the entrance ramp you are expected to be moving at the speed of traffic.

ZV

Joemonkey · Feb 19, 2003

Yep, whoever is already on the highway has the right to be as big of a d!ck as they want!

i always try to get over to allow people to merge, mainly cuz i hope karma takes care of me when i'm in a tight merging spot

FenrisUlf · Feb 19, 2003

The car already on the freeway has the right of way. Since you are joining traffic, it is contingent on you to avoid traffic, not for them to get out of your way.

Zenmervolt · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: bunker
If you would have jumped into the lane and got rear-ended it would of been the other driver's fault.

Wrong. A rear-end impact is not always the fault of the guy behind. If the person in front engages in an improper lane change (i.e. "failure to yield") then it is the person in front who is at fault. It's simply an old wive's tale that the person in back is always responsible for a rear-end collision.

ZV

Rudee · Feb 19, 2003

If you have to ask this question, you really shouldn't be on the road.

Hoeboy · Feb 19, 2003

bah. i guess i should be careful next time. i mean who would be driving 80mph-ish at the right most lane knowing there's several cars that want to get in.

mpitts · Feb 19, 2003

Just because someone knows what you intentions are doesn't meant that they have to conform to them if they have right of way.

Think about it like you are changing lanes. Just because you WANT into the lane, it doesn't mean a person has to let you in.

StageLeft · Feb 19, 2003

If you're merging you have to watch out for them. I hate a-holes as much as everyone else for not moving, but they still have right of way.

Zenmervolt · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
bah. i guess i should be careful next time. i mean who would be driving 80mph-ish at the right most lane knowing there's several cars that want to get in.

Irrelevant. He can be the biggest ass in the world, but the responsibility to avoid an accident is still yours.

ZV

Hoeboy · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: Rudee
If you have to ask this question, you really shouldn't be on the road.

thank you wise master

kranky · Feb 19, 2003

I don't understand people like the ones you encountered. What the hell is the point of keeping someone from safely merging? Is it some macho "I don't want anyone in front of me" thing? I wonder sometimes how many people are laying in hospital beds thinking, "At least it was the other guy's fault." Well, goody for you. You're still hospitalized!

I'm eager to move over if someone's entering the highway - I would like to stay out of avoidable accidents.

mpitts · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
bah. i guess i should be careful next time. i mean who would be driving 80mph-ish at the right most lane knowing there's several cars that want to get in.

Tons of people do it.. and they will continue to. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing on the road. You can't control it. I had to learn that years ago.

Hoeboy · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
bah. i guess i should be careful next time. i mean who would be driving 80mph-ish at the right most lane knowing there's several cars that want to get in.

Click to expand...

Tons of people do it.. and they will continue to. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing on the road. You can't control it. I had to learn that years ago.

yeah but i'm exercising my right as an american to bitch

mpitts · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: kranky
I don't understand people like the ones you encountered. What the hell is the point of keeping someone from safely merging? Is it some macho "I don't want anyone in front of me" thing? I wonder sometimes how many people are laying in hospital beds thinking, "At least it was the other guy's fault." Well, goody for you. You're still hospitalized!

I'm eager to move over if someone's entering the highway - I would like to stay out of avoidable accidents.

If that person is going at a steady rate, they probably don't want to slow down to let someone who is probably going MUCH slower than they are in front of them.

mpitts · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by: Hoeboy

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
bah. i guess i should be careful next time. i mean who would be driving 80mph-ish at the right most lane knowing there's several cars that want to get in.

Click to expand...

Tons of people do it.. and they will continue to. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing on the road. You can't control it. I had to learn that years ago.

Click to expand...

yeah but i'm exercising my right as an american to bitch

You are free to bitch about it, just don't expect it to change anything.

AnimeKnight · Feb 19, 2003

My GF got into an accident this way.... so we found out the hard way.. its the guy that's already in the lane. He has the right of way

Merging onto the freeway, who has the right of way?

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