Lane merging might be viewed as a pain in the neck, and not to be too reductive, but sometimes it literally is a pain in the neck having to twist your head to see what’s happening around you. That said, it’s an excellent way to exercise your patience muscle, one of those challenges that leads you to becoming a better person. Or, at least something like that!
Let’s be honest though: merging lanes is one of those hallmarks of the driving experience that can generate frustration, road rage, accidents, and traffic chaos no matter how you look at it.
So, what exactly is a merge lane?
When the lane you’re in comes to an end and you need to merge into another to keep moving forwards, the lane that is about to vanish into nowhere is called the merging lane.
Merging lanes are a requirement that all road users must deal with at some time, so let’s go over the regulations of merging lanes to minimise any unnecessary conflict and irritation on the road.
When merging into another lane, you must give way to everyone in the lane you are merging into and signal for an appropriate period of time that you want to cross into their lane.
There are two standards for merging, depending on whether or not line markings are present.
At the point of the merge area, the lane will stop either without a centre line or with a segregated line.
If there are no lane markings in a merging lane, you must give way to any vehicle in front of your vehicle at the end of the lane.
What are the rules around merging lanes, then?
The first rule: err on the side of caution, give way to others
When merging into another lane, you must give way to everyone in the lane you are merging into and signal for an appropriate period of time that you want to cross into their lane.
There are two standards for merging, depending on whether or not line markings are present.
At the point of the merge area, the lane will stop either without a centre line or with a segregated line.
If there are no lane markings in a merging lane, you must give way to any vehicle in front of your vehicle at the end of the lane.
If you’re merging and a car is next to you but in ahead of yours, you must give way to that vehicle and drive in behind them if it’s safe to do so.
If the vehicle in the lane next to you is not in front of you, they must yield and enable you to join the lane ahead of them.
This isn’t a challenge to get in front of the other automobile so you can move over! Drive safely, paying attention to other drivers and following the regulations of the road.
You must give way to any cars in the other lane you are merging into when merging lanes with line markings at the end point of the lane.
If another vehicle is approaching yours, you must yield and combine only when there is enough space and it is safe to do so.
Rule #2: Merging safely onto the motorway
Always consider your options and fellow motorists, and always accelerate to match the speed of the traffic you’re merging into.
Keep an eye on what’s going on in the lane you’re about to enter, find a safe gap, and merge in at the same pace as the other drivers.
You may cause an accident if you panic and quickly brake, or if you do not pay attention to what other drivers are doing around you.
When driving on a highway or motorway, keep an eye out for approaching vehicles and give them adequate distance to enter safely.
Remember that merging traffic must give way to you, so, if merging traffic is slowing down to give way to you, don’t not suddenly slow down to match them, as this can cause confusion and possibly even an accident.
Be mindful about your speed so that others can merge safely without having to make any abrupt modifications to your driving style.
When exiting a highway, plan your trip ahead of time and avoid swerving across lanes. Continue driving and take the next exit if you miss the one you meant to take.
Rule #3: Don’t slow down suddenly!
Okay, so there’s an important unwritten one-to-one courtesy rule when merging into crowded traffic. In short, when it comes to merging lanes, only one vehicle at a time will join into the traffic.
If the driver in the lane you’re merging into refuses to let you in, keep in mind that they don’t have to, and don’t take it personally!
Allow them to pass through and pull in behind them if the lane has lines at the point where it stops. Keep your cool if you come across nasty people in heavy traffic – yeah, it can be a bit stressful, sometimes! – and simply let them go in front of you.
It’s preferable for them to be in front of you rather than behind you, where they can be aggressive and forceful. They’ll switch lanes and irritate someone else soon enough!
If the driver in the lane you’re merging into refuses to let you in, keep in mind that they don’t have to.
Allow them to pass through and pull in behind them if the lane has lines at the point where it stops.
Keep your cool if you come across nasty people in heavy traffic and simply let them go in front of you.
It’s preferable for them to be in front of you rather than behind you, where they can be aggressive and forceful. They’ll switch lanes and irritate someone else soon enough!
When merging, take caution, don’t make it a drag race, keep an eye on what’s going on around you, avoid sudden lane swerving, and follow the traffic laws to stay as safe as possible.