Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Merge

Okay, it's been awhile since I did a blog like this one. Today's blog is about merging onto the highway. In case you were not aware, the responsibility for merging onto the highway lies solely with the merger, not the traffic going 70 miles an hour already on the highway.

Here is an excerpt from Texas Highway Traffic Laws :

"Unless traffic on the freeway is completely stopped, or there is no place for you to go, do not ever stop on a freeway entrance ramp! This is an extremely serious traffic hazard. Drivers behind you are speeding-up to get up to freeway speed and are looking back up the freeway for a gap to merge into. They are not expecting you to stop! If you can't squeeze into traffic by the time you get to the end of the ramp, make sure your left turn signal is on and keep going on the shoulder until you can merge into the traffic stream."

Now, my issue is with the driver's trying to merge on that drive next to me. Either speed up and go in front of me, or slow down and merge in behind me. Don't expect me to do either. Of course, as this other excerpt from the law states, I will move over if I can to the next lane to help you merge in but in some cases I cannot do that. So, the onerous is on you at that point.

"If you're in the right lane of a freeway and see traffic preparing to merge, move over or give them room to merge. Although the law requires traffic entering the freeway to yield, good drivers will make the effort to help-out their fellow drivers."

So, bottom line :

1. It is your job to successfully merge onto the highway, not mine.
2. I will move over if I can, but I am not going to speed up or slow down.
3. Be safe.

That is all.

P.S. Oh yeah, I had received some feedback from some regular readers to change my blog back to BLACK.....so here it is. I am playing with the other colors but for now, purple and green.