merging
this concept seems to be one of the hardest to knoxville drivers in general. there are exceptions to this conclusion. you can tell a good merger as one who does so quickly and definitively. let us find out what the study guide has to say about merging (specifically, onto the interstate):
Entering the Interstate
In most driving situations, you slow down or stop before you enter a busy road, but when entering an interstate, you do the opposite. You must use the merging or acceleration lane to speed up and merge with fast-moving traffic already on the interstate.Good judgment and good timing are necessary to merge smoothly with fast-moving traffic. Upon entering the interstate on-ramp, stay to the right and increase your speed in the acceleration lane/entrance ramp. Use the ramp to reach interstate speed so you can merge smoothly into the travel lane when the way is clear. Be sure to give the proper left turn signal to indicate your need to enter the traffic lane. Drivers already on the interstate should, for their own safety, make allowance for vehicles attempting to enter. It is your responsibility to yield the right-of-way to other cars on the interstate. Unnecessary stopping on interstate on-ramps causes many rear-end collisions and also obstructs the even flow of traffic. Do not drive to the end of the ramp and stop, or you will not have enough room to get up to the speed of the interstate traffic. Drivers behind you will not expect you to stop. If they are watching the traffic on the main road for space to merge, you could easily be hit from the rear. If you have to wait for space to enter an interstate, slow down on the ramp so that you will still have some room to speed up before you have to merge. Heavy traffic conditions sometimes create a slowdown at an entrance ramp. Unless it is absolutely unavoidable, it is best to keep your vehicle moving at least at some slow pace.
people who come to the end of the entrance ramps and stop are idoits. you’ve seen them. if you are one of them, re-read the above section of the study guide (page 43). notice the mention of a turn signal when entering? that communication thing again. also notice the phrase, “drivers behind you will not expect you to stop.” we don’t expect you to stop. and you shouldn’t stop.
the purpose of the ramp is to give time to match the speed of the interstate traffic. this means acceleration. get moving and get in there. be bold. make a move. be cautious, but act, for heaven’s sake.
if you have to merge, signal and merge. don’t take five minutes to move over. be aware of your surroundings but act definitively. if this is too much for you, consider avoiding the interstate as you might not be ready to drive on it.
3 Responses to “merging”
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Along the same lines, the center turn lane (e.g. Kingston Pike) is for turning left. TURNing let, NOT merging.
Oddly enough this behavior is unique to Knoxville, as I’ve never seen anywhere else where people using the center turn lane to merge with traffic.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting in the center turn lane with my left blinker on, waiting for a break in the traffic to make my turn, when some idiot comes flying at me head on trying to merge with traffic.
Incredibly dangerous and NOT what how the lane was intended to be used.
good call, matt. something i will note for future driving. but along the same lines, how should it be used when turning from the main road? could it be used as a slow down lane? (probably something i should reference for a future post.)
ok you cant sit there and tell me you have never pulled into the turning lane to get out into traffic.yes driving down the turning lane aint so safe but what i do is pull out and either stop or kinda coast along until traffic breaksand i know you do this to every one does it because if they didnt you would still be trying to get out of the wal-mart parking lot i live in cleveland tn and driving is just as bad here if not worse we have all the people that think they can drive but cant and have you been to chattanooga latley i would much rather drive in knoxville than chattanooga any day