Late Merge Advantage
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. A new study analyzing driving habits and traffic patterns has sparked a debate about driver etiquette, in specific: the late merge. Many commuters have seen the phenomenon play out all too many times, and the public’s sentiment seems to be decidedly against the practice. However, experts believe that merging at the end of the lane can actually improve traffic conditions.
A Rude Awakening
Drivers on our local freeways tend to regard merging late as the epitome of personal greed, the self-absorbed tactic of a rude driver. Variations of the behavior, including merging in and out of short run off/on ramp lanes, are perhaps even more detestable. Researchers with Pennsylvania’s state highway system think otherwise; their study found that late merging actually improved traffic flow by 15 percent.
Rules of the Road
One of the issues around the late merge is that it exists in a legal gray area. According to Caltrans, the state’s transportation agency and a national policy leader, early merging is advised in California- a reflection of the popular sentiment. The vehicle code however only stipulates that lane changes must be safe, with no mention as to when they must occur. While it may be incredibly frustrating to sit at a standstill and watch more aggressive drivers zoom past you in a terminal lane, it’s not a traffic violation.
Road Rage
Apart from the dangers inherent to driving situations in which some lanes are stalled while others are moving at a much higher rate of speed, late merging presents an additional problem because some motorists respond to the perceived abhorrent driving with an equally inappropriate indignation. While obscene hand gestures and vulgar expressions are seemingly harmless exercises, some responses can actually increase the likelihood of an accident. Motorists have been known to partially block lanes, refuse to let other drivers merge, tailgate, and otherwise engage in reckless behavior in an attempt to render some sort of vigilante justice to the offending vehicle. As the old adage goes, anger is never without reason, but seldom is it a good one. As drivers sharing the roadway, we can only truly work to be safe and conscientious ourselves- the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the appropriate authority to handle traffic violations. Stay safe out there!
So, Is Late Merging a Good Thing?
The researchers in Pennsylvania are quick to qualify their findings- the benefits of late merging depend on the situation. Their findings suggest that conditions common to rural locations where speeds are high favor an early merge. In congested urban settings like Sacramento, late merging may be the way to go. Another factor in the equation is the mutual expectation and acceptability of the behavior; everyone has to be on-board. In the Pennsylvania study, motorists were instructed to merge at the termination of their lanes with a public awareness campaign and road signs placed more than a mile in advance of the merging zone. Analysts found both an increase in traffic flow, but also a decrease in road rage– everyone was playing by the same rules. Until definitive legislation in passed in California, local drivers will just have to rely on common courtesy and the dream of universal indicator use.
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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. Were you or someone you love injured because of the negligence of another driver? Do you need help dealing with insurance adjustors who are giving you the run around? I can help. Please call me right away at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice with no obligation. I can also be reached online through my website, AutoAccident.com.
Since 1982 I have worked to serve the Sacramento and Northern California community, helping people hurt in accidents and their families recover. My valued client’s reviews can be seen on: Avvo, Google, and Yelp.
My advocacy has been recognized by the Million Dollar Forum. This association honors trial lawyers who have won verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars.
Summaries of some of my past Verdicts and Settlements can be found here.
