Merging multiple lanes into a single lane is a challenge that seems overwhelming to many drivers on the road. There are simple, straightforward rules one can follow to maintain maximum efficiency and help alleviate slowdown and delays while causing minimal road rage and inconvenience to other drivers. It would seem that the average driver on the road today is unaware of these rules, so allow me to spell them out for you for the benefit of myself and the rest of the driving public.

Freeway On-Ramps

Sloped downhill whenever possible, the acceleration ramps are for exactly that — acceleration. The most dangerous person on an on-ramp is the moron who puts their turn signal on and slows down, apparently waiting for someone already on the highway to slow down and let them in. If the people already on the highway were supposed to slow down, they'd put up stoplights and make it an intersection. The whole point is for you to get up to proper highway speed on the ramp so that by the time you need to merge, nobody has to slow down for you.

If the ramp is short, and you have to floor it to get up to speed, do it. You are far more likely to cause an accident by merging too slowly than by speeding up quickly. If there's an asshole who won't move over and won't let you in, don't be afraid to use a little bit of the shoulder if needed to get ahead. Only slow down when absolutely necessary.

If the on-ramp happens to be part of a clover-leaf (meaning that the acceleration lane for you turns into a deceleration lane for people exiting, and then subsequently the exit ramp), and if you encounter exiting traffic, the situation must be handled carefully. Try to position your vehicle in between two exiting vehicles so that you can zipper (i.e., alternate). If the exiting vehicle is even with you or behind you, speed up; if they're in front of you, slow down, but speed up if they slow down. In general, you need to be speeding up and moving over, and they need to be slowing down and moving over.

Freeway Off-Ramps

Accidents and Construction Zones