This happens to me a lot: I'm on a highway entrance ramp behind a car whose driver refuses to accelerate and must think that it's okay to merge into traffic at 45-50MPH in a 65MPH zone. These slowpokes inevitably veer into the traffic lane abruptly, causing cars on the highway to hit their brakes and this creates a pile up of cars that I (and the other cars that accumulated behind me) are then expected to merge into as well. It's a dangerous mess, all because one person wouldn't merge at the speed of traffic (or even close to the speed limit).

So, when this happens, and the slowpoke veers over into the traffic lane and compresses all of the cars behind him, I've got a clear merge lane ahead of me. In Colorado, we usually have long merging lanes. At this point, my 1996 900SE is usually in third gear, boosting nicely at 2,500-3,000RPM so I can accelerate to 65MPH easily and quickly. What I've been doing lately is staying in the merge lane, passing the slowpoke on the right and, since they've created a traffic jam behind them, it's an easy matter to then enter the highway into a clear lane. This seems safer to me than hitting my brakes and trying to merge into the compressed cars behind the slowpoke.

So, does anyone else see my logic? I'm not trying to be flippant or behave dangerously. Is this illegal? Something that a ticket could be issued for?
Thanks,
David

posted by 204.144.133...

• Merge technique - second opinions?, David The Impaler, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 14:57:23 <-- Viewing This Message
  • No problem with that technique, John J, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 09:40:34
  • Where in CO?, Andy E, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 00:12:18
    • Re: Where in CO?, Brett, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:34:43
      • Re: Where in CO?, t_mokes, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:33:21
    • Boulder too! And thanks to everybody., David The Impaler, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 08:34:42
  • Re: Merge technique - second opinions?, Dan , Wed, 1 Dec 2004 19:41:26
  • not so legal..., isobel, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 18:53:47
    • Re: so do you slow down if one on your left slow down?, t_mokes, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:03:07
    • wow, if only everyone went 80 in the right lane... nm, Andy E, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 00:13:45
    • Sorry, but passing on the right is 100% legal in MA..., turrbo , Wed, 1 Dec 2004 22:08:08
      • 100% legal in MA? Since when?, Joe D., Thu, 2 Dec 2004 05:30:28
        • Ticketing 'right lane passers', AdamD, Fri, 3 Dec 2004 15:18:10
        • Since whenever that rule was added to the official, turrbo , Thu, 2 Dec 2004 09:26:04
          • Do you mean driving in the breakdown lane?, Schu, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 14:50:18
            • Nooooo....not the breakdown lane..., turrbo , Thu, 2 Dec 2004 15:20:28
        • Re: It is legal. See Link., thegage, Thu, 2 Dec 2004 08:36:32
  • Re: Merge technique - second opinions?, Daanimal900, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 16:30:39
    • Ontario says the same, Trev, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 16:44:26
  • I think your technique is perfect, Bret, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 15:41:17
  • Re: I'm with you 100% and maybe more!, t_mokes, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 15:29:44
    • This goes for the left hand turners......, 91Aero.jr, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 16:49:06
    • Nothing POs me more than merge cheaters . . ., jc, Wed, 1 Dec 2004 15:51:42

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