Someone may have gotten a picture of my plates... should I worry?

[Dave_L]

I don't let people in when they're too dense to see the "lane merges" sign or drive all the way to the end of the merge lane in hopes of being a couple cars ahead. I don't know why you did the rest of the actions as I gladly sit there after not letting them in and maintain my safe speed. If they don't like me for it, that's their issue, not mine.

[O2HeN2]

I don't let people in when they're too dense to see the "lane merges" sign or drive all the way to the end of the merge lane...

What you disagree with here is exactly the way to do it. You are not supposed to merge early, you're supposed to drive all the way to when the lane starts to go away and then do a "zipper" merge for maximum safety.

But don't take my word for it, go to just about any DOT site and you can read it for yourself. Minnesota's DOT page comes up first on google (though in this case it's construction specific) so here's their description of a zipper merge:

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/

Of course if you have road ragers not letting you in when you get to the lane going away, that's when problems arise.

O2

[Dave_L]

What you disagree with here is exactly the way to do it. You are not supposed to merge early, you're supposed to drive all the way to when the lane starts to go away and then do a "zipper" merge for maximum safety.

But don't take my word for it, go to just about any DOT site and you can read it for yourself. Minnesota's DOT page comes up first on google (though in this case it's construction specific) so here's their description of a zipper merge:

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/

Of course if you have road ragers not letting you in when you get to the lane going away, that's when problems arise.

O2

I meant more for stop and go traffic and when construction forces lane closures. Maybe I mis-read the OP. Im speaking more for the obvious "i want to get ahead of everyone" person. I make space for people coming on the highway, whether that's moving over a lane or creating a gap. Like you said, it needs to be a zipper. I think the merger needs to use their brain a little too and look for where a gap is to merge in seamlessly instead of assuming one will magically appear in dense traffic at the end of their merge lane.

[O2HeN2]

I meant more for stop and go traffic and when construction forces lane closures. Maybe I mis-read the OP. Im speaking more for the obvious "i want to get ahead of everyone" person. I make space for people coming on the highway, whether that's moving over a lane or creating a gap. Like you said, it needs to be a zipper.

Yhea, I was unclear/ambiguous. If traffic is moving, as you mention you should merge at your convenience. Stomping on it to get ahead in the lane that's going away is bad form (that MNDOT page does mention the "merge early" exception if traffic is moving at speed).

I think the merger needs to use their brain a little too and look for where a gap is to merge in seamlessly instead of assuming one will magically appear in dense traffic at the end of their merge lane.

I know according to Bloomberg we don't have any paved roads down here, but I see the lack of brain use every day here in Colorado Springs when I get on the I25 southbound on-ramp at Woodmen. It narrows to one lane a concrete wall and a guard rail just before the freeway. About 50% of the time when it's at 1.5 lanes wide someone will shoot past me, get their nose a half an inch in front of me and expect me to yield. Which I typically do. It may be encouraging bad behavior, but it's better than a trip to the body shop and finger pointing when the police arrive.

O2

[sniper7]

What you disagree with here is exactly the way to do it. You are not supposed to merge early, you're supposed to drive all the way to when the lane starts to go away and then do a "zipper" merge for maximum safety.

But don't take my word for it, go to just about any DOT site and you can read it for yourself. Minnesota's DOT page comes up first on google (though in this case it's construction specific) so here's their description of a zipper merge:

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/

Of course if you have road ragers not letting you in when you get to the lane going away, that's when problems arise.

O2

So so why was it today I saw several signs indicating when to merge over (merge now) when clearly over a half mile away was the actual merge point where the cones etc were located? Do you wait until you get right next to a vehicle in the emergency lane then snap over to the other lane and snap it right back? What about when a lane is ending ahead and signs mention them a half mile ahead, do you wait until the last second when the solid white starts to push you over or do you start over early, say at the 1500' mark?
do you also honk every time you pass a bicycle when having to cross a double yellow letting them know you are going to pass?

I don't let stupid people in front of me. When it is clearly marked that the lane ends, traffic merges, lane closed, etc, people have plenty of time to realize it by reading the signs instead of their damn phones or trying to take advantage of others that are following the rules. At that point I say screw em, they can sit and wait for somebody kinder than myself.

And dont worry OP, Cops know people are stupid ass drivers and a picture means squat. I've called in some d bag on 70 before that was pointing his finger at people like it was a gun a tug like he was shooting at people. never even got a response back from the cops and I had him a safe distance in front of me for over 30 miles without a single cop showing up from anywhere.