Merging

[gossie]

Haven't driven in Perth then ?

Yes I have, but picked hire car up and headed to York, and back again a few days later.
Can't recall any ignoramus's off hand.

 

[Noeleter]

Simple really

That's how they do it NZ and some other places and at least it's easy to explain to people. Don't know about WA but that's not the rules in Qld unless no dotted line ending lane.

 

[VS 5.0]

Yes I have, but picked hire car up and headed to York, and back again a few days later.
Can't recall any ignoramus's off hand.

Airport to York doesn't really count. Try spending some time in general city traffic and see how you get on.

That's how they do it NZ and some other places and at least it's easy to explain to people. Don't know about WA but that's not the rules in Qld unless no dotted line ending lane.

Rules vs common sense has previously been mentioned. Common sense = better traffic flow. "Zip" = common sense. Unfortunately, people have to actually think about what they are doing and show a modicum of courtesy for this to work.

 

[Loaded Dice]

That is the difference between commuters and drivers, commuters just fill gaps, cut to the shortest lane in front of them, dont see or care about other road users. Drivers on the other hand read the road ahead, have minimal lane changes by looking well ahead to see which lane is flowing, exercise the zip method of merging, allow people in front of them as we can see what they are trying to do anyway, and generally act responsibly, which also means using less fuel and brakes by driving much smoother.

Most truck drivers and bike riders play a game with themselves predicting what the cars in front will do, which lane they will hop to, which exit they will take etc. that's because we are drivers, and it is surprising how often we guess right, just by watching the commuters 'attitude' on the road. This also helps us get to where we want to be, because we know what the commuters are going to do before they do!

 

[Noeleter]

G

That is the difference between commuters and drivers, commuters just fill gaps, cut to the shortest lane in front of them, dont see or care about other road users. Drivers on the other hand read the road ahead, have minimal lane changes by looking well ahead to see which lane is flowing, exercise the zip method of merging, allow people in front of them as we can see what they are trying to do anyway, and generally act responsibly, which also means using less fuel and brakes by driving much smoother.


Most truck drivers and bike riders play a game with themselves predicting what the cars in front will do, which lane they will hop to, which exit they will take etc. that's because we are drivers, and it is surprising how often we guess right, just by watching the commuters 'attitude' on the road. This also helps us get to where we want to be, because we know what the commuters are going to do before they do!

Drivers vs steerers!

 

[Eevo]

G
Drivers vs steerers!

steering wheel attendants

 

[Towcar]

Sorry to say that in Melbourne no-one seems to know how to merge either.

Just spent the weekend over there and holy crap the parking skills and merging was really bad....

BTW the driving has gotten almost as bad as in New Zealand!

And that is coming from a kiwi!

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The thing with common sense is that's it not all that common.

Common sense implies a collective of knowledge, that knowledge is based on experience. If the mob has no experience in merging effectively and courteously, then their common sense is to create chaos.

Getting your license should be about learning how to drive, not how to pass the test.

 

[Noeleter]

What happens when people don't know how to merge. $34.8 million of taxpayers money to control traffic on 5 on-ramps.

Bruce Highway Managed Motorway Project (Department of Transport and Main Roads)

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

That's been in the US for years, works well.

But that's the thing, you can't teach people so you idiot proof the roads.