Road Rules and jerks.....

[tackattack]

While DMV laws are on a per state basis, all of them I've been in seem to have similar sets.
1. It is both driver's responsibility to navigate a safe roadway.
2. Oncoming drivers must signal, increase speed, and merge safely into the flow of traffic.
3. Drivers on the roadway have a responsibility to adjust their speed in order to allow gaps for merging traffic.
4. If drivers properly space their following distance, these adjustments will be minor and highly effectual to the smooth flow of traffic.
5. If however, you are sitting in stopped traffic due to construction and the dickhead using every last inch of his merge lane has passed 4 spots he could have gotten into the flow of traffic just to get further ahead in the cluster of cars, There is no obligation to give him a space.

It's a courtesy and I usually have no problems allowing people in. If I'm stuck in the feeder lane I usually attempt to time my speed to allow for a gap, nominally though I just get over to the left lane.
In stopped traffic however, I believe I have a stern bias. I'm looking for assholes to be mad at as the cause for me having to wait one second longer in traffic. There are a lot of nice people on the road. If in a 200 meter feeder lane, merging onto stopped traffic, you can't find a semi or moving truck or nice person to get into traffic in front of I'd rather see you sit at the end of your merge lane for the next nice person to let you in. I usually apply my 50/50 rule, If I was allowed in by a car I allow one car in front of me. If I had to steal a place in front of a slower responding vehicle, I don't allow "no butts, no cuts, no coconuts".

What often happens though is that they try and force their way into traffic by nudging their corner into your lane and taking up a 12 in gap between you and the car in front of you with the corner of their bumper. Why can't they just wait their turn to fall into line? Wait for someone to flash their lights to go ahead or wave them over? IMO, these impatient and entitled twats are the usual cause of 75% of the road rage I see. Some even get impatient and start driving on the emergency lane (hard shoulder). Those are the same people sitting in traffic that get on the hard shoulder to drive the extra mile up the road to their exit because they don't want to wait. There is this little dark place in my heart that celebrates every time I see either one of those get pulled over.


https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/do...ide-en.pdf 

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page 4-22

Entering into traffic – When you merge with traffic, signal,
and enter at the same speed that traffic is moving. High-speed
roadways generally have ramps to give you time to build up
your speed for merging into traffic. Do not drive to the end of
the ramp and stop or you will not have enough room to get up
to the speed of traffic. Additionally, drivers behind you will
not expect you to stop and you may be hit from the rear. If you
have to wait for space to enter a roadway, slow down on the
ramp so you have some room to speed up before you have to
merge.

page 4-30

Space to Merge
Anytime you want to merge with other traffic, you need a gap of about four seconds. If you move into the middle of a four-second gap, both you and the vehicle behind you have a two-second following distance. You need a four-second gap whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway, or when your lane merges with another travel lane.
••
Do not try to merge into a small gap. A small gap can quickly become smaller and dangerous due to the lack of space if the driver in front needs to stop or slow down.
••
If you want to move over several lanes, take them one at a time. Like going up or down stairs one-step at a time, it is safest and easiest to merge one lane at a time.
••
When other traffic is trying to merge into your lane, move to another lane to give them space when it is safe.

And added for road rage pg 5-14

Road Rage
Today, heavy traffic and tight schedules are the norm. Some drivers take their anger out on the roadways, endangering themselves and others.
When you see other drivers around you acting or reacting in anger, distance yourself from the situation, physically and mentally. Don’t make eye contact. Body movements and gestures can provoke an angry response from another driver. Slow down, move over, or do whatever you safely can, to put yourself out of danger. Your courtesy may encourage the same from other drivers.
If you feel you are being followed or harassed by another driver, seek help. Exit only in an area where there are other people and open businesses around you. If you have a cellular phone, use it to call the police.

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