Who has the right-of-way when merging?

Question

From two lanes to one, upcoming merge was clearly marked. What is the OFFICIAL answer to this? I mean, I already know the answer "whoever gets there first" is not correct because some of us actually took driver's ed. I just need to get the official stance. I had a major accident that was caused by a merge lane and I want to know if it was me or the other guy that was in the wrong. First answer with a legit source gets 10 pts!

Answer 1

In almost every case, there's a lane that is "cut down," / | or | \   it's never both lanes / \ . The vehicle already IN the lane "owns" the lane. The vehicle whose lane is being removed must give way as needed.

That said, if you recognize that the other driver is not going to yield, you MUST give way to avoid the accident if possible.

If your lane is being cut and you can safely pass the car in the other lane, then you can go in front...otherwise you must go behind....it's a PASSING situation then.

Your best bet is to contact your local DMV/RMV and go over the specific rules for your state.

Answer 2

CA driver handbook says whoever on the "primary" lanes has the right of way. If you're merging into a freeway, then whoever's there has right of way.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs47thr...

Merge into front or back doesn't matter, just as long as you have sufficient safe space to merge (at least four seconds).

Answer 3

The person in the continuing lane has the right of way. The person whose lane is merging with said lane must yield until they have a clear and safe path to enter that lane.

Answer 4

The law gives the right of way to no one, but it does state who must yield (give up) the right of way.

Every driver, motorcyclist, moped rider, bicyclist, and pedestrian must do everything possible to avoid a crash. When you yield the right of way to another vehicle, you are letting them go before you in the traffic situation.

Few areas of traffic safety are more misunderstood than the “Yield to the Driver on the Right” rule. This is the rule that controls most intersections when drivers arrive at an intersection simultaneously.

Answer 5

I think you have your answer....

All of those above are correct.  The vehicle merging must yeild the right of way to the vehicle(s) that occupy the lane being merged into.  

It makes no difference whether you merge in front of someone or behind them, but if your inability to speed up or slow down to safely move into the lane you want to occupy, or make a vehicle in that lane alter their speed to accomidate you, you have made an unsafe lane change and can (and probably will) be sighted for it if a police officer observes the situation.

Something to pay attention to regarding your scenerio..  Most lane closures like you write about have a minimum posting that it's going to happen of 1/2 of a mile.  If you are paying attention to the signs along the highway, you will have ample opportunity to change lanes without waiting till the last second and making an unsafe situation for all motorists concerned.

Good luck and safe motoring... . :-}

(copied from Washington State Driver's Guide, Page 75, Link is below)

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 gap that is too small. A small

gap can quickly become even smaller. Enter a gap that

gives you enough space cushion to be safe.

• 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.

Answer 6

Yes, yes, yes. The driver in the non-ending lane has the right of way. He owns the lane. He doesn't have to give an inch. Whoop de frickin do. What a nice headstone you will have. "Here lies Lauren. She had the right of way." Wired For Sound is probably the only other clear thinker here. Perfect driving records speak for themselves. We didn't get them by running people off the road just because their lane ended or insisting that they make room for us just because that's what the law says they have to do. Common sense trumps every driving law ever enacted. Do you want to play chicken with someone, or do you simply want to get to your destination unharmed? It's a choice you make every day. If I were in a position to pass judgment on your wreck, I would send you both home with a kick in the *** and a warning that next time you want to play chicken on the highway that you spend the rest of your life riding public transportation. Your "accident" was not caused by a merge lane. Your wreck was caused by both you and the other driver being belligerent.

Answer 7

The person in the continuing lane has the right-of-way.  It really doesn't matter ir they merge in front of or behind, just as long as they have enough room to merge.