Merging

One of my pet peeves is most days when I come home from work I run into people who do not know how to merge. Leaving Davis Islands, the bridge has a ramp that merges onto northbound Bayshore Blvd. Invariably there is line of traffic because someone is incapable of merging. What they do is go down the ramp and stop, looking over their shoulder to see if there is a break in traffic and then go. Wrong, wrong ,wrong. This is more dangerous than doing it the correct way.

As you come down the ramp slightly look over to your left. Without straining your head you have a clear view of the cars coming by, see your gap, keep driving and smoothly merge. Easy.

Here are the rules for merging on freeways. I could not find anything on regular merging.

All expressway entrances have three basic parts: an entrance ramp, an
acceleration lane, and a merging area. Follow these guidelines to enter an
expressway safely:
· On the entrance ramp, begin checking for an opening in traffic. Signal for your turn.
· As the ramp straightens into the acceleration lane, speed up. Try to adjust your speed so that you can move into the traffic when you reach the end of the acceleration lane.
· Merge into traffic when you can do so safely. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic on
the expressway. You cannot always count on other drivers moving over to give you
room to enter, but do not stop on an acceleration lane unless traffic is too
heavy and there is no space for you to enter safely.

While looking up the Florida Driver's Handbook for rules on merging I came across this tidbit.


"Emergency Vehicles
Pedestrians and drivers must yield the right-of-way to law enforcement cars, fire engines and other emergency vehicles using sirens and/or flashing lights. Pull over to the closest edge of the roadway immediately and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. Do not block ntersections."

Remember that when you are walking down the street and a fire engine comes by. Make sure you pull over.