Car Merging Psychology: Don't Hate the "Sidezoomer"

Edmunds.com

Car Merging Psychology: Don't Hate the "Sidezoomer"

How you merge in your car says a lot about you as a person. But it turns out that late mergers — hated by some — might actually be improving traffic flow.

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rofaith

Yup, I'm a sidesignaler..... putting on my signal is essentially asking permission to slide into a slot. If no slots are available, invariably, a kind driver will create one with nearly no objections by those behind that driver. And I'm in Southern California, the ultimate in car-culture places to live. The signal is actually in this case, a request for courtesy, a question being asked, "do you remember when you were needing a place to merge into on this busy highway ? Then, let me give you the experience of paying it forward." 99% of the time, people are courteous and will create a place for you.... to the guys who zoom ahead, around or cut you off, they are paying it forward as well.... what goes around, comes around. Being kind is a virtue even when driving. The privacy of the passenger cabin in my car doesn't remove me from my accountability wrt being kind to others.... regardless, paying it forward is something that somehow, God makes sure happens based on my choices.... it's a cool thing.

technojungle

I always merge in front of cell phone users. Sorry, if you're not paying attention and I am, sucks for you. I also get in front of people who stop 15' short of the line at stoplights as well.

infinite8

In traffic congestion, it doesn't take an aggressive personality to follow a traffic pattern that is logical. Unless, of course, you're suggesting that early mergers, in addition to being kindhearted, are also dumb...

jhaubenreich

WV had signs up on the interstate (no fancy computerized LED signs) that said, essentially, "Continue in lane until merge." It worked perfectly. Two lanes of traffic flowed normally until the yellow merge sign (right before the construction zone) and drivers in the right lane merged behind every other car/truck in the left lane. Stress-less. Economical.