Comment on Impossible

• grandel@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Absolutely! I’ve been trying to understand why.

  The closest idea I’ve gotten so far is: They are worried their “request” to merge will be denied so they just do it as fast as possible without giving others a chance to influence it.

  These are often also the same people that attempt to block other cars from merging during traffic jams.

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  • gopher@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    I’m not in Germany, but I was taught (in mandated driving school) that when switching lanes, first check it’s safe (which means you cannot cause another car needing to brake for you), then signal, then change lane. You shouldn’t “request to” change lanes forcing another to need to react. Not sure if it can explain the behaviour.

    But this is only for changing lanes, not for zipper merging, or just turning a corner etc.

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    • wander1236@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      That doesn’t seem like a great idea to me. You’re signaling to let other drivers know you’re intending to do something so they can be ready to react if needed. You could miss a car in your blindspot even after checking and only signaling right before you start changing lanes wouldn’t give that car much warning.

      Obviously signaling doesn’t magically give you the right of way to merge, but IMO it’s better to let others know you’re doing something as soon as possible

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      • grandel@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Exactly this. Indicate to communicate with others.

        If you indicate in advance of your manoeuvre, it gives others time to react by reducing (or increasing) their speed to make room for you instead of always having to slam their brakes in order to avoid a collision.

        Indicating is much safer, fuel efficient and way less frustrating for everybody, even pedestrians.

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      • gopher@programming.dev ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        The counterpoint is that if you indicate at a point when it’s unsafe to change lanes to communicate your intention to, for example change lane after a car passes, then the other car might think you missed them and therefore will take potentially risky corrective actions.

        Personally I indicate when it’s safe, but don’t aggressively change lanes right away, waiting a few seconds. Seems like a good approach to me.

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