Close lane change

Your turn signal != permission to change lane

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• dashcam
• lane
• change

[topstep]

Drivers must yield to any car indicating they are changing lanes. As one of the other commentators said: "Statement of fact, not polite request for permission."

Now, the indicating driver can't just put on their blinkers, drift into your lane and expect you to dive out the way, but as soon as you see that blinking light ahead it is your responsibility to slow down and let them in.

[Scruit]

@topstep Absolutely NOT in Ohio. The driver changing lanes has an ABSOLUTE responsibility to stay in his or her lane until such movement can be made in safety. The person who is already in the lane has ZERO *legal* responsibility to allow a lane change.

From a moral or defensive-driving perspective it is a good idea to allow a lane change to happen to promote smooth traffic flow. However there is no legal requirement to do so.

Where do you live? Your driving laws are backwards.

[Scruit]

@topstep Legal cite to back up my opinion:

ORC 4511.13 A(1): " A vehicle or trackless trolley shall be driven, as nearly as is practicable, entirely within a single lane or line of traffic and shall not be moved from such lane or line until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety."

[mrblanche]

Actually, the turn signal is a statement of imminent fact, not a request for permission.  In many states, hitting a car attempting to change lanes when it was far enough ahead for you to see the turn signal is a failure to yield ticket.

[Scruit]

@mrblanche Utterly incorrect. Your turn signal is a signal of your intent to turn and does nothing to alter the fact that it is *your* responsibility to stay in your lane until you can change lanes safely. I hope you don't drive.

[FrozenMinnesotan]

Oh my God, I see this all the time. It is SO annoying and dangerous. What is even more aggravating is when someone waits until the last second to merge and then completely fucks up traffic.

[anttrap321]

shit.. i cant believe how many people are saying that the we have to yield to someone with their blinkers on..... hope u guys get into an accident when changing lanes one day. so that u can learn this simple driving lesson in the hard way.

[CaptainCocaine]

@topstep they came up from behind and they were already changing lanes before coming into view.

[Linussbugg]

@topstep Not true. The vehicle already established in a lane has the right of way.

[anttrap321]

lol I see this a lot in California. even closer lane changes at 80MPH

[MOreReptile]

@mrblanche yea i would have to agree with scruit, when you signal its showing your intent to change lanes, and you have to find a opening and a safe time to change lanes...

[topstep]

@Scruit Thanks for the follow-up. Like I said in my original post, I'm not in favor of just slamming the wheel to the left and expecting people to let you in. But if a driver is clearly signaling an intention to move, then universal common sense says do that person a favor by just tapping your brakes and letting them in. It is clearly the safer option for all concerned. But as I said before, you may be right in that LEGALLY there is no requirement to let someone in. Thanks!

[topstep]

You may be right that one has no LEGAL REQUIREMENT to let people in, but common sense says do it. It is like standing on the right on an escalator.

Thanks for the reply, BTW.

[topstep]

@Scruit This boils down to basic common sense. How do you define "safely"? In bumper-to-bumper traffic, you might have to wait for several minutes for a suitable gap in which to move.

Help the driver changing lanes make the maneuver safely (for them and those around them!) by slowing down and letting them in. Once they decide to change lanes, they are looking ahead, left and right, and in their mirrors - this is unsafe. Expitidite the process for them by allowing them in.