10 LANE CHANGES
10 LANE CHANGES
There are two methods of lane changes; an old one and a new one.
First, the new one that is being taught in the driving schools and which I don’t use.
In the process of changing lanes, the first thing is to decide weather the change is really necessary. There are so many blind spots around your vehicle that a lane change is a fairly dangerous thing to do, so, if you don’t have to, don’t. It would be safer and wiser to drop back a couple of kilometres and hour and wait for your turn than to take a chance that you’re not comfortable with.
If you have decided that the lane change is needed; then check to make sure that you can legally change lanes where you are or just ahead of you, where you will be changing. [It is illegal to change lanes where there is a solid line between the lanes, through intersections and within about 30 meters on either side of an intersection.]
Having picked your spot to change put your signal light on to tell the drivers around you that you want to change lanes and look for a clear spot to move into in the lane that you are entering. By putting your signal light on in advance, you are asking permission, from the drivers in that lane, to allow you to merge with them. Make sure that you don’t just look in your mirrors for traffic in the lane that you are merging into but glance over your shoulder, too; there is a blind spot just behind your mirror that someone could be in and not show up in your mirror because they are ahead of the field of vision that the mirror is showing you.
The hope is that they will slow down and make a spot for you to move into. The reality that I see is that the drivers speed up to block the change so that you will have to change behind them. They don’t want you in front of them. It’s rude and leaves you slowing down looking for someone to let you in. [This should not have been a problem but, with everyone tailgating, they are travelling too close together for a safe lane change; which means that drivers changing lanes must now cut the other person off just to get into the other lane.]
The old way that I use is that I check my mirrors and look over my shoulder and find the spot that I can merge into before I put my signal light on. Then, when I have found my spot and am ready to merge into it, I put my signal light on to tell the driver behind me in that lane that I am coming over.
I start my move after a few blinks of the light [just enough time to let them realize that I am coming but not enough time for them to speed up and cut me off]
By picking my own spot to change, I can make sure that the spot is big enough for me without depending on someone else to back off. This is important because I know how big I am and how much room I need. I have taken the responsibility of my lane change on myself and not had to rely on someone that might not be experienced enough to be able to handle it.
After making the lane change, gradually back off from the driver in front of you until there is a comfortable distance between you. This not only is safer for you but also leaves a hole in case there is another driver desperately trying to merge into that lane.
Comments (2)
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A driver should be in his/her proper lane well in advance of when they need to be so as not to have to cut into an existing line-up. Using the second lane to bypass traffic line-ups is just plain rude. If I've seen you pull in to the right lane going down Regent, pass a dozen or so cars, and then try to cut in front of me, don't expect me to create a space for you. Cutting in line is rude behaviour whether it's in traffic or at the grocery store.
I agree 100%; you are absolutely right.
I do have one exception to that, though; I am a tracter trailer and travel slower than most everyone else so I have to expect those smaller, lighter vehicles to use the other lanes to pass me. I've accepted this as part of my job so I try to leave a space in front of me for those people to merge back into my lane.
Nice comment; I appreciated it.