merging vehicles should always give existing traffic the right of way?

Answer 1

Yes.

Answer 2

Understand that in MOST U.S. states, the right of way laws do not give any vehicle the right to any particular piece of the road. "Right of Way" directs which vehicles must YIELD the right of way to another.

That means that the vehicle that has the right of way can only occupy that piece of the roadway after other vehicles have YIELDED. At a green light, for example, no one should place themselves in front of a speed car coming from the side. That speeding car may have a red light, but if the driver has not yet yielded, the green light traffic does NOT have the right to let himself be hit.

Same is true at a mergeing intersection, such as on a freeway on ramp. Your question made EXACTLY the correct statement. Merging vehicles should give way, (yield), but, if they don't, existing traffic should slow down for the hazzard and avoid a collision.

Answer 3

Not a simple answer. Here in Minnesota:

169.20e

"Subd. 3. Through highway; stop sign. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop as required by this chapter at the entrance to a through highway and shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles which have entered the intersection from the through highway or which are approaching so closely on the through highway as to constitute an immediate hazard, but the driver having so yielded may proceed, and the drivers of all other vehicles approaching the intersection on the through highway
shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicles so proceeding into or across the through highway."

So what that means is, if somebody's getting on the highway, he is required to stop (if necessary) and yield until there's enough space for him to get on, but [i]once he starts merging[/i] all other vehicles are required to yield to HIM. The merging vehicle actually has right of way.

If you think about it, this makes sense. After all, the merging vehicle has limited space. Once he starts going forward, if the vehicles already on the highway don't let him in, he'll end up getting run off the road.

Answer 4

It is the merging vehicle's responsibility to make sure the traffic doesn't have to slow down or speed up to let them in safely.

Answer 5

Yes. A responsible driver will try to give merging drivers an open lane if possible but cannot always do so.

Answer 6

Generally speaking, yes. But that doesn't mean you insist on taking right of way when a bit of maneuvering on your part would have avoided an accident when some idiot tries to occupy the space you are currently in.

Answer 7

if some of these retards were to move over in advance when they can clearly see a semi just getting on an onramp, it would make the trucker's life so much easier. they cant get to speed anywhere near as fast as car. in some states, its the law.
a little co-operation on every1's part would make driving easier....but there's always a retard that just doesnt want to get a clue.