Slower traffic: keep one lane left of the right lane

On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 8:47:39 PM UTC-8, Arif Khokar wrote:
> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>
> > Harry K wrote:

> >> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
> >> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.

> > Then none of them should be driving.

> > It's called "flash to pass".

> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:

> > #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile before
> > it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
> > shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.

> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature. The
> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and he
> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
> speeding up to prevent his merge.

> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of you
> that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the passing
> lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you intend to let
> the driver merge in front of you.

> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and let
> the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.

Exactly! Exception of the "flash lights" is in truckers use to show a passer he is clear to pull back in. I do it to them but most ignore it figuring I probably don't know what I'm doing

Harry K

Harry K

On 2013-12-18 22:00:02 +0000, Brent said:

> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>> On 2013-12-18 19:13:59 +0000, Brent said:
>>
>>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>>> On 2013-12-18 04:47:39 +0000, Arif Khokar said:
>>>>
>>>>> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>> [Correcting post format because you can't be bothered to use a
>>>>> newsreader that works properly].
>>>>>
>>>>> Get a real newsreader program like Thunderbird and sign up for a free
>>>>> account on http://www.eternal-september.org/ instead of using the crap
>>>>> Google groups interface.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Harry K wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
>>>>>>> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Then none of them should be driving.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's called "flash to pass".
>>>>>
>>>>> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:
>>>>>
>>>>>> #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile before
>>>>>> it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
>>>>>> shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
>>>>> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature. The
>>>>> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and he
>>>>> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
>>>>> speeding up to prevent his merge.
>>>>>
>>>>> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of
>>>>> you that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the
>>>>> passing lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you intend
>>>>> to let the driver merge in front of you.
>>>>>
>>>>> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and let
>>>>> the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry, but I don't put my safety into the hands of others when I can
>>>> possibly avoid it.
>>>
>>> Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal. Thus not showing them a
>>> reaction prevents them from doing what would bring about a collision.
>>> When I stopped having any reaction they could see, the less idiocy they
>>> did.
>>
>> So you think the best way to ensure your safety is to HOPE the other
>> driver doesn't get it wrong?
>
> There's no hope involved. I am fully aware of him and ready to take
> action to avoid him. I just don't let him know it,doing so is an
> engraved invitation for him to cut me off from his POV.

Pre-emptive action to avoid a threat is better than reaction...

....sorry, but it just is.

>
>>>> That's why I'll move one lane to the left if there is anyone whose
>>>> entry to the highway could potentially cause me trouble.
>>>
>>> IME those who move over largely put their safety in the hands of the
>>> drivers already there and passing. Also moving over a lane just
>>> encourages the idiot to merge two lanes in IME. He wants to be in the
>>> left lane anyway and by moving over I showed that I see him and would
>>> accomodate him so he cuts in front of me.
>>
>> I find it hilarious that on the one hand you'll insist that I needn't
>> move over because you have such faith in the other driver who's merging
>> into my lane...
>
> I don't and it's hilarious you think I do.

You do:

"Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal."

>
>> ...while not also applying the same faith to me in my lane change,
>> which is by its nature taking place between vehicles moving at a very
>> similar speed; something which too often cannot be said about the
>> person merging into highway traffic.
>
> I didn't put any faith or lack there of in your lane change. However
> I also have to watch the ramps if I am in the 2nd lane from the right
> because drivers who make way for mergers usually demand others make way
> for their merges and lane changes too. Speed usually doesn't matter and
> these idiots usually are braking as they move over to let the merger in.

Then they've moved over far too late.

>
> My view is that fundamentally the north american driver is a lazy ****
> who doesn't want to put any effort into driving. If I show them I will
> cater to their laziness, they will take full advantage of it, putting
> my safety at risk. Thus I do not.Ever see a left turn conga line? When
> does it stop? With a left turner who isn't an asshole or someone going
> straight from the other side has the balls to just go. These lazy
> jackasses take as much as they think they can get. Until someone doesn't
> cater to them.

Yup. I get it. You want to teach people a lesson.

I want to get through traffic as safely as possible.

On 2013-12-18 12:34:09 +0000, Sancho Panza said:

> On 12/18/2013 3:52 AM, Alan Baker wrote:
>> On 2013-12-18 04:47:39 +0000, Arif Khokar said:
>>
>>> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>>> [Correcting post format because you can't be bothered to use a
>>> newsreader that works properly].
>>>
>>> Get a real newsreader program like Thunderbird and sign up for a free
>>> account on http://www.eternal-september.org/ instead of using the crap
>>> Google groups interface.
>>>
>>>> Harry K wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
>>>>> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.
>>>
>>>> Then none of them should be driving.
>>>>
>>>> It's called "flash to pass".
>>>
>>> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:
>>>
>>>> #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile before
>>>> it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
>>>> shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.
>>>
>>> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
>>> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature. The
>>> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and he
>>> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
>>> speeding up to prevent his merge.
>>>
>>> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of
>>> you that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the
>>> passing lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you
>>> intend to let the driver merge in front of you.
>>>
>>> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and
>>> let the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.
>>
>> Sorry, but I don't put my safety into the hands of others when I can
>> possibly avoid it.
>>
>> That's why I'll move one lane to the left if there is anyone whose entry
>> to the highway could potentially cause me trouble.
>
> If that wasteful maneuver is not conducted at speed, you are raising
> the risk of more accidents. Just what is the problem with slowing down?

Why would it not be done at speed? I always merge with other traffic at
the speed that it is traveling.

And the problem with slowing down is that cars entering from an on-ramp
are often doing so continuously or near-continuously.

It's simply better for my safety to be elsewhere while they're trying
to join the traffic flow.

On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
> On 2013-12-18 22:00:02 +0000, Brent said:
>
>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>> On 2013-12-18 19:13:59 +0000, Brent said:
>>>
>>>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>>>> On 2013-12-18 04:47:39 +0000, Arif Khokar said:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>>> [Correcting post format because you can't be bothered to use a
>>>>>> newsreader that works properly].
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Get a real newsreader program like Thunderbird and sign up for a free
>>>>>> account on http://www.eternal-september.org/ instead of using the crap
>>>>>> Google groups interface.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Harry K wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
>>>>>>>> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Then none of them should be driving.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's called "flash to pass".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile before
>>>>>>> it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
>>>>>>> shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
>>>>>> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature. The
>>>>>> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and he
>>>>>> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
>>>>>> speeding up to prevent his merge.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of
>>>>>> you that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the
>>>>>> passing lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you intend
>>>>>> to let the driver merge in front of you.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and let
>>>>>> the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry, but I don't put my safety into the hands of others when I can
>>>>> possibly avoid it.
>>>>
>>>> Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal. Thus not showing them a
>>>> reaction prevents them from doing what would bring about a collision.
>>>> When I stopped having any reaction they could see, the less idiocy they
>>>> did.
>>>
>>> So you think the best way to ensure your safety is to HOPE the other
>>> driver doesn't get it wrong?
>>
>> There's no hope involved. I am fully aware of him and ready to take
>> action to avoid him. I just don't let him know it,doing so is an
>> engraved invitation for him to cut me off from his POV.
>
> Pre-emptive action to avoid a threat is better than reaction...
> ...sorry, but it just is.

Then you think you're safe and the asshat decides since you made way
for him once you'll do it twice. Ever see someone about to turn out on
a road so you slow down and then they wait and they wait and you're
about 5 feet from them and they pull out? Know how I reduced that? I
stopped taking "pre-emptive action". Stopped giving these lazy asshats
a tell. Same thing when they are merging. I move over for one of these
people and guess what happens next? They decide the right lane isn't
good enough for them and since I accomodated them once.... They just
plow into the next lane to the left.


>>>>> That's why I'll move one lane to the left if there is anyone whose
>>>>> entry to the highway could potentially cause me trouble.
>>>>
>>>> IME those who move over largely put their safety in the hands of the
>>>> drivers already there and passing. Also moving over a lane just
>>>> encourages the idiot to merge two lanes in IME. He wants to be in the
>>>> left lane anyway and by moving over I showed that I see him and would
>>>> accomodate him so he cuts in front of me.
>>>
>>> I find it hilarious that on the one hand you'll insist that I needn't
>>> move over because you have such faith in the other driver who's merging
>>> into my lane...
>>
>> I don't and it's hilarious you think I do.

> You do:
> "Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal."

That's not faith in them. They are still lazy asshats. By not catering
to them they are much less likely to give me problems.


>>> ...while not also applying the same faith to me in my lane change,
>>> which is by its nature taking place between vehicles moving at a very
>>> similar speed; something which too often cannot be said about the
>>> person merging into highway traffic.
>>
>> I didn't put any faith or lack there of in your lane change. However
>> I also have to watch the ramps if I am in the 2nd lane from the right
>> because drivers who make way for mergers usually demand others make way
>> for their merges and lane changes too. Speed usually doesn't matter and
>> these idiots usually are braking as they move over to let the merger in.

> Then they've moved over far too late.

I still have to avoid them... and they haven't bothered to use mirrors
or signal just like those they are making way for.

>> My view is that fundamentally the north american driver is a lazy ****
>> who doesn't want to put any effort into driving. If I show them I will
>> cater to their laziness, they will take full advantage of it, putting
>> my safety at risk. Thus I do not.Ever see a left turn conga line? When
>> does it stop? With a left turner who isn't an asshole or someone going
>> straight from the other side has the balls to just go. These lazy
>> jackasses take as much as they think they can get. Until someone doesn't
>> cater to them.
>
> Yup. I get it. You want to teach people a lesson.
> I want to get through traffic as safely as possible.

No I want to get where I am going safely and efficiently. People like
that are incapable of learning a lesson and not worth my time to teach
them one. I just go and they stop like they are supposed to. They
know what they are supposed to do, they just won't do it if they don't
have to. They want to push the work and delays on to others. All
you are doing is breeding more of these lazy drivers by catering to
them. You are building their sense of entitlement. You're
enabling them. It just keeps getting worse.

On Wednesday, December 18, 2013 6:20:20 PM UTC-8, Brent wrote:
> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
> > On 2013-12-18 22:00:02 +0000, Brent said:
>
>

<snip>

> No I want to get where I am going safely and efficiently. People like
>
> that are incapable of learning a lesson and not worth my time to teach
>
> them one. I just go and they stop like they are supposed to. They
>
> know what they are supposed to do, they just won't do it if they don't
>
> have to. They want to push the work and delays on to others. All
>
> you are doing is breeding more of these lazy drivers by catering to
>
> them. You are building their sense of entitlement. You're
>
> enabling them. It just keeps getting worse.

Don't you ever get tired of making ridiculous assumptions?

You can avoid all the problems with your mythical 'ass hats' by just getting one lane over, keeping up with traffic and staying there until you are about ready to exit. Causes no problems to you or anyone. Anyone wanting to pass will be one more lane (or more) over. If it is a two lane, keeping up with traffic solves the passing problem as no one could pass even if you weren't there.

On freeways with 3 or more lanes there should be "through traffic use lane 2" signs posted.

You complain about stupid mergers but refuse to do the logical thing to avoid them. In your universe lane one would be bumper to bumper and lanes to the left have sparse traffic with only ones passing being there. Take a look next time you are out there and see how multiple lanes are traveling very near the same speed with only the far left one being noticeably faster.

Harry K

"Brent" > wrote in message
...
> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>> On 2013-12-18 19:13:59 +0000, Brent said:
>>
>>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>>> On 2013-12-18 04:47:39 +0000, Arif Khokar said:
>>>>
>>>>> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>> [Correcting post format because you can't be bothered to use a
>>>>> newsreader that works properly].
>>>>>
>>>>> Get a real newsreader program like Thunderbird and sign up for a free
>>>>> account on http://www.eternal-september.org/ instead of using the crap
>>>>> Google groups interface.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Harry K wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
>>>>>>> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Then none of them should be driving.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's called "flash to pass".
>>>>>
>>>>> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:
>>>>>
>>>>>> #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile before
>>>>>> it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
>>>>>> shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
>>>>> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature. The
>>>>> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and he
>>>>> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
>>>>> speeding up to prevent his merge.
>>>>>
>>>>> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of
>>>>> you that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the
>>>>> passing lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you
>>>>> intend
>>>>> to let the driver merge in front of you.
>>>>>
>>>>> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and
>>>>> let
>>>>> the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry, but I don't put my safety into the hands of others when I can
>>>> possibly avoid it.
>>>
>>> Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal. Thus not showing them a
>>> reaction prevents them from doing what would bring about a collision.
>>> When I stopped having any reaction they could see, the less idiocy they
>>> did.
>>
>> So you think the best way to ensure your safety is to HOPE the other
>> driver doesn't get it wrong?
>
> There's no hope involved. I am fully aware of him and ready to take
> action to avoid him. I just don't let him know it,doing so is an
> engraved invitation for him to cut me off from his POV.
>
If you haven't passed the merger by the time the ramp intersects with the
highway (usually the solid line becomes a dashed line and then the dashed
line terminates to complete the merge lane), you had better slow down or
merge left one lane if you have a lane to the left--you are already too
close to pass without forcing the merger off the road. Furthermore, the
merger shouldn't have to slow down since the ramp is intended for, you know,
so they can match the speed of thru traffic and merge in.

Right of way of thru traffic doesn't mean making collision courses for
mergers or last minute passes to make them brake or be run off the road.

[snip...]

"Brent" > wrote in message
...
> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>> On 2013-12-18 22:00:02 +0000, Brent said:
>>
>>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>>> On 2013-12-18 19:13:59 +0000, Brent said:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:
>>>>>> On 2013-12-18 04:47:39 +0000, Arif Khokar said:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 12/17/2013 04:28 PM, wrote:
>>>>>>> [Correcting post format because you can't be bothered to use a
>>>>>>> newsreader that works properly].
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Get a real newsreader program like Thunderbird and sign up for a
>>>>>>> free
>>>>>>> account on http://www.eternal-september.org/ instead of using the
>>>>>>> crap
>>>>>>> Google groups interface.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Harry K wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "As for fliking your lights, there isn't one person out there in a
>>>>>>>>> thousand that would have a clue about what you are doing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Then none of them should be driving.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It's called "flash to pass".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What you wrote in the post that Harry K responded to was:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> #1. If I am approaching onramp(one-quarter to one-eighth mile
>>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>>> it) and vehicle is ahead of me in said onramp making good speed, I
>>>>>>>> shall flick my highbeams for them to proceed into highway.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you're using your flash-to-pass feature to indicate that someone
>>>>>>> should merge onto the highway, then you're misusing the feature.
>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>> merger may interpret your signal that you're going to pass him and
>>>>>>> he
>>>>>>> has to slow down and merge behind you, or that you're a jerk and are
>>>>>>> speeding up to prevent his merge.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The flash-to-pass feature is used to indicate to the driver ahead of
>>>>>>> you that you intend to pass and that they should move out of the
>>>>>>> passing lane. It's not supposed to be used to indicate that you
>>>>>>> intend
>>>>>>> to let the driver merge in front of you.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When approaching an interchange, just maintain a constant speed and
>>>>>>> let
>>>>>>> the merger figure out how to position their vehicle to merge.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sorry, but I don't put my safety into the hands of others when I can
>>>>>> possibly avoid it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Most lazy drivers are just lazy, not suicidal. Thus not showing them a
>>>>> reaction prevents them from doing what would bring about a collision.
>>>>> When I stopped having any reaction they could see, the less idiocy
>>>>> they
>>>>> did.
>>>>
>>>> So you think the best way to ensure your safety is to HOPE the other
>>>> driver doesn't get it wrong?
>>>
>>> There's no hope involved. I am fully aware of him and ready to take
>>> action to avoid him. I just don't let him know it,doing so is an
>>> engraved invitation for him to cut me off from his POV.
>>
>> Pre-emptive action to avoid a threat is better than reaction...
>> ...sorry, but it just is.
>
> Then you think you're safe and the asshat decides since you made way
> for him once you'll do it twice. Ever see someone about to turn out on
> a road so you slow down and then they wait and they wait and you're
> about 5 feet from them and they pull out? Know how I reduced that? I
> stopped taking "pre-emptive action". Stopped giving these lazy asshats
> a tell. Same thing when they are merging. I move over for one of these
> people and guess what happens next? They decide the right lane isn't
> good enough for them and since I accomodated them once.... They just
> plow into the next lane to the left.
>
>
I get it, you don't understand turning, you don't understand how to merge.

If the driver ahead of you is about to turn out, you don't make a collision
course toward them and force them to turn sooner. You slow down and wait for
the turn, simple as that.

I've already addressed your inability to merge properly in another post.

You DO want to teach other drivers a lesson and you want to get to your
destination as you perceive as safe for you while making drivers do what you
want at the expense of them risking an accident.

On Wednesday, December 18, 2013 6:20:20 PM UTC-8, Brent wrote:
> On 2013-12-18, Alan Baker > wrote:

One other thing:

Get over the idea that you are 'teaching anyone a lesson" There are two possibilities:

1. The 'ass hat' doesn't know he has done anything wrong and still doesn't even afterward. Even worse doesn't even know you did it.

2. He does know and either doesn't care or even does it deliberately to **** you off. If he does recognize what you did he just laughs and calls _you_ the ass hat.

Harry K

On 12/19/2013 12:27 AM, Harry K wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 18, 2013 6:20:20 PM UTC-8, Brent wrote:

>> No I want to get where I am going safely and efficiently. People like
>> that are incapable of learning a lesson and not worth my time to teach
>> them one. I just go and they stop like they are supposed to. They
>> know what they are supposed to do, they just won't do it if they don't
>> have to. They want to push the work and delays on to others. All
>> you are doing is breeding more of these lazy drivers by catering to
>> them. You are building their sense of entitlement. You're
>> enabling them. It just keeps getting worse.

> Don't you ever get tired of making ridiculous assumptions?

Brent is correct. I don't bother switching lanes most of the time and
find that the person merging will make an adjustment to avoid a collision.

Keep in mind that there are going to be times where you cannot switch
lanes due to passing traffic. If you maintain a constant speed, pretty
much any driver can figure it out and get behind you. Other than that,
they end up stopping in the merging lane.

On 12/19/2013 12:43 AM, Daniel W. Rouse Jr. wrote:

> If you haven't passed the merger by the time the ramp intersects with
> the highway (usually the solid line becomes a dashed line and then the
> dashed line terminates to complete the merge lane), you had better slow
> down or merge left one lane if you have a lane to the left--you are
> already too close to pass without forcing the merger off the road.

How about if you're merging onto the highway and you see through traffic
that will pass the same point you describe above at the same time you'll
get there proceeding at your current speed, then you, the merger, should
slow down and fall in behind them.

You are not supposed to slow down on the highway if at all possible. In
more dense traffic situations, it eventually leads to a rubbernecking
effect that slows a substantial amount of traffic down to a standstill.
It's better for traffic to come to a stop on the entrance ramp rather
than the main highway.

> Furthermore, the merger shouldn't have to slow down since the ramp is
> intended for, you know, so they can match the speed of thru traffic and
> merge in.

The merger is supposed to adjust their speed to find a position to merge
in, That can involve slowing down or speeding up. It's actually best
to be going a little too fast on the approach since cars can slow down
far faster than they can accelerate.

> Right of way of thru traffic doesn't mean making collision courses for
> mergers or last minute passes to make them brake or be run off the road.

Mergers aren't supposed to time their merges to be on a collision course
with through traffic. It's their responsibility to make adjustments
such that they find a gap in traffic on their own. Through traffic
simply has to maintain a constant speed and sufficient space between
vehicles.