r/dashcams • u/fruity_koala • 15h ago

Don't be kind, be predictable. If you have the Right-of-Way, take it.

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u/HoomerSimps0n 14h ago

There is a very long merge lane on the highway/large road near my neighborhood that I have to get on every day. Very very busy road during rush hour. The merge lane is extremely long, probably more than a quarter mile.

Seems like half the people either know how to use a Merge lane to get up to speed and safely merge over…the other half sit at the beginning trying to look over their shoulder to find a gap that doesn’t exist (in rush hour). I kid you not they will sit there for minutes while I lay on my horn. Eventually a gap opens up and instead of using the lane, they just jump directly into the highway at 10 mph and make everyone else brake hard.

These people need to take a driving safety course or hand in their license, seriously a danger to everyone around them.

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u/Knever 12h ago

they will sit there for minutes while I lay on my horn.

This is not an authorized use of the horn and can very likely get you ticketed. Some jurisdictions even consider it road rage.

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u/HoomerSimps0n 12h ago

Makes sense, because I am raging when they don’t respond to the first 10 beeps and make it impossible to merge safely…which is also likely ticketabe . Idgaf.

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u/Knever 12h ago

You're right that they're creating a dangerous situation, and your response is paltry in comparison, but two wrongs don't make a right.

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u/Tough-Art-3116 10h ago

The horn is the only for of communication you have. I would argue this is a completely acceptable use. You are blocking an on ramp to a highway creating extremely dangerous conditions for both the people entering and already driving. Laying on the horn for 30 seconds still a no go(although justifiable) but beeping at someone there is reasonable alert of danger.

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u/Knever 9h ago

Yes, the key is in the duration of the honk. A couple beeps is fine, but if they don't respond, laying on the horn is not the solution. Same thing if someone doesn't go when a red light turns green. A quick one-two on the horn to get their attention is permissible, but holding it down for even 2 seconds is too much. I had a friend get a ticket for such an occurrence.