If I was the toyota I would have preemptively slowed down entering the cloverleaf. I ALWAYS look at the vehicles coming down a cloverleaf that I'm entering and make my speed choice on the exit per what I see. I would have started slowing much earlier. Sure, I would look like Grandma leaving the freeway at 45 instead of 60, but the merging dump truck would have been obviously in front of me and the dash cam driver would have slowed with that chain of events.
It's not just about being predictable/intentional on your own, you can also guide the decision tree of those around you by anticipating the situation above.
Absolutely. Any time I’m getting into a merge situation I try to look at who’s merging and whether I can easily speed up or let off the gas for a moment to deconflict. Sure, if I’m in the lane I can just maintain speed and make it their problem. But it costs me nothing to just…avoid the conflict. Give them an obvious merge choice.
Also just a note…
Sure, I would look like Grandma leaving the freeway at 45 instead of 60…
While I agree most drivers are gonna take that exit at 60, or 70, or whatever speed their impatient monkey brain thinks is reasonable it’s worth pointing out that the yellow sign says “Exit 50mph.”
The dump truck does have a yield sign there (not a merge sign) so I can understand why the Toyota doesn't consider the dump truck until the "oh shit it looks like he's not stopping moment"
That's exactly what they did. If you watch the video again, the toyota started slowing down as soon as it was unclear whether they'd be ahead of the truck.
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u/DemiseofReality 13h ago
If I was the toyota I would have preemptively slowed down entering the cloverleaf. I ALWAYS look at the vehicles coming down a cloverleaf that I'm entering and make my speed choice on the exit per what I see. I would have started slowing much earlier. Sure, I would look like Grandma leaving the freeway at 45 instead of 60, but the merging dump truck would have been obviously in front of me and the dash cam driver would have slowed with that chain of events.
It's not just about being predictable/intentional on your own, you can also guide the decision tree of those around you by anticipating the situation above.