General Tips for Merging Safely

Tips for Merging Safely (A two-lane merge)

Check Your Mirrors

You must periodically check your side and rear-view mirrors for cars that are around you. This applies to merging, changing lanes and moving off from kerbside.

Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you and take turns to merge, if there are long lines of merging traffic.

Use of Indicators

You want the other road users around you to have sufficient time to see what you are planning to do and make the proper adjustments to react properly to it.

Always use your indicator to signal your intentions early to other road users when merging. You want the other road users around you to have sufficient time to see what you are planning to do and make the proper adjustments to react to it.

Match the Speed of the Other Road Users

Try to match the legal speed of the road you’re merging into, without speeding up to get your vehicle ahead of others.

Check Out Your Blind Spot

Just before you change lanes turn your head and glance quickly over your shoulder. This move is vital to avoid cars that you may not have seen in your mirror!

Avoid Slowing Down Or Stopping

Be certain to always maintain the speed the other traffic is going at when seeking to merge safely, slowing down or being overly cautious may have the opposite effect.

Obey The Traffic Laws

Traffic rules must always be obeyed, one example, crossing a continuous white line to merge is against the rules.

Give Way to Other Drivers

Understand that the other drivers not looking to merge have the right of way and it is your responsibility to yield to them and not vice-versa.

Take Your Time

You will often have 15-20 seconds to merge onto the highway. Use it carefully and adjust your speed properly to make your entry.

Into The Next Lane, Make A Smooth Transition

Allow the car to merge at a relaxed but steady and consistent pace.

WA Merging Rules

Always remember that when two lanes are merging into one, the car in front is the one that has the right of way. In the case of multiple marked lanes, be certain to give way to the vehicles in the lane you are seeking to enter.

Remember:

Always use your signal to advise the other drivers of your intentions.
Make every effort to match the speed of the lane you are seeking to enter into.

The most important thing you can give to your family is yourself. If you want to take driving lessons and know how to drive safely, contact us right away.

New freeway and highway merge lines (by main roads department of road safety)

The problem

Merge points are often congested on freeways and highways in peak periods as through traffic must allow for incoming vehicles causing disruption to speed and traffic flow. Previously, where there were no dotted line markings at merge points, the vehicle in front would have right of way. This has often caused issues regarding which vehicle has priority, with some motorists speeding up just to get in front.

The solution

New merge lines have been introduced at all freeway and highway on-ramps to prompt motorists to get up to speed and merge into traffic in the same way as changing lanes. While new to Perth, merge lines are common practice in other states around Australia.

A total of 85 sites on our freeways and highways have been painted with new merge lines in an effort to improve traffic flow.

New merging rules

Here’s how the new rules work.

1. Get up to speed and indicate.

Once you’ve got up to speed with freeway traffic, indicate and merge into the next lane – just like when you are changing lanes.

2. Merge earlier.

Don’t leave it to the last minute – be sure to merge right as soon as you’re at speed and it is safe.

3. Let people in.

Drivers on the freeway should have a gap to let new traffic from the merge lane in or move right to make more room.