The Secret To Correctly Merging Onto A Freeway 

I merged onto an interstate three days ago and found that a big truck was following behind me on the left. "In behind the big truck, not in front of the big truck." That term helps a lot. (with only 9 months of experience, I was never taught to stop or brake suddenly on a merging lane.)

This make perfectly good sense Rick. Thank you sir.

If you are on the freeway helping others get on goes a LONG way in making merging fast and safe. When you see them try and make some space for them to join in front of you. Wave them in if eye contact was made. Most of the time a wave will make them speed up. The rest of the time they act timid and slow way the hell down or like complete Aholes and cut you off. Some don't look at all so there is not much to do there. I will get out of the slow lane if possible. All that time you think you are going to lose by make a space or slowing down will just be eaten up as soon as you stop at two red lights anyways. I have no idea how people don't realize that. The problem with common sense is it's not very common.....

You mentioned I need to "get behind the big truck", doesn't that mean I need to slow down???

But what if you are going 50-60 miles per hour and you see there’s no opening boom it’s an accident so don’t you think we have to slow down while in the acceleration lane to see if there’s opening

Ever wondered why truck drivers occupy the center lane so often? It’s due to people who don’t know how to safely merge, at least in my case. There are so many people trying to merge into a 65 mph zone at like 40 mph and it creates a dangerous situation. I’ve had too many instances where people get pissed at me when I have the right of way and they can’t figure out where the gas pedal is, so I just use the middle now, particularly in areas of congestion.

Everything you said doesn’t apply to Californians apparently. Moved here from the Midwest and it’s a headache.

How do I practice getting up to these speeds? I rarely ever go this fast so I watch the speedometer way too much instead of what I'm doing. I think my fear is amplified by how little time i have to merge before the road ends. I am not good at split second decisions of Speed ing or slowing down.

I’m from Toronto Canada thanks to this videos I pass my driving license today .

by far the best driving instructor, passed my g2 because of his RU-vid videos particularly the ones on parallel parking. Not only are the videos educational but entertaining too.

Very funny and instructive 😁

Remember that a few misinformed motorists still believe that when they are entering a freeway the freeway traffic is required to get out of their way.

I did my first merging yesterday and I speed up like I saw a ghost. Lol

Wish everyone in America could watch this video. As a truck driver, nothing keeps me stressed like people coming up the ramp 30 mph slower than I’m going, and trying to force their way right in front of me. I’m like “if you only knew it takes a tractor trailer over 300 feet (100 yards…or a whole football field) to safely stop at 60 mph, you wouldn’t just jump right in front and force an unsafe situation.” I usually try to keep a 6 second following distance in front of my truck. I hate when people cram their vehicles right in front of my truck. I’m like “if you jump right there in front of me, and an emergency causes you to slam on the brakes right there, you’re dead.”

Lots of people still don't get it, it's like they are afraid to accelerate to match the speeds others are doing on the interstates, people are mostly focused straight ahead and not looking to their left and their mirrors to look for that gap.

ONLY in a PERFECT world will this work 100% of the time! this will ALWAYS be a problem until the END OF TIME!!

Suppose no one lets you in? Suppose traffic is really heavy and you can't get in? To say you cannot stop ever seems unrealistic. You just can't force yourself onto the highway. This is my fear. I'm a new driver and haven't tried the highway yet. I just googled what you said and they said the same thing. Don't force yourself in or you may cause an accident. Love your videos. Just concerned. Charlotte traffic is crazy and scary.

What if people won't give you enough room to merge in

Do u have a video of merging when traffic is bumper to bumper?

So if there's a large piece of debris, a little kid or an old lady on the entrance ramp to the freeway don't stop it's more important to get on the freeway ... got it... Lets go racing !!!

👍🏻😎I’m never going to the highway anyways but thanks 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Also, don’t be at 20 mph slower than the speed limit by the end of the merging lane

i took my driving test today in Los Angeles, CA. i was so nervous leading up to my exam, i passed on my 1st attempt with only 6 deductions!

What about places that have signs that say, "no merge area," where the on-ramp and highway converge into one lane without an acceleration lane? It's like a slip lane onto a highway--very dangerous.

*This is Big Mac Sam and I approve this message! Rick, I had some students that did it wrong and were so afraid to just go for it! Just go for it!* #BigMacSam

I have a fear of merging on the freeway. Your videos have helped me a lot. Most of my fear was due to a parent that scared me.

Step one# speed up Step two# observe the highway Step three# find the gap Step four# signal Step five# move in It’s that easy if you follow the steps

Do you have any videos to demonstrate this with your cameras. My husband just got his license and he’s overconfident but he makes a lot of mistakes on the highway staying in his lane, merging, looking in mirrors to change lanes, and getting off on exits

Dear Dr August, thanks to the Lord and your amazing videos I passed my g2 test on the first try!!! Thank you so much for your help and I will continue to watch your videos to grow my experience as a new driver 🕺

AIM FOR THE HOLE

Im definitely shooting for the hole on order not to get creamed myself

Ironically aircraft can abort takeoff until V1 speed is reached, which is quite late in takeoff. So going on the on ramp is more like reaching V1 speed on takeoff.

I just passed my class 7 road test first try today and these videos helped a lot

For the most part, I agree with everything that this man is saying. You definitely need to start speeding up big time when you're on that merging lane to match the speed of the other cars. However, there will be times when you're trying to merge and even with not a lot of traffic you may not find a gap. You cannot just throw yourself into the lane because thats also as dangerous as stopping at a merging lane and that too, will be another accident waiting to happen. If you're in that situation, at the very least, you need to slow down a little bit until you find that gap then speed up to traffic or up to the speed limit. I think he needs to mention this also

Ok, totally agree with you, but there are some truly terrible on-ramps where I live. They conceal the traffic from you because three shrubs will cure global warming, and the ramp is so short and curved that you are near a dead stop anyway. Plus with phones people are legit only half paying attention anyway. You can’t see the gap until you’re literally about to join the lane. I don’t stop of course because that’s suicide but it’s hard to just mash the throttle and commit. Any other place on the highway it’s essentially an unsafe lane change.

What about when it’s winter time and the roads are icy and the traffic on the highway is going faster than you are comfortable going, especially because you drive a rear wheel drive pickup? Do you have to go their speed anyway and then once you merge onto the highway can gradually slow down to the speed you feel safest?

Love the music embedded in his videos

I have this thing where i think im going to b to close to other cars or im going over the lines

If vehicle keep coming fast what I Go to do

Damn,now I know better. Thanks!

I know my question is unrelated to this video, but do you have any videos on how to get on the other side of a two way road way with center lane. When I am leaving my gym in the mornings, I have to try to get to the other side going to the left to go home; both sides have heavy traffic flow and it can be intimidating and a little scary. If I take a right, I have to go into another town and fight my way back into town to get home. How can I drive onto these safely?

taking my driving test in an hour 😩🤮

Great tips and great video this week Very entertaining, educational and great information in your videos

Hi Mr. August. I am taking my driving test on September 20th. After watching more or less 100 of your instructional videos, I am feeling very confident to pass my first attempt. Thank you for all of your help in calming my nerves and getting me prepared :)

Good instruction, but man, you scare the hell out of students. Sometimes the traffic in highway is that much dense that you can not fit in. Then what? we have to stay. not by willing, but have to, man. This is too much.

Great intro 😁

This channel is a gem of driving advice

I passed my driving test

Very well explained Rick it is definitely crucial that new drivers know this so they don’t panic and stop in the acceleration lane. Excellent Teaching

You are the man very wise

Living in my Van !

Hi Rick🦓

Great vid Rick

Love ❤️ that plane explanation!