Comments on: Driving Patterns – Let the Ass Merge

By: Reality Me » No traffic signals necessary

Reality Me » No traffic signals necessary — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:11:04 +0000

[...] Here is another video of an intersection without traffic lights. As a side note and reminder, letting people merge improves traffic flow (even if they cheated instead of waiting their turn). Comments after [...]

By: Reality Me » Say NO to speed cameras

Reality Me » Say NO to speed cameras — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:28:23 +0000

[...] Related: Google is mapping Knoxville. How will you be immortalized for the world to view? Do speed cameras change driving habits? See Driving Patterns – Let the Ass Merge. [...]

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:09:44 +0000

I just wish everyone could recognize the decreasing lane and merge on over … I hate when someone rides the lane out until it merges. But I have started leaving a gap for the guy racing the end of the merge lane because they’ll just force themselves over anyway.

By: Bill Beaty

Bill Beaty — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:35:11 +0000

In bank-teller lines it’s OK to block the line-jumpers… since they could easily go backwards to the back of the line. At banks, only a total dick would cut in front.

But on the highway, at a backed-up exit lane, nobody can go backwards to the back of the line. Yet everyone tries to block entry even if newcomers try to cut in quite early! The newcomers see a solid wall of smug, hateful drivers with an attitude of “I’ve got mine, screw everyone else.” Mistake. Instead they’re just trying to block the “cheaters.” But the newcomers who missed the back of the line are not cheaters. In retribution for the “solid wall,” newcomers feel justified in racing up to the only guaranteed opening: the very front of the line.

So it’s a fight between two normal ethical humans, but where both sides are convinced that their own actions are completely justified, while the OTHER person is a total dick who needs punishment.

When Zen practitioners say “the world is an illusion,” THIS STUFF IS WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT.

By: Carmen

Carmen — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:03:17 +0000

What stinks though is when you leave that space and they won’t merge there they have to merge 2 or 3 cars ahead of you bycutting them off. That happened to me last night.

By: Doug McCaughan

Doug McCaughan — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:38:12 +0000

Haha! That’s me!

By: jonathan hickman

jonathan hickman — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:29:12 +0000

So … what you’re saying is, you’re the jerk who’s letting the asshole in front of you.