2 Lanes into 1

[samsong7]

When you are at traffic lights where there are 2 lanes, who has the right of way when the 2 lanes merge into 1after you have gone through the lights? I always thought that the driver in the left hand lane had priority, as the arrow is telling the driver in the right side lane to move over to the left, but judging from the abuse from other drivers for not letting them into the left side lane I am beginning to wonder! Who would be responsible for the accident if the cars collided?

[tigwig]

I don't think anyone legally has right of way you are expected to just merge together however if I am not doing the overtaking myself and someone happens to 'cut me up' this way I too shout abuse or put my foot down so they can't get in !!

[jg96]

These things are springing up all over my area and i,m just sick of the jerks who think its their god given right to force there way in where they merge nearly in an accident the other night when somebody trying to squeeze in infront and another trying to squeeze in behind could easily have been 4 cars involved the driver behind me wasn,t best pleased either

[tigwig]

I would just like to clarify that I don't cut people up to the extreme like this I only 'get in front' when it is not busy as I rarely drive in rush hour. It is especially pleasing if you have been stuck behind an extremely slow driver.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

merging means what it says,one after the other from each lane is the polite way to do it.

[samsong7]

It seems like everyone hates the driver from the right hand lane making the car in the left hand lane give way !! I just wondered, from an insurance point of view, who would be deemed to have caused the accident if two cars did collide. Personally, I keep to the left hand lane, as I think I have the right of way because the arrow is informing the driver in the right hand lane to merge with my lane.

[sigma]

give way out of courtesy. It makes you a better driver

[sigma]

and, as the driver on the right has to move over to the left, let him, it's not a question of who has right of way

[samsong7]

I appreciate what you are saying about courtesy and letting the cars in to my lane, but the question hasn't been answered. !! If I kept to my lane (left hand side) and the driver comes over from the right lane to merge with my lane, surely he would be responsible for running into my car.

[Loosehead]

There is no concept of "right of way". the highway code tells drivers when they should give way. In the cases you describe it is encumbant on both lanes to merge as appropriate. If there was a collision the blame would be apportioned based on the cooperation or not in the merging process. For example if the driver on the left was to deliberately close the gap to stop s car on the right getting in from of him, then he would be blamed if there is a collision.

[Toureman]

If two cars do hit each other in this sort of merging both are idiots but there could be more blame to the driver that has the front of his car behind the other.

[kempie]

Further to the answers already given:

"Right of Way" is not a principle recognised by any UK traffic law or regulation (it is more appropriate to rambling over the countryside). This phrase is often used when "priority" is meant. In the UK, priority is always indicated by specific signs or road markings. An arrow directing lanes to merge does not offer any priority; each vehicle is expected to merge in turn much like the teeth of a zip.

The fundamental rule applicable to motorists in the UK (as exemplified by the Highway Code) is "Give Way" and failure to do so "falls below the standard expected of a reasonable and competent driver" - aka the offence of "driving without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road".

Thus if you attempt to block a vehicle ahead of you from merging you commit an offence. Likewise, a driver attempting to push ahead and force a way in commits an offence. If there is a danger of injury or serious damage then the offence is escalated to that of Dangerous Driving.

If a collision does occur the difficulty in assigning blame may be in trying to differentiate between the two actions listed above but that is the job of the insurance providers.

[samsong7]

So to sum up. If I am in the left hand lane and a car comes along side me in the right hand lane (from around 5 cars back) and literally forces me into the kerbside to stop my car being scuffed down the side,then he is in the wrong because I have PRIORITY over him as I was in front.
Thank you for all contributions. I am sure this debate could run on and on !!

[woodchopper]

I have been told by traffic branch that the person on the right has right of way, reason = you are not allowed to overtake a vehicle on the left as you would be doing if you pass him
Sod that ! Never let them in - especially if it is a 4 x 4 or Audi/Bmw.

Best policy is to merge in turn - they have somewhere to go to too.

[tiggerwoo]

Equal priority.in other words both drivers should be prepared to give priority to the other,that way the merging process should take place smoothly and safely. There is no such thing as "right of way" and it is the people who think there is that cause accidents. To push and force your way in or to block someone who is trying to get into a lane is dangerous. All down to good manners really and some drivers are sadly lacking in the manners department.

[samsong7]

Thanks for all the contributions. The reason I asked this question in the first place was to see if I, being in the left hand lane in a line of traffic, was expected to give way to the cars that come speeding through in the right hand lane and are then left in the middle of the road because there is no where for them to go.If they had taken their time they would have easily have been able to merge safely, but instead they speed off from the lights to try queue jumping to gain seven or eight car lengths, then expect to be let in.This is not the fault of the driver in the left lane. If everyone braked hard to let the idiots in there would be more accidents caused by their stupidity.

[tiggerwoo]

I see where you are coming from and we all get annoyed at the selfish people...the best thing to do tho' is to rise above all that and for you own safety's sake just let them get in...don't be tempted to play daft games with them. The way they drive tells you much about their attitude to others...and if you join in with their antics you could possibly end up with a very nasty confrontation. It's just not worth the hassle...or worse!

[SlackAlice]

lol, I don't have this problem, mind you I do drive a doubledecker bus

[AndyJ78]

There is no priority as such. Common sense should prevail and cars should use both lanes up to the merge point (to reduce queues)where they should then merge "Zipper" style - one from each lane one after the other. Although this very rarely happens.

The car in the lane with the white arrows in, telling the driver they need to move over has sole responsibility to merge safely. This can be rather difficult when the car in the other lane has the "You are not getting in front of me" mentality.