Trying to control the actions of other drivers is generally ill-advised.  It’s especially wrong when the perceived correction or “enforcement” is based on faulty knowledge.

Last year, I witnessed a driver who made the effort to move into the about-to-be-closed right-hand lane of a construction zone every time another vehicle tried to drive there.  Evidently, the “enforcing” driver felt that everyone should have already merged out of that lane by then (less than mid-way between the first merge warning and the closure of the lane) and was determined to thwart anyone from traveling further there.

There’s a running debate over how long one should continue to drive in the lane that is soon closing before merging into the remaining open lane.  Some believe that no merge is necessary until forced and others think it’s best to merge as soon as possible after the warning signage.

Each situation differs somewhat, but if you are speeding by a long line of stopped traffic up to the merge point, you are undoubtedly raising the ire of some motorists, as depicted in the example above.

Nevertheless, there is no positive outcome resulting from attempts to control traffic, and, probably, doing that will kindle bouts of road rage.  In fact, in the scenario I witnessed last year, plenty of horn honking, shoulder passing, and open-window yelling ensued, accompanied with various hand and finger gestures.

There are no specific laws written for construction merge timing, but I drove by a site in Kansas a few weeks ago that revealed their take on it.  A large sign at the start of the construction zone displayed an electronic message stating, “RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD MOVE LEFT NOW.”  They are evidently trying to eliminate some of the “gray area” of uncertain merge warnings like, “RIGHT LANE CLOSED 1/2 MILE AHEAD.”

Construction merging behavior may have more than one legal procedure, so differing opinions may be arguable.  Other situations are definitive, however, and while an attempt to control traffic is generally wrong even when you’re possibly or actually right, it’s doubly wrong when you are wrong.

A recent instance relayed from reader S.L. exemplifies that.  As he traveled through a small town north of Spokane, he approached a vehicle stopped with its left turn signal lit, apparently about to turn into a grocery store parking lot.

S.L. slowed to about 5 mph and angled right to pass the stopped vehicle on the ample portion of paved roadway to the right.  At that point, the alleged left-turner moved his vehicle to the right and forward.

S.L continued his story, “I stop, maybe ten feet behind him in wonderment.  I start to go again and he rolls farther to the right in what is now an obvious attempt to block the very wide shoulder.  His left turn signal is still on and his rig is about 35 degrees cocked in the road.  Inside the rig he is all waving hands and screaming.”

An outcome I previously mentioned was brewing:  road rage.  Fortunately, S.L was able to squeeze by and continue, mouthing an expletive to the blocker as he passed.

This example shows that drivers can get mad over a false pretense, as it is perfectly legal to pass a stationary, left-turning vehicle where a paved area large enough for two vehicle widths exists.  It also shows that this driver’s unreasonableness quickly sparked S.L.’s temper.

A few years ago, I experienced a similar woe driving through Moscow, ID en route to Lewiston.  I directed a light honk at a motionless vehicle not turning left from the highway (no paved shoulder to pass) despite no oncoming traffic (driver was looking down possibly at something in the seat).  He screamed out the window, “What’s your %$#@ hurry?”

I think that certain small-town residents resent traffic that is just passing through, and perceive that they are speeding, or too hurried.  Those so inclined sometimes take it upon themselves to slow the progress of such travelers.

When driving, don’t get mad.  And it’s really bad to get mad when you’re wrong and transfer that anger to others by trying to control their driving.

Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.

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