Merge in turn collision, who's at fault?
Discussion
I'm just wondering, if you have a collision with a car at a merge in the road (outside lane merges into inside lane), who would the insurance companies make liable?
Would it be the car in the inside lane for being an ass and blocking you from merging or would it be the car in the outside lane for technically changing lanes when it isn't clear?
This would be right at the point of merge too, where the lane markings stop and there are those little curved arrows on the road telling you to merge.
Would it be the car in the inside lane for being an ass and blocking you from merging or would it be the car in the outside lane for technically changing lanes when it isn't clear?
This would be right at the point of merge too, where the lane markings stop and there are those little curved arrows on the road telling you to merge.
Assuming the car in the outside lane was slightly ahead as it was merging, the driver in the inside lane should of seen the intention and thus he/she would be blameworthy.
Through experience though, people don't seem to grasp merge in turn and seem to think its an opportunity to get into a duel.
Through experience though, people don't seem to grasp merge in turn and seem to think its an opportunity to get into a duel.
I don't think you're actually meant to use the area past the end of the lane markings, it's only there as a safety buffer. The outside lane ends at the point the line between the lanes end so the driver in the outside lane should have already merged before that point. Thus I think if the driver in the outside lane would be judged 100% at fault, although the driver in the inside lane would also have to be a completely cretin to actually allow a colision.
You have to separate fault from liability but does it even need asking?
Both have a duty to avoid a collision
(and just to help with the point you have the bit in the highway code that says if you're being overtaken you should drop back if necessary for the overtake to complete, you dont need to keep pressing forward alongside them)
Back to the merge
If you've swung across without taking note of whats there, you havent tried to avoid a collision
If your front wings taken out, driving into someone merging in you haven't tried to avoid the collision.
In either case if necessary surely just stop?
However as far as liability goes a supposed assessor in another thread said they'd always make the lane changer fully liable. That might be worth challenging by the other insurer if they could be bothered, but it's not clear either would come out well.
Both have a duty to avoid a collision
(and just to help with the point you have the bit in the highway code that says if you're being overtaken you should drop back if necessary for the overtake to complete, you dont need to keep pressing forward alongside them)
Back to the merge
If you've swung across without taking note of whats there, you havent tried to avoid a collision
If your front wings taken out, driving into someone merging in you haven't tried to avoid the collision.
In either case if necessary surely just stop?
However as far as liability goes a supposed assessor in another thread said they'd always make the lane changer fully liable. That might be worth challenging by the other insurer if they could be bothered, but it's not clear either would come out well.
Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 26th April 09:55
kambites said:
I don't think you're actually meant to use the area past the end of the lane markings, it's only there as a safety buffer. The outside lane ends at the point the line between the lanes end so the driver in the outside lane should have already merged before that point.
There was a whole pair of threads including a poll about merging too soon 
They are probably less willing to accommodate you if you've just shoot past right to the final merge point and expecting them to just let you in.
Match their speed alongside the gap in front of them and indicate without moving across and they are much more likely to drop back to let you in.
Match their speed alongside the gap in front of them and indicate without moving across and they are much more likely to drop back to let you in.
Sensibleboy said:
They are probably less willing to accommodate you if you've just shoot past right to the final merge point and expecting them to just let you in.
Match their speed alongside the gap in front of them and indicate without moving across and they are much more likely to drop back to let you in.
Yes, and if they take umbrage and close the gap you're aiming for, drop back by one carlength and try again. They feel like they've won, you lose barely anything, the world keeps turning and nobody scrapes their car.Match their speed alongside the gap in front of them and indicate without moving across and they are much more likely to drop back to let you in.
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