Who Has Right of Way When Merging? | Highway Code | BlackBeltBarrister

It is a common debate as to who has the right of way when merging lanes in the UK. Many people will be pleased, many might be disappointed, but this is my view based on the writings of the Highway Code and how its Rules may be used in, or influence, a court case, if and when an incident ends up in court with a dispute over liability.
#rightofway
Let me know in the comments if you thought the same, or different!

HIGHWAY CODE:

Disclaimer: Neither this nor any other video, may be taken as legal advice. I accept no liability whatever for any reliance placed upon it, as there is no contract between us and I am not instructed by you.

💌 Become a channel member to access stripes and perks!

MY CAMERA GEAR

MY CHAIR:

🎓 Brilliant contract law book:
(Affiliate link)

LAW FAQS

CONSUMER LAW PLAYLIST:

TREE LAW PLAYLIST:

ROAD TRAFFIC LAW PLAYLIST:

FAMILY LAW PLAYLIST:

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
I'm a Barrister of England and Wales.
Videos for educational guidance only, Always seek advice before taking action. Videos on my channel are not legal advice and should not be taken as such. I accept no liability for any reliance placed upon the content of these videos or references, therein.
#blackbeltbarrister #law #barrister

Description contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Description may contain affiliate or sponsored links, for which we may receive commissions or payment.

[qasimmir]

This covers one of the most misunderstood things on Britain’s roads. Well done.

[davidct]

I think it was the late Barry Sheene who used to do a motorcycle training programme for youngsters on the TV many years ago who said “It’s no good having had the right of way when you’re lying in the morgue”.

[alexkf_]

Thanks for this - I've always been frustrated at drivers going to the end and cutting in last minute. I've changed my view on this now.

[DavidFraser]

We had public information films on TV in Germany about the Zip Fastener method of merging. This was almost 40 years ago, it seemed like common sense.

[BSFPC]

*BlackBeltBarrister* : "No-body has right of way"
*Every Audi/BMW/Merc/Range driver* : hold my drink

[keithcolman]

The main caveat I put on this is that using both lanes is the right way to use the road but only if done safely. The over taking vehicle should travel at a sensible speed. They should not be hammering down at 70mph passing stationary traffic and arrive at the merge at high speed. They should drive at a safe speed relative to the queue.

[tractorhead]

‘Merge in turn’ signage went up locally about ten years ago. Intimidation, aggression, gesturing, shouting, beeping, swerving, revving and ramming all stopped immediately.

[TonySmith-cdjo]

The highway code really needs another road sign to make it clear that they should use all lanes and merge at the last moment, alternating. That could clear up a lot of road rage!

[Tryingtimes]

Why don’t local councils simply put signs up “FILL BOTH LANES” 🤷‍♂️

[cougar]

Wonderful explanation of the HWC, if more drivers understood this about merging, life would be so much easier, and I wouldn't have to spend so much time snarled up in traffic jams.
You've just gained yourself another subscriber.

[chaos.corner]

Zipper merge needs to be the standard and taught to new drivers. It's simply the best solution. (there was a time when I didn't like drivers being let in after "jumping the line" but that's simply the wrong way of looking at it as suggested in this video).

[hatchingdraggon]

We love queuing in the UK. You'll often have the left lane littered with traffic running alongside an empty right line. But the brave souls who dare use that right line will find themselves stuck there forever.

[tomctutor]

I always let merging vehicles in leaving a suitable space in front.
Always give lorries, buses excess loads plenty of space to merge as it is difficult for them to match a car's speed easily and they also have limited visibility.
Don't try blocking off anyone, even what appears to be a chancer, because there might be emergency vehicles coming from behind that you may not see.
I've witnessed exactly this scenario at a junction where front car blocked a merging vehicle only to be stopped by police impeding an emergency call!

[stephenmatura]

It's a pity we don't have the 'Public Information Films' of yesteryear. As a ten-year-old I learned quite a few handy driving tips!

[SimonBlandford]

Observation: when I am already in the lane that is continuing and drivers want to merge early, it means I end up letting in several cars, that have different ideas on where would be a good time to merge, instead of one if they had driven to the end of the lane and zip-merged.

[phoebus]

In Germany, when two lanes merge into one on the autobahn, drivers on the inner lane are obliged by law to permit one vehicle to merge from the outer lane. There are generally large signs displayed at the side of the autobahn reminding drivers to "zip" their lanes. If you close up to block a merging vehicle, you are liable to be fined.

[PedroConejo]

This is the best discussion of merge-in-turn I've seen (and I've seen a lot since I can't grasp how so many people find it difficult to put into practice). There's a lot of queue-warriors out there who will endeavour to block the open lane and then when they've queued themselves into a lather will prevent merging at the merge point. That feels really odd after seeing how the Germans can do it without problems, and have been doing so for 40 years.

[tony_w]

I remember quite a long time ago, being advised to try to drive next to a space in the adjoining lane. If everyone did this (dream on) then merging would flow smoothly.

[steamboatwillie]

Include: merging into a motorway. It's the joining drivers responsibility to vary and get into the lane, not the driver already on. It irks me no end when joiners barge on, frequently without even a glance in the mirror.

[wscottcrawford]

This is a great explanation of this issue. I think the biggest gripe that most people have is that, you are very much correct, we are a country that know how to queue.... as such, we do not like queue jumpers. If it were the case that both lanes were equal in length, not a single person would have any issues letting another car in.

The challenge is that, in my opinion, once you see a sign saying merge in turn, cars in the closing lane (normally on the offside) should then match their speed with the other lanes and NOT go any further than the last car they overtook, so that they can then merge in turn when closer to the end of that lane. But, the rules don't say this. The result being that most cars in the closing lane will continue at FAR higher speeds, using it to their advantage to overtake a whole row of traffic, this is where the conflict comes in.

However, I have noticed whilst re-reading sections of the Highway Code that the rules do seem very vague and can be interpreted in various ways - hence much of the bad driving on the roads.