The Right Way to Merge on a Highway

This week, we had three people ask about the proper way to merge on a highway. Every driver and pedestrian deals with right-of-way issues every time they are driving, walking on a roadway or pulling out of a driveway. 

Every driver should be aware of their right-of-way responsibilities. Right-of-way issues are a factor in many of the vehicle crashes law enforcement officers investigate. Many of these crashes occur because a driver fails to follow their right-of-way responsibilities. 

We look to MCL 257.649 which covers “right-of-way rules,” including various intersections and the entrance ramps to limited access highways. It also has a section about speeding vehicles and how violating the speed limit will affect your ability to claim right-of-way. 

Section (1): The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.  This section is for unregulated intersections, which have no signage to direct traffic.

Section (2): When two vehicles enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time; the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right. This section is for unregulated intersections, which have no signage to direct traffic.

Section (3): The right of way rules declared in subsections (1) and (2) are modified at through highways and otherwise as stated in this chapter. 

Section (4): The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign, in obedience to the sign, shall slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and shall yield the right of way to a vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver would be moving across or within the intersection. However, if required for safety to stop, the driver shall stop …

Section (5): The driver of a vehicle traveling at an unlawful speed shall forfeit a right of way which the driver might otherwise have under this section.

Section (6): Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, the driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop …  After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right of way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on the highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver would be moving across or within the intersection.

Section (7): When a vehicle approaches the intersection of a highway from an intersecting highway or street which is intended to be, and is constructed as, a merging highway or street, and is plainly marked at the intersection with appropriate merge signs, the vehicle shall yield right of way to a vehicle so close as to constitute an immediate hazard on the highway about to be entered and shall adjust its speed so as to enable it to merge safely with the through traffic.

Some drivers believe, erroneously, traffic on an expressway or other road, are required to allow vehicles to merge onto the traveling lanes of the highway roadway.  Section (7) clearly states the merging vehicle shall yield right-of-way. This means the driver of a vehicle merging onto the highway will adjust their speed to merge safely or stop their vehicle until they can merge safely.

We all have seen vehicles, traveling on the highway move over a lane to safely let merging traffic onto the highway. This is a courtesy to the merging driver, a good driving practice, but it is not required by law.

At crash scenes involving right-of-way issues, drivers will usually argue about who had the right-of-way.  It is times like this where the trooper investigating the crash will utilize their crash investigation training to ascertain the facts of the crash. A Trooper’s crash investigation will utilize witness statements, vehicle crash damage and various scientific methods to ascertain what actually happened at a crash scene.

Meet Trooper Ronald Courtley

I would like to introduce Trooper Ronald Courtley. Trooper Courtley has been a member of the Michigan State Police for six years; three years as a motor carrier officer at the Detroit Post and now serving as a trooper at the Brighton Post. Trooper Courtley has a bachelor’s degree in business management.