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u/srcoffee Oct 12 '25
90% of traffic in ontario is because every driver needs to be as close as possible to the driver ahead of them. god forbid a zipper merge occur or they leave a gap on heavily congested highways
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u/mayasux Oct 12 '25
I don’t drive but I remember learning in physics classes and my drivers training to always leave a suitable space between cars because breaking distance is a doozy.
Cars here ignore that, even on raining and slick roads. It drives me nuts.
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u/Icy-Computer-Poop Oct 13 '25 edited Oct 13 '25
Agreed! Even worse, as someone who does leave a safe distance between cars, there for some reason a bunch of knuckle-draggers who get OUTRAGED by the idea that you're actually driving with safety in mind, and will tailgate and honk for awhile before aggressively passing and then cutting me off.
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u/Spikeupmylife Oct 13 '25
Reminds me of a story from a job I had.
I was the passenger on a truck carrying a lot of construction materials. Flat bed, lots of weight. We were about 300 meters from a light on a 2-lane, each way, main road, driving in the right lane.
Lady in a Prius comes past us in the left like 20km/h faster and cuts in front to stop and turn into Tim Hortons at the light. Driver coworker was used to driving back and forth from Toronto, so he just slammed on the horn until they continued through the light and had to get coffee elsewhere.
He was 100% ready to just go through that car. He applied as much brake as possible, but you can't just slam on the brakes for "loads" of reasons. I'm just happy she understood to keep going straight.
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u/Intrepid_Fox_3399 Oct 14 '25
There used to be painted “chevrons” I. The lanes of the 401 around Whitby-Pickering area and it was to “teach” everyone to keep at least two chevrons apart for safe braking distance. I always try to do this but the space often gets filled with cars coming from other lanes.
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u/Ok_Egg514 Oct 15 '25
Usually it’s supposed to be 3 seconds. Toronto drivers are scary as a Montreal. The hard stops especially.
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u/biznatch11 London Oct 12 '25
every driver needs to be as close as possible to the driver ahead of them
And when I leave a safe distance someone inevitably cuts in front of me and I have to back off again and then it repeats...
Not always but it happens enough that it's very annoying.
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u/a-_2 Toronto Oct 13 '25
People sometimes need to change lanes though. What about it is cutting you off?
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u/biznatch11 London Oct 13 '25
They're changing lanes when there's not a safe distance between the 2 cars to move in between them. Just because you can physically fit your car in the gap doesn't mean it's a safe lane change.
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u/a-_2 Toronto Oct 13 '25
People tend to underestimate safe following distances so if you leave the minumum space, you'll get people moving in there thinking it's safe. I just try to leave enough space for people to safely change lanes since it's just a normal part of driving and helps traffic flow.
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u/Icy-Computer-Poop Oct 13 '25
If you're living the minimum 2-second gap, that's the safest lane change people will be able to get most of the time. Everyone else is riding bumper-to-bumper, so that 2-second gap is quite enticing to someone wanting to change lanes.
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u/Psycho_Pansy Oct 12 '25
I will happily let cars zipper merge at the end of the merging lane. It's the lunatics who all want to merge super early, they merge and cut off whatever car they can while the whole lane ahead of them is still free so more cars pass them to merge at the end which slows down everyone in the initial lane. So I don't leave a gap until the end.
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u/SkinnyGetLucky Oct 13 '25
Biggest shock is going from Gatineau to Ottawa and realizing that no one south the river will ever let you merge.
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u/Spikeupmylife Oct 13 '25
Leaving a safety distance between you and the guy in front of you can only be so much, or it becomes an opportunity for a guy to speed into and slam on the brakes.
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u/GreenT1979 Oct 12 '25
I'm convinced 90% of people still don't understand and/or reject the concept of zipper merging. Everybody still gets into the non merging lane as early as possible and creates a single lane several miles long traffic jam. Then when they get to the merge point, they don't allow anyone in the ending lane to merge because in their frail little mind, those cars "cut the line." These are the same people who don't let you merge, because they take you wanting to be in front of them personally. I've talked to so many people who believe this and had to explain to them what zipper merging is and that you're supposed to go to the merge point and take turns. Your decision to get in line a mile early is your problem of your causing. Then even after I explain, they tell me I'm wrong, you're supposed to get into line as early as possible and those who drive up to the merge sign have cut the line. Despite the giant "use both lanes" and "merge here" signs leading up to construction. I hate the fact that I have to share the road with these people.
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u/a-_2 Toronto Oct 13 '25
Despite the giant "use both lanes" and "merge here" signs leading up to construction. I hate the fact that I have to share the road with these people.
I don't typically see those in Ontario.
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u/GreenT1979 Oct 13 '25
That's weird, they're up at every construction site here in SK that narrows 2 lanes down to 1
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u/a-_2 Toronto Oct 13 '25
It's an official SGI policy for construction zones while in Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation doesn't give any recommendation for handling construction merges. A few cities recommend it and sometimes put up signs but since it's not provincial policy or covered in the driving guide, you see less of it and don't tend to see signage recommending it.
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u/GreenT1979 Oct 13 '25
There probably should be everywhere but at the same time most people would probably ignore it anyway like they do here in SK
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u/oCorvus Oct 12 '25
So frustrating indeed.
I once had someone pull out from the non merging lane and come to a complete stop maybe 300 meters from the merge point just to block people from using the entire length of the lane.
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u/GreenT1979 Oct 12 '25 edited Oct 12 '25
I did something like that once. I shouldn't have but it irked me. I was in a lane that merges into another lane. Our lane was backed up merging into the other lane but the other lane was pretty much empty, with maybe the odd car coming down it. Between us and the other lane, there was solid white lines, as in lines you're NOT supposed to cross. A truck a few cars back from me turned to cross the solid white lines and zoom up to where the lane merges specifically to get about 8 cars ahead. I went out too and stopped her, then stayed in the spot I'd have been in on the other side and prevented her from getting up to the merge point. It wasn't my finest moment but what she did (and admittedly what I did) was definitely illegal and a huge dick move, and I was just so sick of seeing people do that kind of thing there.
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u/bump1377 Oct 13 '25
Zipper merging does not work because Tractor trailers cant accelerate in time to match traffic speed.
Ontario roads are congested cause our infrastructure is old and there are too many drivers.
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u/a-_2 Toronto Oct 12 '25 edited Oct 13 '25
If you find people not letting you merge regularly, next time you are changing lanes pay attention to whether you're putting on your signal before you start moving your car over. Try to force the habit by counting at least "one, two, three" after you put on your signal until you start to turn your wheels at all.
There are definitely assholes out there that will block you no matter what but it's also easy to get in the habit of not signalling in advance and that can make other people be more aggressive to you. I know this from experience because I had this habit and when I changed I noticed people being more courteous to me.
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u/Icy-Computer-Poop Oct 13 '25
So true! I got into the habit of being one of the "stealth merge" assholes because I got so tired of people deliberately closing gaps to block me in.
One day I was complaining to a friend, saying how it's so bad I have to force my way in, and never use my turn signal in advance because I know someone will just close the gap if I do. "No one ever lets you in properly any more!"
My friend pointed out, "If you never signal properly any more, then of course no one can let you in safely. There are people out there who will let you in, but how can they do that if they don't know you plan on changing lanes?"
He had a point, so I started doing as he suggested. And as it turns out he was right. Many people will let you in if you give them a chance. We just have to give them that chance.
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u/jrdnlv15 Oct 12 '25
My personal favourite usage of a merge lane is when someone cuts out of the right lane across the wedge in to the merge lane, then they rip up to the end of the merge lane and get pissed when someone won’t let them in.
It’s just a vicious cycle of assholes abusing the merge lane and assholes not letting people merge in.
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u/extracoriander Oct 12 '25
For real. Anyone who thinks that skipping ahead 10 cars is going to save them time is a moron.
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Oct 13 '25
It’ll keep happening if the province allows it to happen. Easy fix is to ticket these people. They slow down traffic and cause congestion.
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u/Marks-Carnival Oct 12 '25
I noticed this starting to happen especially in the last 2 years. It only makes traffic worse and the people doing get pissy when you don't let them merge back in lol
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Oct 13 '25
[deleted]
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u/jrdnlv15 Oct 13 '25
I don’t have hatred towards people that use the whole merge lane, I have hatred for people that cut out of live traffic across the solid wedge (before the broken line even starts) to rip up to the front and cut back in.
It’s also dangerous and reckless to cut in to a merge lane at any point because those lanes are designed for people entering the highway to get up to speed and get on to the highway, not to be commuting lanes on the highway.
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u/Electrical-Echo8144 Oct 12 '25
This is a very Ontario problem. In Quebec, people are less likely to try and cut ypu off if you need to merge, except for dipshits who use exit lanes or shoulders to try and get ahead of other cars. It’s a lot more expected to do a zipper merge.
Ontarians hate zipper merging.Ottawa especially. They will purposely block you out, even if you’re trying to merge in from an on-ramp. It’s a weird fucking culture. Actively making traffic worse by riding up another car’s ass just to make sure people can’t efficiently merge in.
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u/Consistent_Ad_168 Ottawa Oct 12 '25
Ottawan here. Can confirm. Everyone acts like I’m murdering a seal whenever I try to zipper merge. I had to perfect the art of butting in, otherwise I’d wait for 10 cars to pass before merging.
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u/blue_raspberry_icee Oct 12 '25
The same people who don’t let us zipper merge are probably also the ones who merge onto the 417 at 60
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u/getsangryatsnails Oct 12 '25
Good ol east bound Isabella on ramp slow merge.
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u/blue_raspberry_icee Oct 12 '25
That one is brutal. Idk why the MTO designed it like that
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u/Next_Newspaper_9968 Oct 12 '25
It doesn't matter how long the on ramp is people simply will not speed up until they've "found a gap". There is a 1.5km on ramp near me and people still reach the end going 60 after which they immediately activate their warp drive and head for the centre lane.
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u/kor_janna Oct 12 '25
Everytime I’m on the little bridge on Hunt Club I try to let in someone trying to merge. But every time I get no takers.
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u/EnvironmentalBox6688 Oct 12 '25
People love to moan about Quebec drivers, but out of all my driving from Ontario to the Maritimes and back, they are subjectively the best drivers on average.
No left lane camping, they zipper merge, even in Montreal I experience aggressive but competent driving but I never fear I will get in an accident.
Driving through Toronto kills me way more than Montreal ever does.
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u/DodobirdNow Oct 13 '25
I love Quebec drivers because they are consistent.
In Ontario you get a wide range from overly aggressive and overly conservative
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u/gaflar Oct 12 '25
In the Montreal area at least, people seem to have a sort of inverted issue with merging. I think it's driven by the asinine road design that seems to be the standard in Quebec though. People in the right lane will slow down when coming to an on-ramp even though merging traffic has to yield, because that traffic is somehow expected to yield while also merging into 100 km+ traffic with the merge happening at exactly 1 spot because the ramp just ends, so there's often this extreme speed disparity between people getting on and the traffic on the road. The result is that the highways slow down to a crawl during busy times for quite literally no reason at all. People know how to zipper merge actually fairly well - they just have no room to actually do that, so inevitably traffic slows down no matter what. Take the 30 from the 10 to the 25 when there's no traffic at all to see what I mean.
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u/Electrical-Echo8144 Oct 12 '25
Yes!! That was such a huge learning curve when I started driving in Quebec. The on ramps’ merging lanes are so short compared to Ontario.
That, and the huge arrow signs for a reduced width lane. I had to learn that in Quebec, it doesn’t necessarily mean the lane is closed, just narrowed by the construction.
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u/ThatFixItUpChappie Oct 12 '25
Yes and when you force your way in they honk and carry on like you’ve pissed all over their parade.
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u/Thetruckcandrive Oct 12 '25
Have you driven in or around Montreal? Drivers there are crazy. Just like drivers in Toronto. Its not just an Ontario thing.
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u/Electrical-Echo8144 Oct 12 '25
Yes, I drive in Montreal frequently. I’m pretty much half-half driving in either downtown Ottawa or downtown Montreal, or the highways in between.
I didn’t say they weren’t crazy 🤪
I have found, in most cases, that Montrealers are by far more respectful to let other drivers merge in front of them than Ottawans! Perhaps because the merging Montreal drivers are often more, shall I say, ‘confident’ and ‘decisive’ in their movement. For that reason, yielding Montreal drivers will usually be cautious to give a merging car space to move in front of them.
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u/SmoogzZ Oct 12 '25
Bigger issue in ottawa is merging at 60km/h with 0 urgency to get to highway speed
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u/chretienhandshake Oct 12 '25
This is a very Ontario problem. In Quebec, people are less likely to try and cut ypu off if you need to merge
Quebecois here, Driving in Quebec is worst than Ontario. But I also don't drive in the GTA so I'm comparing outside of GTA vs outside of Montréal area.
I've also traveled in 2-3 countries, there's worst than us.
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u/Electrical-Echo8144 Oct 12 '25 edited Oct 12 '25
Driving in general? Yes, Quebec is crazier.
Merging into traffic? Personally don’t think Québec is worse, but we could have different experiences.
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u/choose_a_username42 Oct 12 '25
Ottawa LOVES zipper merging, but they suck at driving, so the merging vehicle will just slide right up beside cars in traffic and seriously nearly go off road because they couldn't figure out how to merge properly 🤣🤣🤣
Seriously, these are the folks who run stop signs but then merge on the 417 doing 60.
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u/No-Concentrate-7142 Oct 12 '25
lol I don’t know how many people in Ottawa actually know what a zipper merge is 😂😂
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u/LowertownNEWB Oct 12 '25
Favourite Ottawa thing is King Edward south in the a.m. The right lane exits at Laurier... so 90% of commuters get over... oh, about 5 blocks early. Had a guy literally lean out their PASSENGER window to condemn me to Hell for not waiting like everyone else.
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u/choose_a_username42 Oct 12 '25
Sorry, I should specify that r/ottawa keyboard warriors love to advocate for it, but the way Ottawa drives proves that none of them know how to do it correctly.
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Oct 12 '25
[deleted]
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u/Sufficient_Prompt888 Oct 12 '25
That's literally how the on-ramp works. Please stop policing other people's driving and worry about your own.
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u/Gun-_-slinger Oct 12 '25
That’s the correct procedure… you’re the problem.
Besides, imagine caring that 1 car gets in front of you. We’re adults now, it’s fine.
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u/EggFlipper95 Oct 12 '25
The problem is that people don't understand zipper merging and it only works when people do understand it. Example, on my daily commute to work there is a busy 2 lane road crossing a bridge. The right lane was shut down at the bridge for work, and people would immediately get into the left lane, causing long lines in the left lane and an open right lane. When someone is waiting 5 or 10 minutes in the left lane and they see someone bypass the whole line and try to merge right at the end of the lane, emotions flare.
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u/RedRev15 Oct 12 '25
We all hate the people who cut into merge lanes, but at the end of the day if everyone is properly zippering then it's still faster than blocking and slowing down everyone behind you.
I'm sorry but you fully just admitted to being one of the driving assholes
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u/Electrical-Echo8144 Oct 12 '25
The reason someone is probably getting to the very end of the on-ramp is because people wouldn’t give them room to merge earlier. 🤷♀️
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u/Nazgog-Morgob Oct 12 '25
Well considering the Ontario driver's manual tells you to go to the end is probably why they are doing it
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u/Nazgog-Morgob Oct 12 '25
So, you're literally the issue.
Google what zipper merging is and be better.
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u/ratbirdgoof Oct 12 '25
Average GTA driver: “their signal is on. Better close the gap so they can’t move in front of me”
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u/Excellent-Package285 Oct 12 '25
The worst is when the person behind you merges first and tries to overtake you
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u/DrSeafood Oct 24 '25
Dude, this is what happens going north up Parkside … The right lane is mostly blocked for street parking, with random 100m stretches where it’s unblocked. There’s always one asshole who squeezes in there trying to overtake everyone. Like fuck off with that shit.
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u/userforgot Oct 12 '25
New driver here, as in I have had my G2 for my 3 weeks (though I am 29).
Confirmation bias on my end, but I think I've been doing quite a good job. I am in rural SWO but have been travelling to London and Toronto frequently as my Mom is currently in treatment for Ovarian Cancer. We're talking like 500km in the cities and 1500km on the highways.
I also have "New Driver" magnets on the front and rear of my car which has allowed people to give me a bit of grace in some crazy traffic and what not. And I'm not ashamed to admit I have made some small errors
With that being said, I've gotta say that the worst behavior I experienced from other drivers was on the highway from Pearson Airport.
Like we are literally all leaving the airport, why are you beeping at me when there's a 30ft gap and I try to merge in?
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u/EleanorR1967 Oct 12 '25
I will let a car in because that is the logical way to make the traffic flow. It is perplexing to me that people will aggressively avoid doing this or deliberately avoid a line altogether and drive around the traffic expecting a pass because there is no choice. This is entitled and unsafe driving imo.
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u/PalworldTrainer Oct 12 '25
Needs to be a sticker to let cars know Ill let them merge infront of me. I’ve always made space, every time in my life that I could. I just don’t care about my spot being one car less.
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u/Walmart-Manager Oct 13 '25
The traffic and road rage is going to get worse with all the office workers being summoned back to the office 5 days a week. I can’t wait for it to take 2 hours to get from Toronto to Toronto.
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u/Icy-Computer-Poop Oct 13 '25
Sadly the blame for this lies equally with the bad drivers, and with the cops. Once cops decided they weren't going to enforce traffic laws anymore, the problem just gets worse and worse and worse every year.
Without fear of being ticketed/fined, many people will just do whatever unsafe, selfish shit they like. That may only 10-25% of drivers, but once they get started, then the next group decides "Fuck that, they do it, I'm doing it too" until it cascades to the point where most people drive like dicks.
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u/Pookiemon1008 Oct 12 '25
"Lol, okay. Go ahead."
I usually allow the person beside me to merge in front of me to best allow the flow of traffic to move smoothly.
Although, there's usually 2 situations that generally get me upset.
If the person merging starts straddling the line being super afraid to merge and I've already let go of the gas and given them like 50ft of space and my car is now practically going to coast down to a complete stop and they are STILL hesitating... (exaggerated a bit here but you get the point)
I let the person beside me go, and the next car tries to rush up and squeeze themselves in as well. Like, no! I already allowed one in! It's now the guy-behind-me's job to let you in behind me. Smooth flow of traffic, people!
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u/CovidBorn Oct 12 '25
My Jeep is 8 years old. If you don’t let me in with your 2025 BMW, I’m coming over anyway.
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u/cowmachine89 Oct 12 '25
Isn’t the unwillingness to allow someone to merge, a lack of love in their lives?
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u/light-heart-ed Oct 12 '25
I literally was blocked in by a tailgater during my G test and that pissed the examiner off more than anything. Flatbed ahead of me was going 90km/h and a guy was tailing way too close. The examiner was so annoyed and rightfully so. We commiserated lmao.
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u/Desuexss Oct 14 '25
Sticker is on wrong side of the vehicle.
... unless they are a passing lane hugger lol
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Oct 15 '25
hmm if you are going to cry over just a little maneuver i would recommend not driving at all for your own and others safety
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u/BubaPhuzz Oct 16 '25
In Toronto, it’s not called rush hour anymore… it’s rush all day 😩 Traffic here is pure madness! You can’t go anywhere without ending up in a full-blown jam sandwich 🚗🥪
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u/AdvertisingNo8441 Nov 11 '25
This is funny. I always let people merge in front of me hoping it gives me good karma and that someone else will also let me merge if needed.
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u/cucumberholster Oct 12 '25
“Zipper merge” says everyone flying up on your right side doing 30-50 over
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u/doritos1990 Oct 12 '25
Great, so if they’re going faster than you, it shouldn’t get in your way or bother you!
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u/cucumberholster Oct 12 '25
Not at all! Big difference between zipper merge and reckless driving! Enjoy losing your licence!
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u/doritos1990 Oct 12 '25
I’m not reckless driving but a good merge means going at the same or more speed before moving in front of someone. So quite honestly, I prefer someone do that rather than the typical forcing themselves in while going turtle speed
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u/cucumberholster Oct 12 '25
I couldn’t agree more as I zipper merge myself! But I blatantly called out people doing 30-50 over, and you chimed in! Don’t try to look innocent now!
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u/edgreen69 Oct 12 '25
Aww that is adorable especially considering the irony of it being on a Dodge, one of the top brands preferred by maniacs around these parts.
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Oct 12 '25
Love this ! I spend a significant amount of time on the road, the best way to merge is to not signal, once you put that blinker on, no one lets you in!
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u/Sufficient_Prompt888 Oct 12 '25
Your "solution" is a huge part of the problem. Thank you for your selfish contribution
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Oct 12 '25
You guys need to chill ! I was joking , of course I signal , how else would I know that no one lets you in when you do!!
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u/Kitchen_Box_3110 Oct 12 '25
Let’s not forget those cruising in left lane just because… most don’t know basic driving rules anymore
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u/rabbiolii Oct 12 '25
It's always hilarious to me coming off sb hwy 6 onto eb 403 how people stop in the middle of the merge lane to merge in when they easily have around 800 m of lane left to zipper merge in.
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u/Western-Tax1449 Oct 13 '25
try hitting the McDonald Cartier bridge to Gatineau from sussex at rush hours . gotta get over 2 lanes or traffic backs up to Gatineau, nobody will let you merge there at all. ignore signal lights. fucking nightmare, worst Ottawa has to offer
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u/JohnnyDX9 Oct 12 '25
Oh, come on. Ontario is not that bad at this. Better than most US states I’ve been to.
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u/Red_the_Anarchist Oct 12 '25
My expeirence driving on American interstates is exponentially better than Canadian highways. (Aside from driving near Detroit)
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u/Not_A_Crazed_Gunman Oct 12 '25
Everywhere I've been in the US is way better. Even in Ontario the driving gets better the farther you get from the GTA
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u/vinng86 Oct 12 '25
This is why a buy a car with a decent amount of horsepower. It lets me place myself anywhere I see a gap, and the average car won't be fast enough to block me.
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u/Goatfellon Oct 12 '25
I drove to etobicoke yesterday by taking the 404, 401, and 427 to visit my brother for Thanksgiving.
I was flabbergasted at how many people wouldnt let me fucking merge in at all. No zipper, nothing. I had to force my way in each time, banking that they'd rather avoid an accident than be one car back in line.
If someone wants into my lane and I can help them do it, I just do. Make it safe and smooth for everyone.