ORLANDO, Fla. – The holidays are officially over. The decorations are down, the leftovers are gone and reality has hit us right where it hurts most: back on the road with everyone else.
With school back in session and vacation traffic replaced by everyday congestion, there’s one driving habit that seems to test everyone’s patience this time of year: merging.
Let’s be honest. Merging is one of the biggest pet peeves out there. Too slow. Too aggressive. Someone won’t let you in. Someone jumps the line. Sound familiar? The funny thing is, while we all complain about it, we’re all part of the problem at one point or another.
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Whether you’re getting on the highway, exiting a busy roadway or navigating a lane closure, merging isn’t a solo act. It’s a team effort and traffic only moves smoothly when everyone plays their part.
This is exactly why today’s Trooper Steve on Patrol stream is all about the dos and don’ts of merging. We’ll break down what safe, proper merging actually looks like, why hesitation causes just as many problems as speeding up too fast, and how small decisions behind the wheel can either keep traffic flowing or bring it to a grinding halt.
Spoiler alert: merging isn’t about winning. It’s about timing, awareness and cooperation. Using your turn signal, matching the speed of traffic and leaving space for others isn’t just polite, it’s how we avoid crashes and unnecessary backups.
At the beginning of a new year, it’s a perfect time for a reset. A reminder that sharing the road isn’t optional, and getting on and off our roadways safely takes all of us working together.
So join me for today’s stream as we walk through a live demonstration, clear up common misconceptions and kick off the year with a simple goal: merging without the drama and without the crash.
Because the holidays may be over, but traffic? Traffic is back, and it’s not going anywhere.
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