Merges from the right are a higher risk road design than merges from the left (in left-hand-drive countries) for a number of reasons:
Drivers’ line of sight
- Blind Spots: Drivers in left-hand-drive countries sit on the right side of the vehicle, making it more challenging to see vehicles on their left and choose appropriate gaps.
- Line of Sight: Checking traffic on the left of the vehicle requires drivers to look across the width of the vehicle, often through additional obstructions like passengers or structural components (e.g., the cabin itself).
Driver Expectation
- Traffic Flow Norms: In left-hand-drive systems, merging traffic is typically expected to enter from the left. Drivers are less accustomed to monitoring the right side for merging vehicles, leading to delayed reactions and increased crash risk.
Overtaking Speeds
- Higher Speed of Right-Lane Vehicles: The right lane is often used for overtaking, meaning vehicles in that lane are likely traveling faster.
Driver Comfort
- Less Natural Movement: Drivers are more comfortable merging from the left because it aligns with their primary field of vision and natural movement patterns. Merging to the right feels counterintuitive and can increase hesitation or errors.
It’s ideal to avoid merge from the right scenarios, however if they are needed due to context, extra risk reduction measures could be considered, including:
- Extended merge lanes to provide extra time and distance for vehicles to safely enter the traffic stream.
- Improved signage to alert drivers to right-side merging scenarios.
- Keeping clear sightlines.
(we also love the barrier in the video doing its job and saving lives).
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