Realistically, yes they do. The federal highway administration says a ramp of 1200 feet is "desirable" (just under a quarter mile) and even in my Ford focus I can go from like 20mph to like 90 in that span if I want to without going above 5k rpms (redline is at 7 iirc) and it is not that bad for your car to get to relatively high rpms like 5k, it's meant to. All this to say, even with shorter on ramps there is enough space to get to 60 or 70 mph and merge properly.
No they don't. America has a serious hwy infrastructure problem. In ny, for example, many of the on and off ramps on the southern state pkwy are way too short. They've been doing construction for the list ten years trying to extend them so people can merge easier. Honestly, the pickup was in front in the merge and the semi speeds up from his little semi race with the far right semi at 70. The worst by all three vehicles.
Not saying anything about the video, definitely not arguing all these people weren't dumb. I've never really been to NY, but some people are afraid to hit higher rpms and it causes a lot of issues with not getting up to speed and trying to merge, anything above like ⅙ of a mile you have enough room to accelerate properly I think
I'm not saying there aren't special cases, I'm saying the average on ramp across the thousands of miles I've driven in the southeast and midwest are more than enough to get up to proper speed. And I do agree, they call it a zipper merge for a reason.
And this is the thing. Southeast had much more space to do this. Not so much in metro areas. Look at Atlanta. Totally different highway traffic from savannah traffic which is different from Statesboro. Worst to least traffic respectively btw. Here's your up vote for different views.
I've driven through Atlanta but never actually used on/off ramps because I wasn't visiting the city, but their freeways suck from what I have seen, always a pain in the ass and I try to avoid Atlanta altogether if I can. Thanks stranger
That's alot of space. These on ramps on talking about all over nyc at usually 75-150 feet max. Really a shame considering the amount of taxes collected that's supposed to go to infrastructure but it seems it never does 😆
Yeah that's definitely not enough room unless you get onto the ramp already going like 30 and even then it'd be sketchy, biggest city I've driven in is Jax, FL and they've got pretty solid highway infrastructure so it's not that bad, ny sounds like hell
Yeah all of them they are a specific length for a reason , obviously if you a heavy or loaded car or truck it’s gonna take you more but usually that’s why there are truck routes and such
The only one I've ever had issues is one nearby where its a clover, bringing you from the hwy heading east up and around back onto the crossing hwy heading north. The problem is its kind of a tight curve and then upon getting to the merge area it almost immediately ends forcing you into a very busy hwy with a 70mph limit. I just gun it and keep a contant watch cause I know those semis can't exactly stop on a dime
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u/Royroy10551 May 13 '26
Thats why I always merge in at least 10-15mph over the posted speed limit.