Merging debate: Who is actually at fault?

It’s everyone’s pet hate, when someone tries to get in front at an intersection by going around the traffic down the left lane.

Although frustrating, it’s not against the road rules if both lanes are continuing straight ahead.

But now the internet is divided over who is at fault in this newest video uploaded to the Dashcams Australia Facebook Page, in which a driver can be seen speeding up as another attempts to change lanes after passing through an intersection.

Russell White, Founder at Australian Road Safety Foundation, says it all depends on the road markings.

“If there are no lines on the road – even if that person has gone around to try and improve their position – if there are no lines there then the zipper system applies, so then it’s up to the person on the right to back off and let that person in,” Russell tells Be.

“Now if there were lines there and the lane is finishing then it can actually be the opposite.”

The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) is a not for profit organisation dedicated to reducing road fatalities and injuries. It achieves this through innovative road safety awareness programs, driver education, advocacy and research assistance.

Looking at this particular video Russell believes the driver with the dashcam camera had ample opportunity to avoid the collision.

"Vic roads rule say that roads without line markings - which you can say this one was - if there are two or more lines of traffic you can change if you signal an it is safe. That person was signalling. Now if you are in a lane with a continuous line you are not allowed to change lanes unless you are avoiding an obstruction, which is what that car was doing," Russell explains.

"So based on those rules, clearly both drivers could see there was an obstruction coming up, both were slightly in the wrong, but in my view the person with the dahscam could have yielded a little earlier and given that person some space to merge. Clearly that obstruction can't just disapear.

"But everything with road safety is a two-way street. Yes, both could have done something about it but ultimately someone has to take a higher moral position and do what they can to stop the incident occuring."

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But on viewing this newest video the internet has been left completely divided.

“Sorry but you did the wrong thing here. Let her merge. Ramming is your fault. Totally neglectful driving on your part putting the driver and possibly pedestrians at risk,” one person commented.

“It’s her fault for trying to cut everyone off,” another person said.

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