Do you have to move over for drivers merging onto highways? Here’s what SC law says

If you’ve spent any amount of time driving in the Myrtle Beach area, you have probably come across one or two, or more, roadways in which you have to merge onto a busy highway.

But as you travel the on-ramp or merge lane, trying to enter onto the highway, are the other drivers already on the road required to move over to allow you access?

The answer is no.

There is no South Carolina law that dictates that drivers should change lanes to allow those coming down an on-ramp to merge into traffic. The burden is on the driver attempting to merge onto the highway. If a driver does move over to allow you to enter the roadway, it’s out of courtesy.

However, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ Driver’s License Manual does recommend drivers use the driving method known as the “zipper merge.” This method has vehicles continuing in their lane until the point of merge and then take turns with other drivers to ease into an open lane.

However, some motorists may see this method as “cutting,” and may try to block vehicles from attempting to move into a lane. While state law doesn’t require the zipper merge to be used, the SCDMV says that the method helps in traffic backups or congestion, keeps traffic moving and reduces the incidents of road rage.