snake maneuver

[niky]

Knowing the type of traffic you're driving in, it's not better. Snake driving indicates that you haven't been paying attention or planning, and have been caught in the wrong lane. Changing out of it instead of stopping will decrease the amount of time spent idling. But to merge successfully, you sometimes have to accelerate.

Plan ahead. Spot your gaps. Time your merge. That means that you will not have to stop without having to speed up to make the gap, either.

Alternate routes are the best, though, or avoiding rush hour. That alone can make a 20-30% difference in economy, given what I've seen driving in typical Manila traffic.

[SentraSE-R]

I'm a right laner myself. I'm usually the slowest car on the road, so I courteously stay out of faster drivers' way. I use merging traffic and right turners as an excuse to slow down even more (and get better mpgs).

As for driving in the middle lane and making traffic pass you on left and right, read your traffic laws. "SLOW TRAFFIC STAY RIGHT" isn't a recommendation on US highways. It's the law.