While the onus is on the merger to merge with traffic successfully, this idiot set them up for disaster.

Dallas driver and Redditor /u/Rambler531 shared infuriating dashcam footage from earlier in May (May 2, 2025) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver unintentionally sabotaging a merger coming off the John W Carpenter Freeway by braking, causing a driver following the merger, not paying attention, to almost spin out of control.

Check out the dashcam video below with the original Reddit thread linked here.

The incident happened on the 183 just after exit 432B onto Commonwealth Dr.

Initially, other Redditors, myself included, put the blame on the driver spinning out, not paying attention.

But, watching the video closer, and as pointed out by other viewers, the chain reaction that almost results in a spin out is caused by another driver in front of the SUV that almost spins out.

Keen eyes will notice this driver, highlighted below, in front of the merger, for some odd reason, slow down.

While the merger gets up to speed, this doofus driver braking and slowing, it inadvertently closes the gap the merger has to merge into.

As a result, the driver in a white GMC Acadia following behind them both, perhaps not paying attention, doesn’t realize what’s going on and brakes to avoid rear-ending the merger.

This causes him to lose control, almost spinning, but thankfully riding up a raised gore point before coming to a stop.

“I don’t blame the merger, I blame the black SUV in front. Merger properly matched speed to file in behind the black SUV, and then the black SUV brakes with absolutely nothing in front of them,” /u/Threedawg points out.

“They were probably trying to “be nice” and allow the merger ahead of them, but they were completely too late. At that point, the merger either has to force itself in or drive off the road, because braking would essentially brake-check the white SUV. The white SUV should have been paying attention and either changed to the middle lane or braked sooner to allow the merger in. Fault is not always 100%.”

Ultimately, everyone needs to be paying attention, something the driver in the white SUV needed to be doing too.

“They (the driver in the white SUV) were definitely looking at their phone. It’s crazy how people who are driving don’t actually drive, they use that time to BS instead of being responsible drivers. It’s almost like people don’t realize they’re piloting rolling death missiles that way thousands of pounds,” /u/suck_it_cheeto_luvrs concurred.

It’s sort of sappy and cliche to point out, but driving is in many ways a team sport with all drivers being knowledgeable of the rules and to react to one another on the road harmoniously.

That is, of course, an ideal world; all the more reason to keep your head on a swivel and to drive defensively.