'Ur the Problem:' Houston Driver Avoids Traffic With Simple Trick. It Doesn't Go Over Well

“The reason why there’s unnecessary traffic."

Houston Driver Shares Trick to Never Waiting In Traffic On Highway

Photo by: cactusrik & Annabel Jacobs

Steve Ecker

By: Steve Ecker

Nov 3, 2025 at 2:00pm ET

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Dealing with highway traffic is never fun, especially during rush hour. Drivers become impatient and reckless to beat the traffic. These moves can be risky and have the potential to create more traffic and accidents.

In a viral video, Houston driver Rik (@cactusrik) reveals his trick to never waiting in traffic. It’s ruffling some feathers. Many believe it’s a terrible move.

The trick is simple: Rik says he waits until the last moment to merge. He demonstrates it in the TikTok with a montage.

In each clip, Rik swiftly approaches the 45 South exit lanes that have no traffic while the other two lanes for the north exit are backed up with traffic. Rik drives all the way to the end of the highway split before merging, essentially cutting off the drivers who waited their turn.

Rik writes in a text overlay, "POV you don’t wait in traffic."

Traffic Trick Inspires Backlash

Reaction to Rik’s video was swift. It’s been viewed over 15.5 million times and racked up 1.1 million likes.

Among those who commented, the reaction was a near-universal condemnation.

"Yeah let’s not normalize this," one said

"Ur the problem," another added.

Others pointed out that doing this creates more traffic for everyone else. When you cut someone off in traffic, causing them to slow down or slam their brakes, it creates an accordion effect that affects everyone behind them.

"The reason why there’s unnecessary traffic," one critic wrote.

A second agreed, "And that’s how traffic starts."

Some people took Rik’s side, however.

"The ppl mad at this just can’t drive," a defender clapped back against critics.

At least one took an interesting position: turnabout is not fair play. "Same but don’t do it to me or else ima get mad," they said.

Gallery: Nissan, Researchers Conduct Traffic Pattern Study On Smart Highway

Nissan, Researchers Conduct Traffic Pattern Study On Smart Highway

Does This Create More Traffic?

Merging lanes at the last minute, particularly in heavy traffic, is certain to anger other drivers. As one wrote in reaction to Rik’s post, "Oh so you’re the people I be yelling at."

But is it dangerous?

In short, yes.

Cutting people off can solicit an angry reaction, such as speeding up to block someone trying to merge, passing them and cutting them off, making a rude gesture, or following them too closely. This can lead to increasingly aggressive driving by both parties.

This could lead to an altercation or a collision.

So How Should You Merge?

While driving in an empty lane past a long line of cars waiting to exit, then merging at the last second, can be seen as rude, some argue that it’s no different than the zipper merger.

The zipper merger refers to cars merging in a zipper fashion by alternating one after another, with each car in the lane others are trying to merge into letting a vehicle in front of them.

"The zipper merge is a safer and more efficient way to merge in slow-moving, congested traffic. In fact, most traffic specialists agree the zipper merge technique is the most effective method for merging two congested lanes, ultimately resulting in minimal delay," per AAA.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, merging early can actually slow down overall traffic by 40% compared to waiting until the final moments to merge.

This type of merger is typically recommended for when there’s a lane closure, not at an exit. The bottom line is to always merge in a manner that ensures everyone remains as safe as possible.

Whether Rik’s traffic trick is actually a proper use of the zipper merger is a matter for some debate.

What do you think?

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Rik doesn’t seem to mind the critics, though. After his video went viral, he reposted it with text overlays, "The lion never waits in traffic," and, "POV you’re always on time."

Motor1 has contacted Rik via TikTok direct message and commented on the post. This story will be updated if he replies.