Originally Posted by CDTraveler

"Rude" is a matter of perception in this situation, as it so often is.

The drivers you encountered might consider your attempts to cut them off not just rude but also a violation of state or local traffic laws. Did you study the traffic regulations before taking to the road, or just assume that American drivers would behave the same way as those "back home" do?

And as for your comment about "as is should be in a civilized country" - personally I don't consider slowing down an entire line of traffic to let a car enter the roadway good manners, civilized or even safe. Here we are taught that safe driving involves maintaining a safe speed and trying to avoid sudden, unpredictable changes of speed or lanes. Suddenly or unpredictably slowing down or stopping for a car coming in from the side disrupts the flow of traffic and can cause accidents, like the one in front of me yesterday. Flow of traffic was about 35 mph when the car 2 ahead of slammed on its brakes to let a car pull out from the curb (probably wanted the parking space). The car behind it hit the first car and I missed joining the pile by about 2 inches, making me very glad I had new brakes.

If you want to merge into traffic, it is your responsibility to wait for a safe opening. To do otherwise in the U.S. is considered quite rude.