You should be using all lanes of traffic, and zipper merge at the end.
this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2023
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The main problem with zipper merges in practice are selfish people who rush to zipper and cause even more congestion because of their erratic attempt to merge. Like traffic circles they work great when everyone is doing it right and they cam get really messed up when people do it wrong.
It would be great if zipper merging was taught as part of getting a license. Or they actually required someone to learn how to zipper merge as part of their license renewal.
Do you mean "rush to zipper" as in "using an open lane to move forward and then zipper merge into the remaining lane when that one closes?" That is precisely what you should do.
The problem is the selfish people who refuse to let those people actually zipper merge, like OP.
@Nougat
It’s hard to discuss zipper merging because people use to justify all sorts of dick behavior. Zipping through an empty left turn only lane to skip to the head of a right turn only lane for example. That’s not an example of zipper merging but there’s tons of people who I’ve seen argue that’s acceptable behavior.
Those people are assholes.
That’s not an example of zipper merging but there’s tons of people who I’ve seen argue that’s acceptable behavior.
We agree that that's not what we're talking about, and those people are wrong. That wasn't hard at all.
The issue is, at the end of the day, that nobody ever seems to know how to keep a decent distance away from the car in front of them. It doesn’t matter how slow traffic is, leave some space in front of you. It gives you room to slow down in case something happens, and it gives everyone else room to merge.
Zipper merging requires matching speed with the lane you are merging into so that drivers can make gradual changes in speed to make an opening for the person merging. That avoids sending a wave of brake slams that results from sudden unexpected lane changes. If you're passing a bunch of people, you're probably not doing a zipper merge.
You're also much less likely to end up with someone not letting you over if they see you matching speed instead of speeding up to the merge point.
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No, the problem is the people who incorrectly merge early, making "rushing" possible.
I am not calling it rushing because they are passing, but because they are going a significantly higher speed when starting to merge, requiring them to slam on the brakes and cause the same issues that merging too early causes.
Like going 20+ mph over the posted speed, not just going the speed limit in the open lane.
People who stay in the open lane and don't pass in the no passing zone and just zipper merge at the end are not the people I am talking about when I say rushing.
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The other issue is people who have no spatial awareness of their vehicle and need like eight car lengths to merge over.
Done with a modicum of competence: Zipper merges are efficient and you should only merge near the end
In reality? If you see an opening, merge over sooner than later to prevent disruptions to traffic
If you see an opening, merge over sooner than later to prevent disruptions to traffic.
This actually creates disruptions in traffic. Use all lanes, zipper merge at the end.
No, it fucking doesn't because we don't live in a perfect world and entitled/dumbasses fill the road. If I'm in the right lane and some chucklefuck is matching my speed in the on-ramp next to me and doesn't either speed the fuck up or slow the fuck down in the 2 whole minutes they have in that lane, they're gonna end up slamming their brakes at the end. All it would take is a modicum of awareness to get over and stop this awkward bullshit. That's just ONE example.
This isn't a traffic jam. This isn't the middle of Delhi. We're talking about normal everyday traffic. It's 2 cars in a 4 lane highway, and the dumbass can't even merge.
And no, it's not my responsibility to make sure they get over. I'm not hand holding idiots.
Point is, we don't live in a fucking vacuum and all it takes is opening your eyes and judging the situation in front of you accordingly.
God yes.
I am generally a nice-ish person. I'll try to slow down a little to give them more room. And then they just slow down too because they don't know how to drive without matching speed with a car next to them. And, fortunately, they aren't looking at me so I can't even wave them in. So it is just a waiting game of "Are they going to speed up and cut me off so that I have to slam on the brakes, or are they going to slam on the brakes at the last second and stop their lane until my lane stops to let them in?"
Nobody is saying to force your way in to the merge lane five miles ahead of the closure. If traffic is moving along, move along. But if you see an opening and know the lanes are going to merge? Merge then and there.
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Theory: Everyone down voting you has never driven outside the US.
We don't teach the proper way to zipper merge, so people block those doing it for cutting in line. It's a different culture that should be changed for efficiency, just like middle lane squatting, but it's just not important enough to address.
I mean. The UK (particularly Northern Ireland) are gods of zipper merging. It is like all of the queuing is to train them for exactly that. Every single time I felt like an asshole because I slowed down even a km/h or two to "let someone in" when they knew exactly how much space they needed and had it under control.
Germany... I am honestly gobsmacked at how bad Berlin and Frankfurt were at zipper merging. It felt like if I suddenly discovered that nobody in mainland China could make rice without a rice cooker. Like... I think the US might somehow actually be better. And we are HORRIBLE at zipper merges. At least New England, if not Chicagoland.
If I am traveling internationally and driving? The bare minimum is that I'll ask the person at the rental counter if there are any "gotchas" to be aware of. And if I have any friends in the area, I'll chat with them on a hangouts/discord call before I fly over.
Hell, I SHOULD do the same when driving domestically but at this point I can handle NYC, LA, Boston, Chicago, and all the stupidity in between so... fuck it and sorry if I cut you off.
But also....
Theory: People think speaking in absolutes based on driver's ed manuals is stupid? And you actually have to understand "the rule of the road" and how to drive defensively.
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The United States has a strong general culture of "I got mine, fuck you." That is certainly playing a part in this thread.
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But if I catch some dirty shitbag pull out of the lane to get into a clearly ending lane just to skip ahead a few cars...I'm going to glare rather harshly as I let the dirtbag back in.
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People are SUPPOSED to use both lanes for as long as safety possible, and then zipper-merge.
Not you Picard... say it ain't so!!
It's a zipper merge if the lane closes. Use all available lanes and alternate the right of way to keep traffic moving. It's assholes who think they're high and mighty that cause headaches in these situations
I swear I let people merge (to a fault) and didn't make this meme. I didnt think very hard before sharing this one and was picturing the people in my area who ride the shoulders/blocked lanes and try to cut in front of everybody.
It's okay. You're still a national treasure in my book ❤️
Thank you, Mighty Canuck
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You're an asshole. It's a zipper merge.
Why are they booing you, you're right
I think it is similar to when lanes merge. Better to stay in lane and then do zipper method.
If lane is open, cars will speed up until they reach merged/closed lane...
What do y'all say?
Yes, the zipper method is much more efficient than a single line of cars 2 miles long before a lane closure.
LPT: don't take it personally when someone needs to merge.
It is literally a zipper when a lane is closed. By getting in the "line" too early, you are making traffic worse. Memes like this drive me crazy. Not only are you wrong, you are proudly wrong
People really like to double down on their stupidity
States that mandate signs about lane closures being really far out claim it makes traffic flow better. In my experience it just makes traffic stop in a different spot and is likely worse than zipper merges.
My state just recently started posting signs to keep using both lanes so people wouldn't go to one lane far too early. It was nice to be able to zipper merge without people pushing back.
We just need a traffic cone/barrier pattern to merge the lanes into each other, so that neither has the wrong impression that they’re the main or correct lane
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OP you fucking idiot, if you expect people to get over two miles back then you've artificially extended the lane closure an additional two miles.
People like OP are a chronic problem in the UK.
Yes, I know that "we queue" in the UK. So why not make a number of queues equal to the number of available lanes and then take it in turns when it's time to merge? Instead of making a single queue multiple lengths longer than it needs to be that will inevitably block even more junctions further back and cause even more traffic, YOU FUCKING MORON!!!!
Edit: downvoted by nine absolute mongs that obviously weren't taught very well in their driving lessons. Not brave enough to put forward a counter argument, are you though?
It's called a zipper merge, you muppet. They're doing what they're supposed to for more efficient traffic flow. You're just being an ass.
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I'm for the zipper if traffic is heavy, if you can't get over early you shouldn't be punished. What I hate is when there is enough space and time for motorists to get over, but they insist on speeding ahead and attempt to play chicken at the merge this just increases the risk of traffic slowing further due to an accident.
By "playing chicken" you mean "following the law and all the god damn driving training guides to do the most efficient thing possible with two lanes merging that would also be the safest if people weren't possessive fuck cunts when wrapped in a car, the absolutely correct fucking zipper merge" right?
If lane 2 is closed ahead, and you're in lane 1, I think it's a jerk move to leave lane 1 to try to rush ahead a few cars and cut someone off when you need back into lane 1
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In my state use both lanes to merge point is the law and they'll remind you of it with signs several times on your way to the merge point.
Not sure why people are so up in arms about this. I read this as a jab at those people who speed wildly past everyone else and cut in at the LAST moment. I still let those people in because I find it is almost always safer/wiser to be passive and yield when driving.
"Cutting in" at the last moment is what you're supposed to do. If the traffic flow dictated everyone to merge earlier, they would make the merge earlier. This entire thread is filled with confidently incorrect. Yes, you're supposed to "let" people in. And yes, they're supposed to drive at the speed limit ("speed wildly") in the alternate lane until the merge.
You yield to the merging traffic because that's how it's supposed to work not because you're somehow morally superior. It's just that one of you (not you) knows how to obey traffic laws and guidance, and one of you (you) is doing what they're supposed to do, but only because you incorrectly think you're being charitable.
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I wish I could downvote this twice. Fuck you.
I saw this on Reddit and the comments are exactly the same lol
That's because regardless of platform there is a percentage of drivers that think their understanding of the "right" way to do things is the only way, and everyone else is in the wrong. And often the problem ends up being the same drivers who "know how to drive" that mess it up for everyone else. There's a number of competing viewpoints in this thread alone and guaranteed that every one of them will agree with my point and think I'm talking about the other opinions.
P.S. You're all wrong. :p
They're trying to clown you because "zipper merging everyone should do it" but they're not thinking about human nature once again.
It's like communism. If everyone was perfect, leaving enough room and always willing to let people in at the top of the lane without slowing down, then it would work.
But all it takes is one asshole, or even someone that is merely distracted by their kid or something, and the guy in the ending lane has no room and will have to slam on their brakes to stop.
And then they somehow have to merge into decently fast traffic from a dead stop, which is not easy. (Unless of course, the other lane stops to let you in, thus delaying everyone)
The system we do now is shitty, but the alternative if you end up caught stranded is far worse.
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