Merging on a Highway

[gmi3804]

What are your thoughts on "zipper merging," or, when there's a lane closed ahead and you have to merge into one lane? Do you merge ASAP, or drive all the way up to the closure and then try to merge? I do the latter, which is what you're supposed to do (according to AAA, see image below), but this usually makes those in the open lane upset.

 

[robinb]

What are your thoughts on "zipper merging," or, when there's a lane closed ahead and you have to merge into one lane? Do you merge ASAP, or drive all the way up to the closure and then try to merge? I do the latter, which is what you're supposed to do (according to AAA, see image below), but this usually makes those in the open lane upset.

I zipper merge. It's faster for everyone.

 

[dioxide45]

What are your thoughts on "zipper merging," or, when there's a lane closed ahead and you have to merge into one lane? Do you merge ASAP, or drive all the way up to the closure and then try to merge? I do the latter, which is what you're supposed to do (according to AAA, see image below), but this usually makes those in the open lane upset.

View attachment 782658

I read about this also. I don't think it really matters overall since the same amount of cars have to pass through the bottleneck. It may reduce the overall distance of any backup, but the overall number of cars remains the same.

 

[RedHead0186]

What are your thoughts on "zipper merging," or, when there's a lane closed ahead and you have to merge into one lane? Do you merge ASAP, or drive all the way up to the closure and then try to merge? I do the latter, which is what you're supposed to do (according to AAA, see image below), but this usually makes those in the open lane upset.

I used to merge right away. I also used to then sit in between the two lanes to stop everyone from rushing to the front and merging at the last minute. Yes, I know that's awful and I was young and stupid. I now realize the benefits of zipper merging and try to convince everyone else to do it (and I apologize to all those I passively aggressively blocked when I was young and stupid, lol).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Most highway entrance ramps have yield signs meaning the driver entering the highway must be the one to yield to existing traffic.

That said I move over if I know I'm going to be too close to other vehicles on the entrance ramp of the highway for oncoming traffic. I actually internally cringe when I fail to do this. If there's traffic there's traffic but when I can do it I do.

Sometimes there's not enough space/time when you're needing to get off the highway because the exit is so close. In those cases I look at I can control myself not the other driver and depending on the distance to the exit ramp I may slow down to allow the other driver to merge.

 

[goofyernmost]

You definitely had the right of way, however, having taught Defensive driving, for your well being and to avoid a crash that was the fault of others, if you have a clear lane to your left you move into it. Not because it is a law but to protect yourself and to anticipate that the one in the on ramp may well be an idiot and pull right over into you in the attempt to get ahead. By doing so you save yourself not only possible car damage but also injury to yourself and the time it would have taken to deal with the police and everything else involved in an crash. There are thousands of grave stones that should read... "But I had the right of way". Protect yourself on the highway and don't look at it as giving into the other guy. It is you doing the smart thing. Sometimes the traffic is such that you cannot move over to the left, then you can either slow up or speed up just enough to avoid a crash. It's not about the road rage of others. Always assume the other driver is an idiot and protect yourself.

 

[slo]

You were in the right, BUT, if there were no cars around you and your exit was still a mile away, I would move over into the middle lane in that scenario. I do that regularly on our highway here when it's light traffic, and I see many other drivers doing that as well. Just seems polite / safer to move over and give someone room when the other lanes are available.

This is what I do too

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was already doing 75-80 on a 65mph highway. This is a long on ramp with a ton of time to merge in. They had plenty of time to be anywhere other than exactly where I was.

True but you can't control them. I move over when I have the ability to do so, even if that means I'm moving right back over because the car merged going high speeds and I cleared them completely.

I encounter this all the time honestly from long to short merging opportunities. You're going to get rude reactions most often if you have the ability to move over but don't. I agree with a PP in it being labeled defensive driving.

 

[Moliphino]

I don't remember if there was a car to my left or not. If I wasn't getting off so soon I would usually move left, but I could see my exit already from where I was so I didn't even consider it. There was plenty of room in front of me or behind me for the other car to adjust their speed and merge in. Instead the pulled up right alongside at the same speed and expected me to get out of their way.

 

[spewey]

BTW, in regards to merging for a lane closure, the "traffic science" for that is settled - zipper merging is always best for flow,

 

[_19disnA]

What are your thoughts on "zipper merging," or, when there's a lane closed ahead and you have to merge into one lane? Do you merge ASAP, or drive all the way up to the closure and then try to merge? I do the latter, which is what you're supposed to do (according to AAA, see image below), but this usually makes those in the open lane upset.

View attachment 782658

I think it is rude to race up the right lane flying by the other cars already slowing down and then try to cut in at the last possible moment AND those people tend to act like you somehow owe it to them to let them in. Sorry, my time is just as important as everyone else and they need to merge when they see an upcoming lane closure just like most others have already done. Merging at the last minute creates MORE of a botteneck as the right lane keeps filtering in while the left lane where others have already merged causes more of a backup. Traffic would move along better if people would begin to merge as soon as they see the signs indicating a lane closure. Notice that AFTER everyone has merged, traffic tends to move along more smoothly.

 

[sam_gordon]

BTW, in regards to merging for a lane closure, the "traffic science" for that is settled - zipper merging is always best for flow,

I know the "science" says that. I'd like to see a real world, practical application of it. I wish Mythbusters could have gotten 50 cars and some empty highway and tried out the various methods.

The problem I see with zipper merging is you're still dealing with humans. So yes, while if EVERYONE does exactly what they're supposed to do, it might be the "best" way. But all it will take is a few people who think the "rules" don't apply to them, and you're hosed.

 

[gmi3804]

I think it is rude to race up the right lane flying by the other cars already slowing down and then try to cut in at the last possible moment AND those people tend to act like you somehow owe it to them to let them in. Sorry, my time is just as important as everyone else and they need to merge when they see an upcoming lane closure just like most others have already done. Merging at the last minute creates MORE of a botteneck as the right lane keeps filtering in while the left lane where others have already merged causes more of a backup. Traffice would move along better if people would begin to merge as soon as they see the signs indicating a lane closure. Notice that AFTER everyone has merged, traffic tends to move along more smoothly.

That's what you think, but that's neither the rule nor the more efficient way to move traffic. A longer line of cars in one lane creates longer back-ups and makes it longer for everyone to get through. It's really not a debate.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't remember if there was a car to my left or not. If I wasn't getting off so soon I would usually move left, but I could see my exit already from where I was so I didn't even consider it. There was plenty of room in front of me or behind me for the other car to adjust their speed and merge in. Instead the pulled up right alongside at the same speed and expected me to get out of their way.

Yeah but that's where we're talking about defensive driving. This isn't one of those cases where you want to hold on because you're right and the other is wrong.

In my state's driver's handbook they state "Drivers in trouble - If another driver makes a mistake, do not make the situation worse. For instance, when drivers pass you without enough space, reduce your speed and let them return to the lane safely; or if another driver needs to change lanes suddenly, slow down and let them merge. This kind of cooperation will make the roads safer."

You were already going 10-15 mph over the speed limit slowing down (if you didn't have clearance to move over) wouldn't have cost you anything either.

You asked the question about who has the right away and it's true you did, but you also said you felt you were in the right in this situation which most of us agree you were not.

 

[SirDuff]

I know the "science" says that. I'd like to see a real world, practical application of it. I wish Mythbusters could have gotten 50 cars and some empty highway and tried out the various methods.

The problem I see with zipper merging is you're still dealing with humans. So yes, while if EVERYONE does exactly what they're supposed to do, it might be the "best" way. But all it will take is a few people who think the "rules" don't apply to them, and you're hosed.

Or (see post above yours) people think that does doing it the right way (zippering) are somehow rude, selfish cheaters and refuse to allow a successful zipper.

 

[sam_gordon]

Or (see post above yours) people think that does doing it the right way (zippering) are somehow rude, selfish cheaters and refuse to allow a successful zipper.

Right... the "human" side. So zippering might be "best" on paper, but is it really the best in the "real" world?

 

[gmi3804]

Right... the "human" side. So zippering might be "best" on paper, but is it really the best in the "real" world?

*better

 

[_19disnA]

What people should do is start to merge as soon as they see signs indicating an upcoming lane closure. In the real world where I drive, it is always the entitled ones who stay in the lane that is closing as LONG as possible so they can zoom by others who have already merged, then try to merge at the last possible moment and expect others to let them in.

 

[kdonnel]

I love that many people don't zipper merge.

Since I do, I generally end up dozens of cars ahead of people who refuse to zipper merge.

If that makes me entitled, so be it.

Everyone has the opportunity to zipper merge.

 

[SirDuff]

What people should do is start to merge as soon as they see signs indicating an upcoming lane closure. In the real world where I drive, it is always the entitled ones who stay in the lane that is closing as LONG as possible so they can zoom by others who have already merged.

It’s the ones making things faster for everyone that are staying in the closing lane for as long as possible (maximizing the time when there are two lanes - hence faster traffic flow). It is always the entitled ones that merge way too soon (maximizing the time where there is only one lane - hence slower traffic flow) and then try to stop the zipper merging.