Merging on a Highway

[jalapeno_pretzel]

It’s like when people see the sign about their lane ending but remain In it until the cones. It’s always so frustrating.

Except remaining in that lane until the cones is exactly what is recommended by people who study traffic for a living, since it's safer and more efficient.

 

[snowwite]

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.

Exactly! I am so annoyed if I do it right and wait in queue then have some smarty pants come whizzing along and expect to get in front of me. Nope. I would rather park and sleep in that spot than let them in.

 

[snowwite]

Except remaining in that lane until the cones is exactly what is recommended by people who study traffic for a living, since it's safer and more efficient.

That does not make sense

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

That does not make sense

“While this goes against the grain of what we like to do as drivers, the zipper merge allows both lanes to be used to their full capacity,” said Kevin Lacy, state traffic engineer. “With a little extra courtesy, we could greatly reduce the length of traffic jams, decrease travel times and increase safety.”

Michigan and Minnesota are among several states that have implemented the zipper merge and have decreased the length of backups to create safer, smoother driving conditions. At one zipper merge site in Michigan, the congestion area was reduced from 6 miles to 3 miles and the time spent in traffic was decreased dramatically, saving drivers an average of 15 to 25 minutes.

https://itre.ncsu.edu/itre-studying...=At one zipper merge site,of 15 to 25 minutes.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

"Traffic experts largely agree that the best way to combine two busy lanes is a technique called the zipper merge. Drivers use both lanes until just before one ends, then merge like the teeth of a zipper coming together: one from this side, one from that side, hopefully with minimal slowdown.

" Traffic experts are enthusiastic about zipper merging, and they have statistics to back it up. The Minnesota Department of Transportation cites four benefits: It reduces differences in speeds between the two lanes, shortens traffic backups by as much as 40 percent, eases congestion at interchanges and creates a sense that lanes are moving more equitably. The Texas Transportation Institute found that a zipper merge strategy delayed the onset of congestion at the merge point by about 14 minutes and cut the maximum line of cars by 1,800 feet.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/business/road-rage-zipper-merging.html

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

But hey, what do they know, they just study these things for a living. If someone wants to be stuck in traffic longer and then nearly cause an accident in an attempt to prevent people from doing what is recommended as the safest and most efficient option, then by all means, go for it.

 

[snowwite]

“While this goes against the grain of what we like to do as drivers, the zipper merge allows both lanes to be used to their full capacity,” said Kevin Lacy, state traffic engineer. “With a little extra courtesy, we could greatly reduce the length of traffic jams, decrease travel times and increase safety.”

Michigan and Minnesota are among several states that have implemented the zipper merge and have decreased the length of backups to create safer, smoother driving conditions. At one zipper merge site in Michigan, the congestion area was reduced from 6 miles to 3 miles and the time spent in traffic was decreased dramatically, saving drivers an average of 15 to 25 minutes.

https://itre.ncsu.edu/itre-studying-how-zipper-merges-reduce-congestion-at-sites-across-north-carolina/#:~:text=At one zipper merge site,of 15 to 25 minutes.

Interesting. I’m guessing they are less aggressive than Boston drivers. I just can’t see it happening. In the UK though it was like Chip and Dale. No, no after you.

 

[snowwite]

But hey, what do they know, they just study these things for a living. If someone wants to be stuck in traffic longer and then nearly cause an accident in an attempt to prevent people from doing what is recommended as the safest and most efficient option, then by all means, go for it.

Im saying when there is road work and it says right lane end. Get over lane ends and people with half a brain obey the directions but idiots don’t. They cut off the flowing traffic and cause all the chaos.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

"When a vehicle slows down to merge early in heavy traffic situations, it puts all drivers in danger, slowing traffic down too quickly, leading to unexpected crashes or angry motorists. These dangers are decreased using the zipper merge. Traffic backups can be reduced as much as 40%."

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/safety-eng/ZipperMerge.aspx

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

"Here’s the scenario: signs warn that a lane of traffic will close soon, and two lanes of vehicles will be narrowed to one. Some drivers merge early and get to the through lane as fast as possible, then wait for traffic to advance. Others don’t seem to have a problem zooming ahead and “cutting” in line. Often the drivers in the lane that will remain open find their blood pressure rising at the perceived selfishness of the drivers that stay in the lane that will close.

But according to many experts, the drivers trying to be polite are probably making traffic worse than the drivers who jump ahead. Those experts are promoting the “zipper merge.”

There are proven benefits to the zipper merge approach:

• It reduces differences in speeds between the two lanes. Changing lanes when traffic is traveling at approximately the same speed is easier and safer.
• It can reduce the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent.
• The zipper merge eases congestion at freeway interchanges.
• When traffic is heavy and slow, it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current lane until the point where traffic can take turns merging in a slow and orderly manner.
• Drivers have a sense of fairness and equity, since all lanes are moving at the same rate and everyone knows when it’s their turn to go– which leads to reduced incidents of road rage.

https://www.ayresassociates.com/breaking-down-the-zipper-merge/

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Im saying when there is road work and it says right lane end. Get over lane ends and people with half a brain obey the directions but idiots don’t. They cut off the flowing traffic and cause all the chaos.

Honestly these days work zones around us have signs to use the zipper merge. Really they do want you to wait until further up to merge over. In fact that's what my state's DOT says to do "When a lane is closed in a construction work zone, a 'zipper merge' occurs when drivers use both lanes of traffic up until reaching the defined merge area, where they then alternate turns in "zipper" fashion into the open lane. When drivers see the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic backing up, drivers should stay in their current lane up to the point of merge and then take turns with the other drivers to safely and smoothly merge into the remaining open lane. When traffic volumes are heavy and traffic is moving slow, it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current lane until the point where traffic can orderly take turns merging."

But to give you an idea this was only introduced by my state's DOT in spring of 2016 and it happened to be in my area. It's really relatively new and people need to remember that when giving feedback, majority of the nation has been told to do that opposite on roads for years and years.

I know I know I resist it too, it irks many of us because well that's how it was for a long long time even some places would have signs to say "don't wait merge now" so yeah we're having to relearn for a lot of us. I think it's good in most cases but know that there are a few times where the road design isn't conducive for it.

Alternating has been used for exiting high traffic places like events for a long time, it's the only way people can get out a lot of the times but we don't apply that same viewpoint (I say we by that I mean many drivers) to actually being out on the road in other situations.

Just know people aren't being idiots nor is it that they have half a brain.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Except remaining in that lane until the cones is exactly what is recommended by people who study traffic for a living, since it's safer and more efficient.

The reasoning is that you are using the full capacity of the road where the traffic jam is occurring at the merge. That keeps traffic from backing up as far and making a bigger mess, messing up traffic at the prior onramp for example, or resulting in unexpected stopped traffic causing an accident. The best example of this is the queue at a ski resort lift. They usually have 4 or more lines that feed into a single line at the lift. The line is moving slowly so the zipper is a forgone conclusion, but there is usually a lift operator there to keep everyone moving and keep the chairs full with singles. If there was only a single line from the beginning it would have to be snaked in to the lift area or it would stretch back up the hill - both are not really viable options for people on skis, or for people travelling in cars for that matter.

But, people being people, it is considered rude to keep going in a lane you can see is terminating - so the zipper merge happens further back, but no, that is not the most efficient use of the road.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Honestly these days work zones around us have signs to use the zipper merge. Really they do want you to wait until further up to merge over. In fact that's what my state's DOT says to do "When a lane is closed in a construction work zone, a 'zipper merge' occurs when drivers use both lanes of traffic up until reaching the defined merge area, where they then alternate turns in "zipper" fashion into the open lane. When drivers see the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic backing up, drivers should stay in their current lane up to the point of merge and then take turns with the other drivers to safely and smoothly merge into the remaining open lane. When traffic volumes are heavy and traffic is moving slow, it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current lane until the point where traffic can orderly take turns merging."

Yep, in my state the zipper merge is also the recommended way to merge in a construction zone, and there is a bill in the works that will make it the law. It will also add zipper merging to the drivers ed handbook, and will make it illegal to attempt to impede others from merging from a lane that is ending.

 

[Takket]

Who has the right of way on a highway - the car already on the highway or the car merging onto the highway?

I'm pretty sure I was in the right in this situation, but the other car was clearly mad at me so I'm asking here. I was driving to work this morning and I was in the right lane as I was getting off in about a mile. Traffic was light and there were no other cars directly in front of or behind me.
I drove by an on ramp going a steady speed and a car coming onto the highway drove up right alongside me and laid on his horn when I didn't hit my brakes to let him in. The lane was wide open behind me. I think it was on him to adjust his speed to be able to merge into my lane.

They also got off at my exit and honked at me again when I was waiting at a light to make a left turn.

merging is the responsibility of the person doing the merging. You are under no obligation to speed up, slow down, or change lanes. You are of course free to do any of this things of your own free will if you can safely do so.

This has happened to me many times (haven't been honked at, but I mean the situation where someone pulls right up along side you and then just sits there waiting for you to make way). I don't understand what these people are thinking. When I'm merging if the other car is going faster, I wait for them to go by. if they are going slower or farther back, i just speed up and get in front of them. But I certainly don't decide to match their exact speed and just wait for them to do move for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Was it really the "old" way? I am a boomer, albeit, one of the youngest and I was taught zipper merge in driver's ed back in the late 70s.

You might have been ahead of your time even my state's DOT considered the early merge at least when it was for work zones just what we used to do.

From press information in 2016 "In Kansas, drivers are familiar with the standard 'early merge' method for traffic control through work zones." I don't think they would call describe it as "familiar" or "standard" if it wasn't considered an older way of doing things but had been around for 45 or so years.

I think most of us are familiar with one goes then you go then another person goes when it's applied to leaving parking lots for example after a big event because we all know how it is if someone doesn't let someone in you're stuck for hours. So the concept of one person goes, then you, then another person isn't entirely unfamiliar but applying that to highways and in many cases specifically work zones along with specifically waiting until the lane is basically closed is without a doubt a newer thing.

 

[Takket]

Except remaining in that lane until the cones is exactly what is recommended by people who study traffic for a living, since it's safer and more efficient.

I used to be one of those "people that try to merge at the last second are scumbags" persons until an experience I had. Someone appointed himself official traffic cop. I was on a road with two lanes collapsing down to one. I drove through this area every day and discovered there was a side street I could go down, then make a turn, and come out beyond the construction area without sitting through the delay.

The turn for the side street was about 100 yards before the merge sign. I did this many times but on this one particular day, someone stopped in the right lane to prevent anyone from driving up to the merge sign. I was right behind him. There was a cutout where there was a alrge driveway into a business place. I swerved into that and passed him. He sped up to try and stop me, almost hit me, and laid on his horn as if "I" was the problem. (I know I shouldn't have used the driveway to pass him, but I was pissed lol)

When I got home I looked this up and realized just how wrong the other drive was, and how wrong I was for feeling people shouldn't drive up to the sign. I learned:

1. It is not only unwanted it is illegal to block a lane of traffic. The other drive could have been ticketed for what he did. The other part of what he did as well was he was actually causing traffic to back up into an intersection behind us at a traffic light because cars could not clear the intersection. VERY dangerous.

2. Construction crews put the merge where they do for a reason. They need you to be out of the lane THERE. Not half a mile from there. Or 100 yards from there. Just, THERE. And when everyone gets over earlier it just makes the backup longer and more time consuming. Driving to the merge sign allows for all the available road space to be used.

3. Zipper merging is the way to go. If everyone filled in all available space, and this is important: and DID NOT TAILGATE the car in front of them, stop and go traffic at merges would practically be eliminated.

All that being said I STILL get over early......... I just can't help it. I'm honestly afraid of a road rage confrontation with someone that thinks I am trying to "cut" or "cheat" them if I stay in the lane too long. And as an American I have a very real fear that the other person will try to resolve their anger by pulling out a gun and shooting me. So I still get over early, but I do not feel any anger towards the people that do not, and I leave them plenty of room to get over so I do not have to stop myself to let them get over.

 

[brockash]

Who has the right of way on a highway - the car already on the highway or the car merging onto the highway?

I'm pretty sure I was in the right in this situation, but the other car was clearly mad at me so I'm asking here. I was driving to work this morning and I was in the right lane as I was getting off in about a mile. Traffic was light and there were no other cars directly in front of or behind me.
I drove by an on ramp going a steady speed and a car coming onto the highway drove up right alongside me and laid on his horn when I didn't hit my brakes to let him in. The lane was wide open behind me. I think it was on him to adjust his speed to be able to merge into my lane.

They also got off at my exit and honked at me again when I was waiting at a light to make a left turn.

Technically yes, of course you had the right of way as he had to yield and merge. Having said that; I do 100% believe the right and decent thing to do when traffic is light is to ideally get over to the left lane while they merge on or speed up or slow down so the merger doesn't have to slow down and doesn't have issues merging.

 

[brockash]

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.

If getting into the left lane wasn't an option, then it sounds like slowing down would have pretty reasonable especially considering you were getting off at the next exit and would need to slow down anyways. It's just about human decency...why would one not try to be helpful to another when does nothing to inconvenience them etc. Your choice of course, but I agree I'd think you were a jerk if I saw the situation. Having said that some ppl. enjoy being a jerk, so such is life.

 

[SirDuff]

Exactly! I am so annoyed if I do it right and wait in queue then have some smarty pants come whizzing along and expect to get in front of me. Nope. I would rather park and sleep in that spot than let them in.

Except you aren’t doing it right.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

No you should just go to the end of the line. It's particularly offensive if you are familiar with the area and are only doing it to get ahead of others. The exceptions are people for other areas that aren't aware of the traffic turns before hand.

I mean, it seems kind of strange to be offended by people that follow recommended traffic patterns - and which are set to become the legally required method. But, I think we have had threads about how people are so much more easily offended these days, so I guess it's not surprising. For me, that would raise my blood pressure too much to get upset by people driving as recommended.