Poll of the Day > How are you supposed to merge into a single lane?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I see people nearly die from trying to zipper merge. Is that correct where you live? The zipper merge?

A signal is a good start usually

If someone is in front of you, slow down to let them in.

If youre a little bit ahead of someone, youre supposed to speed up and theyre supposed to let you in (doesnt always work)

also make sure to check your blind spot before merging

its that simple

If it is for construction you should look for an opening and merge asap because the people in the correct lane don't need to allow you in at the last moment.

If it is part of the road design, zipper should be respected.

Zipper is most efficient for maintaining traffic flow

Its supposed to be a zipper but because people are so fucking stupid, it doesnt surprise me at all that they cant even handle something as simple as that.

zip zip

The zipper approach is objectively the best, but it only works if the majority do it that way. They don't, so the next best option is to start signalling and look for an opening/hope somebody lets you in.

adjl posted...

The zipper approach is objectively the best, but it only works if the majority do it that way. They don't, so the next best option is to start signalling and look for an opening/hope somebody lets you in.

There's one thing I'll give to certain large cities; people just start nosing into absolutely non-existent gaps lol

I close my eyes and hope for the best

Mensis posted...

Zipper is most efficient for maintaining traffic flow

My fucking ass

Krow_Incarnate posted...

My fucking ass

it is from a macro standpoint; noone's saying you should do it in everyday traffic because it will be a fuckin mess

Very carefully and with a healthy amount of prayer.

I work for a DOT. We spent a lot of money a few years ago trying to get people to zipper merge a few years ago in all situations. If everyone would actually do it it would be great: queues wouldn't stretch as far back into nearby intersections, there would be no winners and losers (i.e. early and late mergers) and thus less road rage, and it would be predictable/safe. But that's not human nature: some people want to be cautious and merge early and others want to get ahead.

So it is what it is. I can see where people wouldn't like it, but the only alternative is merging way early and setting up the road rage/unpredictable queue scenario.

wpot posted...

I work for a DOT. We spent a lot of money a few years ago trying to get people to zipper merge a few years ago in all situations. If everyone would actually do it it would be great: queues wouldn't stretch as far back into nearby intersections, there would be no winners and losers (i.e. early and late mergers) and thus less road rage, and it would be predictable/safe. But that's not human nature: some people want to be cautious and merge early and others want to get ahead.

So it is what it is. I can see where people wouldn't like it, but the only alternative is merging way early and setting up the road rage/unpredictable queue scenario.

It would also help if the construction crew didn't set up their merge sign like 50 yards from where the lanes merge either.

In free-flowing traffic, you speed up to the speed of the traffic, put on your signal, and look for a spot to safely join the flow. Pretty straightforward.

In very slow traffic, the most efficient way for everyone is to go to the end of the merge lane and zipper-merge there. If you try to do it earlier in the lane, you are not making full use of the space given for merges and anyone who then goes past you in the merge lane and merges further down will further slow traffic in the traffic lane. By merging at the end point of the merge lane, you ensure that there is a single point of entry for traffic in the merge lane, thus optimizing the flow for both lanes.

Seldom do people actually do this properly, however, instead just merging wherever they feel like it.

GanglyKhan posted...

It would also help if the construction crew didn't set up their merge sign like 50 yards from where the lanes merge either.

Ah, but if they don't then people won't obey them anyways.

Traffic signing is a dark art. If people obeyed signs it would be easy. But drivers usually do whatever they THINK they should do, regardless of what any signs say, so you have to experiment with ways to make them feel like they should do what you want them to do. That why cities intentionally plant trees in medians to calm traffic, etc etc.

wpot posted...

Ah, but if they don't then people won't obey them anyways.

Traffic signing is a dark art. If people obeyed signs it would be easy. But drivers usually do whatever they THINK they should do, regardless of what any signs say, so you have to experiment with ways to make them feel like they should do what you want them to do. That why cities intentionally plant trees in medians to calm traffic, etc etc.

As someone who drives a lot for work (I move cars around for a car rental company whose name I won't mention), I've seen dozens of times when I'll get to a construction spot where people wait until the last minute and try to zipper merge into the first opening available. Three quarters of the time they give no indication that they plan to merge; so the driver in the occupied lane has to take an educated 'guess' as to what their intentions are. That being said, I'll usually let them either get in behind or in front of me, dependent on the traffic flow and/or pattern at the time. What always gets my goat, however, are those people who won't let you zipper merge from an entrance ramp onto the expressway since there's only a limited amount of distance from the ramp to said expressway. I've had to slow down to almost a stop on the ramp on occasion because nobody would let me on to said expressway (either by slowing down or moving to an unoccupied lane). I consider that as just plain rude and discourteous.

GastroFan posted...

I've seen dozens of times when I'll get to a construction spot where people wait until the last minute and try to zipper merge into the first opening available.

If traffic is flowing freely, no, they shouldn't do that. (They SHOULD do that if traffic is backed up, though: you're supposed to take turns at the merge point there) That's difficult to sign.

GastroFan posted...

What always gets my goat, however, are those people who won't let you zipper merge from an entrance ramp onto the expressway since there's only a limited amount of distance from the ramp to said expressway. I've had to slow down to almost a stop on the ramp on occasion because nobody would let me on to said expressway (either by slowing down or moving to an unoccupied lane). I consider that as just plain rude and discourteous.

The thing that bothers me most about that one is when someone (or a few someones) will drive along on the right of a wide highway with two open lanes next to them and not move over to let a bunch of cars enter freely. They don't have to per the rules of traffic, no, but why wouldn't they?

Anyways, yes, you're required to be somewhat aggressive entering and accelerate to highway speed in the assumption that you'll find a gap - that can be scary. (Another related pet peeve of mine is people who approach the 60 mph highway at 30 mph and then complain no-one will slow down to let them in) But once up to speed, yes, people on the highway should make small adjustments to help merging occur safely.

If everyone just got into the 1 lane a head of time then we wouldn't have problems with assholes trying to merge at the last second

It is similar to changing lanes. I usually signal when I'm changing lanes, so I do it when I'm merging, too. As for the rest, it depends on the traffic situation.

Zipper

https://imgur.com/iONzKL1

If Im merging into a lane (either entering the freeway, or my lane ends), I put my blinkers on and wait to be let in.

Similarly, if a lane merges into mine, Ill let one waiting car in if theyre signaling to turn.