Current Events > Like fuck people who cut in car lines...

(+) Yeah! (+)

Unlike people lines you can't just send a car to the back of the line for trying to get in front of you so you HAVE to let them in, rewarding them for being inconsiderate.

Did I just have a stroke?

Gotta try and get as close to the car in front of you so there's no gap for them to squeeze in.
Or just let it go. It likely doesn't add more than a minute to your drive time.

It's not a big deal in terms of what happens, I just don't like when people not doing what they're supposed to still get what they want anyway.

Just speed up so that they cant get in, and they have to slow down and ideally stop, looking like the jackass they are holding up traffic

but dont try this in America since youll get shot

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Is TC talking about being cut off in traffic?

mustachedmystic posted...

Is TC talking about being cut off in traffic?

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

I've seen people merge OUT of the freeway lanes INTO the merge lane just so they can do this and jump a couple dozen cars ahead.

SquantoZ posted...

Did I just have a stroke?

Only if you're Godzilla

Once upon a time I too got mad at people cutting car lines and would try to block them from entering the line.

But I have since joined the dark side of line cutters. We have cake!

Ah the good old "I don't know how to zipper merge so I get mad at those that do" topic.

Classic.

SquantoZ posted...

Did I just have a stroke?

Maybe so, if you had trouble with that OP.

https://youtu.be/Vd7XO18qxJg?si=9Z92w0YNA4_H5j4O

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

You're supposed to zipper merge. That 1 mile of merge lane is supposed to have cars in it until the merge.

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

That's called a zipper merge and it's what you're supposed to do.

Raikuro posted...

You're supposed to zipper merge. That 1 mile of merge lane is supposed to have cars in it until the merge.

This is fair when you have little to no traffic. Or really congested traffic.

When you get to normal traffic levels, though, you should be looking to merge ASAP so that you don't get to the end and have to stop. People failing to do this are a large contributor to how you get to the really congested stage.

I was actually thinking more like a gate where everyone needs to funnel in to go through a select number of guard bays. Some people don't get in line and wait their turn, rushing to the front to get ahead of everyone else who was waiting patiently.

Zipper merging is what you're supposed to do, but if a single line is already set up being the douche going all the way up in the to-be-closed lane makes you an asshole.

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

Going to the end of the lane is the proper way to do a zipper merge. People that try to squeeze in at the start of the merge lane and cause traffic behind them are the worst.

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

It's actually best for traffic for cars to use the full merge lane and then zipper merge at the end. But I guess people don't know that's a thing or how to do that, so then assholes don't let people in and cause the traffic.

Holy_Cloud105 posted...

Going to the end of the lane is the proper way to do a zipper merge. People that try to squeeze in at the start of the merge lane and cause traffic behind them are the worst.

I don't think that's right. Zipper merge is for on ramps, not construction zones where it's posted way ahead that a lane is ending.

I've never been too concerned with the traffic up there on the bridge tbh.

It's hell at all times regardless. I don't mind backing that up further to clear the clog on the freeway.

K181 posted...

Zipper merging is what you're supposed to do, but if a single line is already set up being the douche going all the way up in the to-be-closed lane makes you an asshole.

This. People don't know how to zipper merge. Or they know and refuse to be anything but assholes about it.

I understand but I know from experience that sometimes this happens because of confusion and not selfishness

voldothegr8 posted...

I don't think that's right. Zipper merge is for on ramps, not construction zones where it's posted way ahead that a lane is ending.

DnDer posted... This. People don't know how to zipper merge. Or they know and refuse to be anything but assholes about it.

Yeah, no. You're wrong.

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/zipper-merge-driving-merging-courtesy-rules-state-laws-heavy-traffic.html#:~:text= Research%20has%20shown%20that%20in,where%20they're%20going%20sooner.

There's also a link to a NYT article with the research if you pay.

Were_Wyrm posted...

Ah the good old "I don't know how to zipper merge so I get mad at those that do" topic.

Classic.

This

learn to zipper merge people

voldothegr8 posted...

I don't think that's right. Zipper merge is for on ramps, not construction zones where it's posted way ahead that a lane is ending.

If a lane is ending then you end up zipper merging too. It still makes more sense to go to the front to merge in than hold up everyone behind you by stopping and waiting for someone to let you in. You're supposed to use all of the space available to you. The states themselves even tell you that and I've seen them put up signs here in NYC for it.

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

That's actually the optimal way to do things. Merge at the merge point in a zipper-like fashion.

Early merging is worse, because it prematurely backs up the line and allows others to be those assholes who blast on by and cause the line to back up again. Just coast until the lane ends.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah it's not that one extra car being in front of me (honestly it ends up being several because multiple people do this) makes a big difference time-wise, but the nerve of these people is what is so irritating.

Zipper merge. Close topic

Holy_Cloud105 posted...

If a lane is ending then you end up zipper merging too. It still makes more sense to go to the front to merge in than hold up everyone behind you by stopping and waiting for someone to let you in. You're supposed to use all of the space available to you. The states themselves even tell you that and I've seen them put up signs here in NYC for it.

In my state the law says mergers must yeild and the lane with flow has right of way. When a sign says lane ends soon that means merge when you can, not dart to the point of merge and cut the whole line. Those people are assholes and I'll never let them in, and I legally don't have to.

DnDer posted...

He could also be talking about the people who see "lane merge, 1 mile" or similar notices for construction, where people don't try merge ahead of time and race right up to the bottleneck making everyone's commute longer as they jam up the line.

Came in to post this. My route to work has had the same left lane closed for construction sign for 2 months now and theres still jackasses lining up in the left lane slowing down everyone in the right.

PoopPotato posted...

Gotta try and get as close to the car in front of you so there's no gap for them to squeeze in.
Or just let it go. It likely doesn't add more than a minute to your drive time.

Just letting it go is the best option for anything driving related. People get crazy.

Itachi157 posted...

Just letting it go is the best option for anything driving related. People get crazy.

For real.

I see all the time two drivers who engaged in some sort of pissing contest. I just don't understand how anybody's reaction can possibly be "I'll show that guy" instead of "I'll stay away from that guy."

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

For real.

I see all the time two drivers who engaged in some sort of pissing contest. I just don't understand how anybody's reaction can possibly be "I'll show that guy" instead of "I'll stay away from that guy."

Yeah this is my stance as well. It's annoying when people drive like assholes, but I'm not trying to get dragged into whatever wreck they inevitably cause.

Saw some road rage happen last week. The Freeway entrance near my job is accessed via a side street. So everyone lines up in the right lane to make a right turn onto that side street.

Well one car (car a) flew by in the left lane and then suddenly jumped in front of this other car (car b) in line. After they turned onto the side street, car b sped and jumped in front of car a, as payback for being cut off.

Then when they turned onto the on ramp, car a tried to pass car b during the turn (dangerous, there's only one turn lane for the on ramp). They were right on top of each other as they sped off onto the freeway. I stayed far away from those 2 lol

You can show people all the data in the world how zipper merging is much more efficient, but they'll still refuse to let others in and call others assholes for zipper merging.

Jupiter posted...

You can show people all the data in the world how zipper merging is much more efficient, but they'll still refuse to let others in and call others assholes for zipper merging.

Zipper formation is appropriate for highway merging, a pipe dream for construction situations.

Honestly, who cares. Shit like this is never worth stressing over. Some people are assholes. You move on with your life.

Free flowing traffic, merge when clear.
Congestion, zipper at the merge point.

They really should make it part of the driver examination.

Solid_Sonic posted...

It's not a big deal in terms of what happens, I just don't like when people not doing what they're supposed to still get what they want anyway.

It actually is the cause of the traffic.

On a 3 lane freeway with stop and go traffic because one lane shuts down and has to merge, you will find the lane merging is like 3x faster than the other two quite often and the other two barely move.
This is because the mergers are consistently cutting at the expense of the other two lanes.
People are selfish pricks.

Same goes for this scenario. The cutters make cutting even more beneficial by drastically slowing down the line.

Are we talking drive thru lines here? Cuz if so, if theres a two lane drive thru lane Im taking the shortest one, people should do the same.

Don't be mad when you dont and someone goes to the shorter lane you had the opportunity to go to.

Just let them in who gives a shit? Might delay your trip 10 whole seconds but you won't have some lunatic rage on you or shoot you.

In modern America assume every driver is armed and not your friend, drive safe and let the aggressive drivers go about their business. It's not worth the risk.

WingsOfGood posted...

The cutters make cutting even more beneficial by drastically slowing down the line.

This. I've given up on waiting in the one lane while others speed up to merge in to the front. The more people that do it, the more cars that have to fit in ahead of me, so it doesn't make sense to go early when we can all just fill both lanes and zipper merge.