Do you merge sooner, or later?

[MossRoad]

"resist merging early, as that leads to more backups"

 

[MossRoad]

More plus for the zipper merge in construction zones.

 

[MossRoad]

North Carolina Department of Transportation study

https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/RNAProjDocs/2015-08%20Final%20Report.pdf

 

[George2615]

1) The problem here is NY drivers don't acknowledge the zipper merge.
2) Never seen a sign that say use both lanes until merge point.
3) Never seen a sign that says merge like a zipper.
4) Maybe its just this state but I'm assuming no one has ever heard of the zipper merge. I asked 10 of my close friends all in their mid to late 70's and they never heard of it. I never heard of it till this thread.
5) People that merge early watch people fly by them then nobody at the merge point is willing to let them cut in front of them.
6) People behind me honk their horn at me when I let someone cut in front of me.
7) People here are in too much of a hurry and hate it when someone cuts in front of them.
8) Even semi's move over at the first chance after seeing a lane ends sign.
9) Semi's even split lanes to block people from sneaking by to get to the front of the line. I've seen them do it on interstates and thruway roads.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

In every state I have been, when sign says merge 2 miles ahead, you are free to use the lane up to the merge point. You don’t have to go to one lane 2 miles ahead, with the other lane being open for no reason.
Yes, it pizzed off some people who don’t understand, but that’s their problem.

When you get to the merge point, you take turns. (Now referred to as zipper)
That’s how it was taught in the 70s when I took drivers Ed. My state now puts up “take turns” signs for people who never learned merge.

 

[old and tired]

I don't care either way but a few years back, I was coming into Asheville, NC... "Left Lane closed" I could not merge to the right lane because so many other people crammed into the right lane so fast... Anyway, the left lane NEVER did "closed"... and I saved about an hour's worth of backup traffic...

 

[RayIN]

The zipper works because it minimizes the length of the slowdown. It blocks less intersections and reduces the gaps due to stop and go. If everyone would do it potential road rage would be reduced.

Not so; it greatly slows down traffic as each vehicle merges into the thru-lane because now every driver must re-establish safe following distance quickly.
Some mid-West states have stopped using that 2nd sign and only use the 1st sign for this reason.

 

[RayIN]

In every state I have been, when sign says merge 2 miles ahead, you are free to use the lane up to the merge point. You don’t have to go to one lane 2 miles ahead, with the other lane being open for no reason.
Yes, it pizzed off some people who don’t understand, but that’s their problem.

When you get to the merge point, you take turns. (Now referred to as zipper)
That’s how it was taught in the 70s when I took drivers Ed. My state now puts up “take turns” signs for people who never learned merge.

It annoys me when i'm driving along maintaining safe following distance and some jerk darts into that space, requiring me to brake hard to quickly re-establish safe following distance. That causes a chain-reaction of vehicles that now must do the same.

 

[WinterDeere]

It annoys me when i'm driving along maintaining safe following distance and some jerk darts into that space, requiring me to brake hard to quickly re-establish safe following distance. That causes a chain-reaction of vehicles that now must do the same.

That's the case on any of the expressways going into Philly, and I'm sure we're not unique in that here. It is simply impossible to use a safe following distance, lest you stay in a perpetual loop of having to back off further for each new car that leap-frogs in front of you.

Driving a truck helps, especially an older/uglier one, at least some smarter commuters are less likely to jam their tiny Altima or Corolla dangerously in front of it. But in the end, you almost always find yourself having to follow closer than comfortable, to at least hold your position in line.

 

[lman]

We have a construction area on a 4 lane highway where the left lanes close. Signs of left lane closure are posted two miles before the lane is closed and the speed limit drops from 60 to 45 about 1/2 mile before. Our state also has a law prohibiting the use of the left lane unless passing.
What I see is aggressive drivers driving 70 mph or faster in the left lane and continuing to speed until they hit the brakes because they've run out of road. They then move recklessly to the right lane. The right lane never slows below 50. The right lane never slows below the speed limit so there is no reason to be passing and therefore speeding before the lane closure. I see aggressive drivers speed up to probably 80 mph and passing as many as they can after they see a lane closed sign. There is no Law Enforcement, so it seems the signs promote aggressive drivers speeding to pass as many lawful drivers as possible.
I guess that's a zipper merge but it seems to promote speeding and driving aggressively just because they can.
It might be practical some places but not this one.

 

[Runner]

It annoys me when i'm driving along maintaining safe following distance and some jerk darts into that space, requiring me to brake hard to quickly re-establish safe following distance. That causes a chain-reaction of vehicles that now must do the same.

The worst is when they do this, even though there may be no one behind you for a mile. If there's a spot even close to big enough, they just gotta get in there cause it's one less car in front of them.

You have to wonder just what this person is like when they're not in the car.

 

[bdhsfz6]

None of the signs, or laws for that matter, take into account that there are always idiots who want to get ahead of everyone else.

There always seems to be some joker who passes everyone who is merging. They get to the merge point and force their way in line causing others to stop, thus creating a bigger backup.

 

[Runner]

Coming home from my Mother in Laws house on Thanksgiving evening, this guy in a new F350 passed me on the right shoulder of the on-ramp to a freeway about halfway up the ramp. I just wasn't accelerating quite fast enough for him. Some people are just insane.

 

[RayIN]

None of the signs, or laws for that matter, take into account that there are always idiots who want to get ahead of everyone else.

There always seems to be some joker who passes everyone who is merging. They get to the merge point and force their way in line causing others to stop, thus creating a bigger backup.

I had a woman do that to me in a 3-lane I 75 backup. I was in the right lane in my 40' MH towing my Silverado PU. She passed me on the right(break-down lane) and cut in front of me so close I lost sight of the small white car.
She discovered it was not a good move, when i caved-in the left side of her car. I stopped, she didn't, and i didn't have time to snap a picture of her car plates, as she returned to passing semi's in front of me, using the break-down lane.

 

[steve tym]

Sooner

 

[WinterDeere]

Coming home from my Mother in Laws house on Thanksgiving evening, this guy in a new F350 passed me on the right shoulder of the on-ramp to a freeway about halfway up the ramp. I just wasn't accelerating quite fast enough for him. Some people are just insane.

I may be in the minority on this, but I treat other drivers according to what they and I are driving. If I’m in my pickup, and some guy in a Hellcat or a 911 wants to get ahead of me, I just smile and let him, I don’t want to hold him up. But if someone tries to pull the same in a Wrangler or a minivan, I’ll damn near run them off the road to prevent it.

Likewise in reverse. If I’m driving my SRT, I’ll try to get in front of every slower vehicle I can safely manage, and just hope they don’t mind it too much. But I don’t do the same in my pickup truck, there’s no need for it.

 

[bigtiller]

When I'm driving my little Chevy Malibu, I would prefer the tall one ton 4x4 merge in behind me so we can both see and read the road signs ahead.

 

[MossRoad]

None of the signs, or laws for that matter, take into account that there are always idiots who want to get ahead of everyone else.

There always seems to be some joker who passes everyone who is merging. They get to the merge point and force their way in line causing others to stop, thus creating a bigger backup.

Conversely, you could just as easily say they get to the merge point and no one will let them merge.

 

[5030]

On ramp signage plainly states 'Yield'. That don't mean surrender.

I've seen more idiots get to the end of an on ramp and stop and then try to get into the flow of traffic.

On ramps are meant for accelerating up to the speed the traffic is going at and then applying your turn indicator and SMOOTHLY merging into the flow of traffic which, is, exactly what I always do and if I'm proceeding along in the granny lane on a double lane highway and someone wants to merge on, if I can, I always move inti the faster lane and allow them to merge on. Has to do with being a courteous driver and being aware of what is going on around you.

Driving is a priveledge, not a right.

Glad I'm not a traffic cop, I'd write a passel of tickets.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Conversely, you could just as easily say they get to the merge point and no one will let them merge.

Does happen, but IMO, it depends on where you drive. Around here, I seem to encounter more of the really aggressive idiots who just stick their fender in front of you and dare you to hit them.

I suppose I might if I were driving a junker but the time, $$ and inconvenience involved with getting in an accident isn't worth it. Especially true if you're driving a decent vehicle.