Do you merge sooner, or later?

[bcp]

Do you merge when you see the first sign? That's how I learned, but now we are told it is wrong.

What do you do?

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

The first sign is a warning of what's up ahead.
The second sign says to use BOTH lanes and don't merge until the merge point.
Pretty clear.

 

[bcp]

The second sign appeared in my area about a year ago when a freeway was widened to 3 lanes in one section.

Previously most drivers merged early, while a few waited to the merge point, and many drivers considered that as "cutting in line" and would block their merge.

Bruce

 

[KennyG]

Using both lanes to the merge point is more efficient but it feels rude.

 

[JJT]

The zipper merge seems to be a lost art.

 

[mrmikey]

The zipper merge seems to be a lost art.

I was never a fan of the zipper merge, I still can't see the advantage of it, maybe I'm being dense .
If a choke point, i.e. at the beginning of a lane drop so there's only one lane from two, you can pass thru say....60± cars a minute thru. Why does two lanes of cars right up to the drop make a difference when it's still one lane thru the construction zone and the amount of cars that can go thru technically remains the same.
There's a thing around here also that before a lane drop we have signs that drop the speed to 85KPH (on a 110KPH highway) and then signs say both verbally and graphically "No Passing" so how would you do a zipper merge when you legally aren't supposed to pass?

 

[Cycledude]

Sometimes it’s the right lane that ends and sometimes it’s the left lane that ends

 

[4570Man]

I know what the zipper merge theory is but it’s flat wrong. It always gets stopped at the end doing it that way. I’ll merge a few hundred yards ahead at minimum.

 

[rgr33]

As I have gotten older, I have mellowed a bit on merging.
Still bugs me a bit when some driver passes 25 cars that have already moved to the through lane and wants to cut in front of me. I swear, they never seem to want to merge right behind me.
But…..not worth ruining our day, so go ahead I guess

 

[KennyG]

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.