Cutting people off while driving "makes sense"

[chitwood]

https://www.creators.com/read/dear-annie/06/18/a-clash-of-merging-styles

My husband and I have been having an argument about this for the past five years, and I am really hoping you can settle it once and for all. Whenever we hit heavy traffic on the interstate because two lanes are merging into one (because of construction, usually), he immediately puts on his signal and tries to merge, meekly puttering along until someone allows him in. Whenever I am driving and we are in the same situation, I drive ahead in the lane that's ending and then merge just as the lane ends. Often this gets us some honks, and sometimes people flip us the bird. Always my husband is mortified, slouching down in his seat and trying to disappear.


I think my way just makes the most sense. If everyone merged in that fashion, there would be no slow-down traffic in the first place.


I have tried encouraging my husband to do the same when I am in the passenger seat. He gets irritated and says, "I'm not the type of person that does that" or "People will think I'm a jerk."

 

[Aikouka]

You're supposed to merge near the point of the actual lane merger. Most people don't do that though.

 

[repoman0]

Husband is soft. Always merge at the last minute, and ignore it if the rest of the idiots on the road don't like that you are doing the proper thing.

 

[Thebobo]

You're supposed to merge near the point of the actual lane merger. Most people don't do that though.

Assuming this is in the US.

Might be true for on and off ramps as they have painted lines. But the OP was talking about construction lane closures were they tell you sometimes miles ahead that a lane or lanes are closing ahead. And that could be different for each state.

Please show me the regulation in your state that requires you to wait until the very end of a lane closure for construction.

IMO the husband is correct and should divorce the physco.

 

[nakedfrog]

For the newer construction that's been going on near me for the last couple years, they explicitly have signs up to do a late merge/zipper merge, with numerous signs indicating to just stay in your lane and merge at the merge point. I had one guy nearly run me off the road when he pulled out of the long lane of built-up traffic to cut me off when I was doing exactly what the signs said to do.

 

[SKORPI0]

Road safety first, don't be an ass. Be courteous to fellow drivers.

 

[tynopik]

For the newer construction that's been going on near me for the last couple years, they explicitly have signs up to do a late merge/zipper merge, with numerous signs indicating to just stay in your lane and merge at the merge point.

these are based off theoretical studies that say it's faster that way

i say hogwash

they assume people behave properly, which of course they never do

i just get over as soon as it's safe/convenient to do so, that way I don't have to rely on my fellow driver behaving correctly at a single point of failure

 

[snoopy7548]

You're supposed to zipper merge as late as possible in most situations, so you're using the highway/road to its full capacity. Trying to merge 1000' before the lane ends results in a slowdown at that point rather than farther up ahead, where there's probably another slow down, and that will echo all the way back and you've got yourself a traffic jam.

One of the few times where you should not wait until the last moment to merge is getting off on exits, especially if traffic is already backed up. I hate those asshats that cause a jam in the slow lane, then everyone has to move to the travel lane and that gets backed up, then the passing lane slows down.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

OBEY THE ZIPPER.

 

[NetWareHead]

Merge as late as possible is my vote. Use as much of the available roadway as possible and merge as late as possible.

 

[Schfifty Five]

https://www.creators.com/read/dear-annie/06/18/a-clash-of-merging-styles

Your title is a bit misleading. Cutting people off is really something different than what you are talking about in your posted article.

However, I am on the side that believes merging using the zipper effect is absolutely the more effective and efficient way. Utilize all of the available lane space you can before it gets reduced.

 

[Thebobo]

Doesn't work well with on ramps. Your supposed to meet the speed of the cars on the highway then merge so folks on the highway don't get slowed down.

Stop for merging occurs when folks wait for the last second on lane closures.

 

[ondma]

Our construction signs say "use both lanes during backups", or something like that. I always wondered why, but I guess it makes sense to use both lanes as long as possible. Personally, I usually get over early when there is an open space, because I don't trust people to let me over at the last minute.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Road safety first, don't be an ass. Be courteous to fellow drivers.

That example needs about 3 less car lengths between cars to be more accurate.

 

[Darwin333]

Our construction signs say "use both lanes during backups", or something like that. I always wondered why, but I guess it makes sense to use both lanes as long as possible. Personally, I usually get over early when there is an open space, because I don't trust people to let me over at the last minute.

Bah, just make em let you in. Unless they are riding the bumper of the person in front of them you can inch over and they can either let you in or hit you.

 

[Exterous]

Please show me the regulation in your state that requires you to wait until the very end of a lane closure for construction.

IMO the husband is correct and should divorce the physco.

I don't think that was a 'supposed to' in terms of law but what would work better for traffic

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/

these are based off theoretical studies that say it's faster that way

No they are based on years of actual use by Mn/DOT in construction zones

For several years, Mn/DOT has been using an electronic detection system on selected larger construction projects which we call “Late Merge” and the media has called the “Zipper” system.

We have witnessed 3 primary safety and operational improvements whenever the Zipper System has been deployed.

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/workzone/doc/When-latemerge-zipper.pdf

 

[dank69]

Zipper merge and give the finger to anyone that gets upset about it.

 

[dainthomas]

Zipper merge is best merge.

 

[Cozarkian]

Doesn't work well with on ramps. Your supposed to meet the speed of the cars on the highway then merge so folks on the highway don't get slowed down.

Stop for merging occurs when folks wait for the last second on lane closures.

It's not because they wait for the last second, it's because they drive faster than traffic to get to the lane closure than merge while slowing rapidly. A proper zipper merge requires you to adjust your speed to that of the lane you are going to merge into before you get to the point of merging.

 

[Chapbass]

It's not because they wait for the last second, it's because they drive faster than traffic to get to the lane closure than merge while slowing rapidly. A proper zipper merge requires you to adjust your speed to that of the lane you are going to merge into before you get to the point of merging.

This right here I think is the key. The problem is due to speed adjustment. If both left and right lane are going 70mph and the right lane ends, the right driver merges at 70mph just before (as does everyone behind him). The problem that I see with the zipper method is that this doesn't happen *when at speed*. People wait until the last minute, then cut someone off, causing massive brake mashing. THAT kills average speed and causes a mess. Merging further back at speed would be faster (because then there are no sudden speed changes).

THAT SAID: When traffic is already slow, absolutely use the zipper method.

 

[ElFenix]

IMO the husband is correct

This right here I think is the key. The problem is due to speed adjustment. If both left and right lane are going 70mph and the right lane ends, the right driver merges at 70mph just before (as does everyone behind him). The problem that I see with the zipper method is that this doesn't happen *when at speed*. People wait until the last minute, then cut someone off, causing massive brake mashing. THAT kills average speed and causes a mess. Merging further back at speed would be faster (because then there are no sudden speed changes).

THAT SAID: When traffic is already slow, absolutely use the zipper method.

that only happens because idiots like the husband cram over into the surviving lane beforehand, slowing it way down, and leaving more room in the disappearing lane, speeding it up.

 

[soulcougher73]

You're supposed to merge near the point of the actual lane merger. Most people don't do that though.

This. That is what the traffic engineers want you to do. They put the merge cones in that spot for a reason. Not to create a single line of cars 2 miles long before the merge. But yeah people get mad when you show them how dumb they are sitting in a line. I go to the merge point.

 

[Mayne]

congrats on being an asshole.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Early. Late. Who cares. But you're more likely to disrupt flow if you postpone merging until you're running out of space and time. Best advice is - avoid braking, or causing those behind you to brake, when merging. Make it seamless.

 

[Ken g6]

Zipper merge only works if you are told to do it. If not, most people will merge early and not doing so is inconsiderate.

The other problem is surprise traffic jams. There you don't even know which lane to merge into. But you can bet it will be the slow one.