You should be using all lanes of traffic, and zipper merge at the end.
The main problem with zipper merges in practice are selfish people who rush to zipper and cause even more congestion because of their erratic attempt to merge. Like traffic circles they work great when everyone is doing it right and they cam get really messed up when people do it wrong.
It would be great if zipper merging was taught as part of getting a license. Or they actually required someone to learn how to zipper merge as part of their license renewal.
Do you mean "rush to zipper" as in "using an open lane to move forward and then zipper merge into the remaining lane when that one closes?" That is precisely what you should do.
The problem is the selfish people who refuse to let those people actually zipper merge, like OP.
@Nougat
It’s hard to discuss zipper merging because people use to justify all sorts of dick behavior. Zipping through an empty left turn only lane to skip to the head of a right turn only lane for example. That’s not an example of zipper merging but there’s tons of people who I’ve seen argue that’s acceptable behavior.
That’s not an example of zipper merging but there’s tons of people who I’ve seen argue that’s acceptable behavior.
We agree that that's not what we're talking about, and those people are wrong. That wasn't hard at all.
Those people are assholes.
The issue is, at the end of the day, that nobody ever seems to know how to keep a decent distance away from the car in front of them. It doesn’t matter how slow traffic is, leave some space in front of you. It gives you room to slow down in case something happens, and it gives everyone else room to merge.
Zipper merging requires matching speed with the lane you are merging into so that drivers can make gradual changes in speed to make an opening for the person merging. That avoids sending a wave of brake slams that results from sudden unexpected lane changes. If you're passing a bunch of people, you're probably not doing a zipper merge.
You're also much less likely to end up with someone not letting you over if they see you matching speed instead of speeding up to the merge point.
If you're passing a bunch of people, you are using the open lane to travel. By the time the lane you are in comes to an end, you then modulate your speed to match traffic in the slower lane, and merge. Because cars have brakes.
You need to start matching speed at the start of the signage for the merge. At that point it's no longer just a lane, it is a lane with restrictions.
You're not actually increasing total throughput by speeding ahead, you're only changing the order. The total throughput is determined by the flow of traffic after the constriction point. That flow is smoothest when drivers match speed.
What you're missing is that the "closing lane" is often designed to be utilized to prevent traffic from backing up into another traffic control device.
While you're "matching speed" with the open lane that's hardly moving- traffic has now backed up into an intersection and caused gridlock on cross streets for miles behind you.
So while "total throughput" on YOUR journey has remained the same you may be causing chaos to the roads around you.
Your best bet is to just assume the traffic engineers who designed the closure know better than you.
No, the problem is the people who incorrectly merge early, making "rushing" possible.
I am not calling it rushing because they are passing, but because they are going a significantly higher speed when starting to merge, requiring them to slam on the brakes and cause the same issues that merging too early causes.
Like going 20+ mph over the posted speed, not just going the speed limit in the open lane.
People who stay in the open lane and don't pass in the no passing zone and just zipper merge at the end are not the people I am talking about when I say rushing.
The other issue is people who have no spatial awareness of their vehicle and need like eight car lengths to merge over.
Done with a modicum of competence: Zipper merges are efficient and you should only merge near the end
In reality? If you see an opening, merge over sooner than later to prevent disruptions to traffic
If you see an opening, merge over sooner than later to prevent disruptions to traffic.
This actually creates disruptions in traffic. Use all lanes, zipper merge at the end.
No, it fucking doesn't because we don't live in a perfect world and entitled/dumbasses fill the road. If I'm in the right lane and some chucklefuck is matching my speed in the on-ramp next to me and doesn't either speed the fuck up or slow the fuck down in the 2 whole minutes they have in that lane, they're gonna end up slamming their brakes at the end. All it would take is a modicum of awareness to get over and stop this awkward bullshit. That's just ONE example.
This isn't a traffic jam. This isn't the middle of Delhi. We're talking about normal everyday traffic. It's 2 cars in a 4 lane highway, and the dumbass can't even merge.
And no, it's not my responsibility to make sure they get over. I'm not hand holding idiots.
Point is, we don't live in a fucking vacuum and all it takes is opening your eyes and judging the situation in front of you accordingly.
God yes.
I am generally a nice-ish person. I'll try to slow down a little to give them more room. And then they just slow down too because they don't know how to drive without matching speed with a car next to them. And, fortunately, they aren't looking at me so I can't even wave them in. So it is just a waiting game of "Are they going to speed up and cut me off so that I have to slam on the brakes, or are they going to slam on the brakes at the last second and stop their lane until my lane stops to let them in?"
Nobody is saying to force your way in to the merge lane five miles ahead of the closure. If traffic is moving along, move along. But if you see an opening and know the lanes are going to merge? Merge then and there.
Theory: Everyone down voting you has never driven outside the US.
We don't teach the proper way to zipper merge, so people block those doing it for cutting in line. It's a different culture that should be changed for efficiency, just like middle lane squatting, but it's just not important enough to address.
The United States has a strong general culture of "I got mine, fuck you." That is certainly playing a part in this thread.
But if I catch some dirty shitbag pull out of the lane to get into a clearly ending lane just to skip ahead a few cars...I'm going to glare rather harshly as I let the dirtbag back in.
Then you are the asshole.
Just because they are already in the slow lane doesn't mean that they've already zippered.
...What? You approve of people leaving a lane to enter a lane that is, within sight, ending just so they can zip ahead and force a merge? That will 100% slow down traffic.
And at no point did I say I wouldn't let them in. It was a joke about assholes who exploit zippering. Are you so called-out that the idea of a glare ruins your day or did you misread the above?
People are SUPPOSED to use both lanes for as long as safety possible, and then zipper-merge.
Not you Picard... say it ain't so!!
It's a zipper merge if the lane closes. Use all available lanes and alternate the right of way to keep traffic moving. It's assholes who think they're high and mighty that cause headaches in these situations
I swear I let people merge (to a fault) and didn't make this meme. I didnt think very hard before sharing this one and was picturing the people in my area who ride the shoulders/blocked lanes and try to cut in front of everybody.
It's okay. You're still a national treasure in my book ❤️
Thank you, Mighty Canuck
I think it is similar to when lanes merge. Better to stay in lane and then do zipper method.
If lane is open, cars will speed up until they reach merged/closed lane...
What do y'all say?
Yes, the zipper method is much more efficient than a single line of cars 2 miles long before a lane closure.
LPT: don't take it personally when someone needs to merge.
It is literally a zipper when a lane is closed. By getting in the "line" too early, you are making traffic worse. Memes like this drive me crazy. Not only are you wrong, you are proudly wrong
People really like to double down on their stupidity
States that mandate signs about lane closures being really far out claim it makes traffic flow better. In my experience it just makes traffic stop in a different spot and is likely worse than zipper merges.
My state just recently started posting signs to keep using both lanes so people wouldn't go to one lane far too early. It was nice to be able to zipper merge without people pushing back.
We just need a traffic cone/barrier pattern to merge the lanes into each other, so that neither has the wrong impression that they’re the main or correct lane
OP you fucking idiot, if you expect people to get over two miles back then you've artificially extended the lane closure an additional two miles.
It's called a zipper merge, you muppet. They're doing what they're supposed to for more efficient traffic flow. You're just being an ass.
I'm for the zipper if traffic is heavy, if you can't get over early you shouldn't be punished. What I hate is when there is enough space and time for motorists to get over, but they insist on speeding ahead and attempt to play chicken at the merge this just increases the risk of traffic slowing further due to an accident.
By "playing chicken" you mean "following the law and all the god damn driving training guides to do the most efficient thing possible with two lanes merging that would also be the safest if people weren't possessive fuck cunts when wrapped in a car, the absolutely correct fucking zipper merge" right?
If lane 2 is closed ahead, and you're in lane 1, I think it's a jerk move to leave lane 1 to try to rush ahead a few cars and cut someone off when you need back into lane 1
Youre letting your sense of "fairness" override good sense.
Using both of the available lanes and efficiently merging from two to one lanes at a designated point instead of at random is far safer and faster than people randomly merging from lane 2 into lane 1 when they are 34 cars back, or 16, or 5, or 105, each time stopping or slowing traffic in lane 2 and lane 1. Those people are being inconsiderate, unsafe, and inefficient. Stop blocking flowing traffic to merge poorly.
Use both lanes, especially if one is open. Dont merge early. Zipper merge at an expected and predictable point so traffic can flow safely instead of start and stop.
I wish I could downvote this twice. Fuck you.
In my state use both lanes to merge point is the law and they'll remind you of it with signs several times on your way to the merge point.
Not sure why people are so up in arms about this. I read this as a jab at those people who speed wildly past everyone else and cut in at the LAST moment. I still let those people in because I find it is almost always safer/wiser to be passive and yield when driving.
"Cutting in" at the last moment is what you're supposed to do. If the traffic flow dictated everyone to merge earlier, they would make the merge earlier. This entire thread is filled with confidently incorrect. Yes, you're supposed to "let" people in. And yes, they're supposed to drive at the speed limit ("speed wildly") in the alternate lane until the merge.
You yield to the merging traffic because that's how it's supposed to work not because you're somehow morally superior. It's just that one of you (not you) knows how to obey traffic laws and guidance, and one of you (you) is doing what they're supposed to do, but only because you incorrectly think you're being charitable.
I saw this on Reddit and the comments are exactly the same lol
That's because regardless of platform there is a percentage of drivers that think their understanding of the "right" way to do things is the only way, and everyone else is in the wrong. And often the problem ends up being the same drivers who "know how to drive" that mess it up for everyone else. There's a number of competing viewpoints in this thread alone and guaranteed that every one of them will agree with my point and think I'm talking about the other opinions.
P.S. You're all wrong. :p
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