Everyone that merges early creates a spot for the closing lane traffic to move up and slows down the through lane, then the next person does it, slows the thru lane, repeat ad nauseam. So if you think you’re being smart merging early you are actually fucking up the flow. There are always people going to be running up the closed lane to try to take “cuts”, so how do you prevent that? By everyone zipper merging at the end! No open lane for them to “cheat.”
Zipper merge at the end is the only way.
Source: I see this every single day I drive to work in an area with shit road design, heavy traffic, and bad drivers.
We need NHTSA to put out TV spots to get the message out, and little signs to say USE FULL LANES -ZIP MERGE IN XXX FEET
When I was growing up in the UK, Department for Transport or whomever always had TV and radio ads reminding people how to drive: take longer to look for bikes, don’t hang out next to a big lorry (truck) blind spot, don’t drink and drive, it’s hard to focus on two things at once so put your phone away while driving, etc. And they still do this. We need more of that elsewhere too.
I don’t think the main benefit is cutting off cheaters - it is about using the road more effectively. If you have 2 miles of a single lane full of cars next to an empty lane (that is blocked at the constriction), the congestion is more likely to block intersections, ramps, etc. Studies show that having 2 lanes full of cars with a zipper merge at the point constriction is the most efficient:
THAT’S THE CORRECT WAY.
Merge at the lane end for fuck’s sake.
Everyone that merges early creates a spot for the closing lane traffic to move up and slows down the through lane, then the next person does it, slows the thru lane, repeat ad nauseam. So if you think you’re being smart merging early you are actually fucking up the flow. There are always people going to be running up the closed lane to try to take “cuts”, so how do you prevent that? By everyone zipper merging at the end! No open lane for them to “cheat.”
Zipper merge at the end is the only way.
Source: I see this every single day I drive to work in an area with shit road design, heavy traffic, and bad drivers.
In the NL, there are signs literally spelling it out for you. There is a sign saying “start merging here” at the right spot.
Everyone talks how the NL has so good bike infra, but the car infra is top notch as well.
Some places where I live also have signs that state some version of “merge at the end”.
People ignore it and still merge early.
We need NHTSA to put out TV spots to get the message out, and little signs to say USE FULL LANES -ZIP MERGE IN XXX FEET
When I was growing up in the UK, Department for Transport or whomever always had TV and radio ads reminding people how to drive: take longer to look for bikes, don’t hang out next to a big lorry (truck) blind spot, don’t drink and drive, it’s hard to focus on two things at once so put your phone away while driving, etc. And they still do this. We need more of that elsewhere too.
Take all that “Driving Drunk is Bad, guys” advertising space and use it for something that people don’t already know…
What do you mean though
I don’t think the main benefit is cutting off cheaters - it is about using the road more effectively. If you have 2 miles of a single lane full of cars next to an empty lane (that is blocked at the constriction), the congestion is more likely to block intersections, ramps, etc. Studies show that having 2 lanes full of cars with a zipper merge at the point constriction is the most efficient:
https://itre.ncsu.edu/itre-studying-how-zipper-merges-reduce-congestion-at-sites-across-north-carolina/
Stopping overly aggressive drivers is a side benefit.
Don’t feed the troll.
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Shhhhhh
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