Traffic Merging: The Zipper Method

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I honestly think people these days think it`s uncool or unhip to use a turning signal!

Wait a minute... are you saying these blinky thingys on my car aren't just a decoration?


Haha like cute lil blinking Christmas lights!

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Question....If this "zipper" thing is the preferred method, then why do illuminated traffic signals approaching these closed lanes typically say....

In my admittedly limited experience, this seems to only work where it's a long standing tradition, through education or driving experience. My previously mentioned case at the University Bridge in Saskatoon has no signage mentioning this whatsoever. When I encountered it in BC, I recall that signage mentioned that one of the lanes was closed ahead, but people were being polite and reasonable and switched off, and there were no issues.

The other issue with the BC example was that there was so much traffic, it wouldn't have been feasible for everyone to crowd the right lane, and then have a few people try to horn in late in the left lane. The traffic was backed up in both lanes (albeit moving better than was to be expected) long before any signage.

Here, to get the zipper method working, there would have to be a law and then a gaggle of officers would have to ticket every dunderhead who screwed up upon leaving the zone. As it is, we have enough problems getting people to slow down through traffic zones. This would also require training the new drivers in this method, and let the old method die off through attrition.

 

[MNgopher]

andrewg points out an issue that is essential to all of this: The preceeding signage. Old practice here, typically on freeways, was to post many miles ahead of the construction zone that such and such lane is closed x number of miles ahead.

Signage for zipper merges is different. Signs are posted construction zone ahead, watch for stopped traffic. Usually some signs imploring drivers to use both lanes and do the zipper merge. No mention of which lane is closed until pretty close to the actual merge point. Obviously if you travel the area frequently you know which lane is closed, but not posting it miles ahead helps keep the backup similar in both lanes.

I've even seen a trooper pull over a truck that was blocking the lane that needs to merge over a mile before the merge. No idea what the discussion was, but I'd hazard a guess some re-education was in order.

I used to be one of those early mergers. Now when instructed to zipper merge, I use the merge lane with no qualms - I'm following directions after all. Not my fault if others can't follow directions.

 

[Unicorn01]

Use the zipper method before the end of the lane. Don'twait until the last second. And screw you if you decide to get out of the lame, rush ahead and want to get back in. Or the morons who decide to get up to the cone and stop. Maybe not so horrible when it's stop and go traffic. But when the other lane is actually moving no.
Perhaps if it were law, and enforced. And a cop was standing at the merge point pointing at each cat to go out might be kinda smooth, but people screw up metered on ramps that have lights.
It's also great for merging onto the freeway.
As to signaling intent and permission... the lane belongs to whomever is in it. The person changing laneshad to yield right of way to those already there. And don't be the moron who just turns on the signal then goes. If a person in that lane hits, you guess who's at fault.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Quattro Pete nails it on the head. If everyone used both lanes, there would be no "open lane" for people to pass by anybody.

Unfortunately, there are way to many passive aggressive Minnesotan drivers for the zipper method to ever work in practice, though there are billboards and ads every year trying to get us to change our ways.

Grampi above reminds me of them. Its your own fault you aren't following directions, merged early, and left an open lane for folks to go by you. There is going to be a choke point somewhere.




Unless a semi driver maintains his position in line, but pulls over into the open lane to keep the "me first" people from cutting in line...that's about the only time I like having semis around me...

 

[datech]

It's too bad drivers aren't better trained, more informed, and better disciplined. The auto accident rates and death rates in the country are terrible.

People rave about how safe air travel is, when in actually traveling in a lightweight aluminum tube hundreds of miles per hour is not inherently safe. It's the training, dedication and professionalism in the interest of safety that gets air travel the great statistics it has.

I guess part of the problem is that we want to enable as many people as possible eligible to drive, including people that would not be allowed to pilot airplanes, so we are kind of stuck with the lowest common denominator.





Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Quattro Pete nails it on the head. If everyone used both lanes, there would be no "open lane" for people to pass by anybody.

Unfortunately, there are way to many passive aggressive Minnesotan drivers for the zipper method to ever work in practice, though there are billboards and ads every year trying to get us to change our ways.

Grampi above reminds me of them. Its your own fault you aren't following directions, merged early, and left an open lane for folks to go by you. There is going to be a choke point somewhere.




Unless a semi driver maintains his position in line, but pulls over into the open lane to keep the "me first" people from cutting in line...that's about the only time I like having semis around me...

 

[grampi]

The zipper method may be the best way to deal with traffic in road construction areas, but let's face it, here in the real world the vast majority of drivers won't do it...they are just too wrapped up in their own little world, texting or doing whatever with a cell phone, or just plain trying to get ahead of everyone else...most drivers these days couldn't care less about doing what they should be doing on the roads, being courtious, or even obeying laws...we now live in a "me first and to heck with everyone else" society...

 

[DBMaster]

I tried this yesterday and it sort of worked. The pickup next to me in the left lane was dead set on not letting me in front of him, then the car behind him let two of us in. Stupidity rules.

Also, the issue with this around here is that the merges in question are routine and involve two lanes from an exit merging into one and then merging into a barely moving lane on the highway. The whole mess gets jammed up and everything slows to a crawl.

If everyone paid attention and drove logically we could make do with the roadways we have now for a long time. Not gonna happen. Our only hope in the long run is automated roadways. You simply cannot just keep adding lanes. Just ask anyone who has driven on I35 near downtown Dallas. There are five lanes in each direction there and it does not even come close to compensating for driver idiocy.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Question....If this "zipper" thing is the preferred method, then why do illuminated traffic signals approaching these closed lanes typically say..."Right lane closed ahead....merge left"? Shouldn't it say...."Right lane closed ahead....follow until lane ends then merge left"? I've seen these "merge left" warnings WAY ahead of any "zipper" point.


Because that's supposed to be common knowledge from your driver training. You might want to go check the book, I recall learning it this way.

At least by us, there is a solid line for some duration, then dashed for a bit before a closing lane ends. There is a sign at the preferred merge point. Signs tell the moving traffic that a merge is coming, and then at the merge point, another sign tells the merging traffic to move left. Sometimes the lighter merges where there is less traffic has less signage, but they are always marked at least to some point.

 

[440Magnum]

I find people zipper well in places where there's a permanent merge. After getting it near into their heads daily, they finally see the light. But let it be a new merge at a construction zone.... All bets are off. I actually saw a guy jump to the breakdown lane JUST to pass a gal who was letting someone in Zipper style so that HE could cut the guy off. Total jerk. But the guy who he was trying to block was in a Camaro ZL1 and beat him to the slot. Jerk spent the next 3 miles trying the breakdown lane to pass zl1 guy, but never could. I stayed way back.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I find people zipper well in places where there's a permanent merge. After getting it near into their heads daily, they finally see the light. But let it be a new merge at a construction zone.... All bets are off. I actually saw a guy jump to the breakdown lane JUST to pass a gal who was letting someone in Zipper style so that HE could cut the guy off. Total jerk. But the guy who he was trying to block was in a Camaro ZL1 and beat him to the slot. Jerk spent the next 3 miles trying the breakdown lane to pass zl1 guy, but never could. I stayed way back.


Perhaps, but I've seen idiocy everywhere.


The one that gets me worse than merging is when there is an exit only lane, where cars are backed up in the lane, and then people pass by and cut in last minute. Especially if those cutters stop in the travel lane to get off the exit.

 

[pkunk]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
I had no idea it was called the Zipper Method -- I always called it "Take turns, dammit! TAKE TURNS!!!"


Its when I see a post like this that I wish forums had a "like" button like Facebook...

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
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The one that gets me worse than merging is when there is an exit only lane, where cars are backed up in the lane, and then people pass by and cut in last minute. Especially if those cutters stop in the travel lane to get off the exit.


Which is what the zipper method appears like to the uninitiated.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Driving big miles almost all the time leaves one with a poor opinion of most drivers.

I find I am rarely disappointed anymore. This is almost solely because I do not expect much!

In our area, between the lousy condition of the vehicles and the HUGE disparity in driving abilities/courtesy/discipline, you learn to just slow down and let them go...

 

[fdcg27]

The only things that I typically see that really bother me are people weaving through heavy traffic on a road with multiple lanes trying to go much faster than the average traffic limited speed, especially if they're on a bike and people making really risky passes on two lane rural roads. Both are invitations for bad fortune to visit itslef upon a driver and both are potentially lethal, and not just for the offending driver.
Planning on being lucky should not play a role in driving.
Oh, and then there are those who drive way too fast in the snow and ice conditions you'll never see where you live.
They usually just end up in a ditch with no harm to themselves or others.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Driving big miles almost all the time leaves one with a poor opinion of most drivers.

I find I am rarely disappointed anymore. This is almost solely because I do not expect much!

In our area, between the lousy condition of the vehicles and the HUGE disparity in driving abilities/courtesy/discipline, you learn to just slow down and let them go...


As I advance in years, I find it easier and easier to do this. My childish ego kicks in every now and again, but all it does is stress me out to play the game of traffic tit-for-tat.

 

[supton]

The other day I left work at 5. I usually time my commute off by 15 minutes. Wow is it bad at 5!

Much easier to get along with everyone else when there are few cars on the road.

 

[Silk]

We have these signs in New Zealand.

 

[DBMaster]

We need such signage! There seem to be far too many ambiguities in driving. Signage such as "left lane for passing only," "use both lanes and merge like a zipper," etc. would go a long way toward clearing those up. I45 between Dallas and Houston has many signs about correct use of the left lane. That drive is far more pleasant than the I35 drive to Austin. There are fewer of such signs.

Texas drivers are really horrible when it comes to lane discipline. I have driven nowhere else where the left lane is abused as much.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Texas drivers are really horrible when it comes to lane discipline. I have driven nowhere else where the left lane is abused as much.


Worse than MA?