That's fine. What baffles me is when there is no traffic and the exit is literally right there, but the car behind me just cannot wait 2 more seconds so goes around me and cuts in front, barely making the exit... only for me to drive up right beside him at the light. CONGRATS! You made it a WHOLE care length ahead! I am sure your parents will be proud!
Holy cow, so many people need to see this video. I don't understand why people think it's "rude" to zipper merge. Because it's not EXACTLY "first come first through"? Oh boo hoo. Yes, let's all extend our wait at a merge for an hour to be "polite". It's absolutely polite to get places late! Ug, just spent two hours in bumper to bumper traffic on I-80 which could have been partially alleviated if a UPS freight wasn't forcing an early merge for everyone by squatting in the closing lane.
Also: KEEP SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU. It's astonishing how many people don't do this at highway speeds. Leaving a healthy space between cars reduces traffic density, allows for easier adjustment to changing conditions and helps prevent traffic jams from occurring in the first place, especially "phantom" jams.
The best way to see this is two lanes merging into one, not one merging with the other. If the signs would have indicated a zipper, more people would have understood it I think.
There is one caveat to keep in mind. In many states the DOT or Highway Dept. will place signs that ask you to zipper merge. So drivers think they are entitled to a merge at the merge point. But when an accident happens they discover that the ending lane is still legally considered as the one that merges, NOT the thru lane. So therefore the ending lanes drivers are automatically liable for a safe and proper merge and usually found to be at fault. Some States are revising their laws to reflect a shared liability. But it is not nearly Nationwide yet. Until then, the thru lane drivers do not usually owe you a merge as the zipper implies, so dont get cocky.
I like this type of merge for construction..and I'm sure vehicles will merge courteously when there’s a highway patrol parked at the merging point. It will also be great if every state in the U.S had the same laws for merging lanes...
People don't always think this way, which is sad. I'm guilty of being an early merger, but that's because when you're at the merge point drivers won't let you in, at least here in oregon. If we all thought about this courteous way of merging, we wouldn't have issues with merging.
Erm...I'm not sure where in the world this was aimed at. But when I passed my test, here in the UK in the 90's, this was taught to me as standard! Any intelligent driver can watch the road and adjust his speed to reduce the impact of a driver entering from the other lane.
The zipper merge just turns one long line into two short ones. But it is still the same amount of cars that pass thru the obstruction, so it does not save time. Also drivers hop from one lane to the other back and forth trying to get ahead. They could not do this if the cars were in one long line. But the long single line can block ramps.
Assuming drivers will actually respect the zipper and take turns in an orderly fashion when they get to the merge point? That's cute. First time driving?
The point of the zipper merge is you wait until the end when the system can't be beat. If you try to make people merge early and leave a mile of open lane, some people are going to take it and slow the other lane down. Just wait to the end. BE one of THOSE people until there are enough for there to be a zipper merge.
If the through lane leaves "polite" gaps, and the merging lane "politely" enters the appropriate gap, this works great. As several others have mentioned, the problem becomes the "zoomer" (rushing ahead in the closing lane to try for ONE MORE FREAKING CAR LENGTH AHEAD! Like you're gonna make you destination 8 seconds earlier matters?) and the "close follower" (follows the car ahead too closely for the closing lane to merge).
Sorry but if there's been signs for the last 3 miles warning you your lane ends and the construction is visible for a mile and you wait until 10ft to try and merge, you're going to be stuck there for a while...
+Stuart McWilliams I'm never stuck. I do exactly this and pass hundreds of MORONS who could have been using all of the available square footage of both open lanes until the construction. If I encounter a DICK who won't let me merge, it's simple. Out comes my video camera and then they get the ticket. Simple. I love passing sheep who don't know basic highway maneuvers.
I. P. Freely: Yeah no ticket ever... "MN Nice" goes out the window when we get behind the wheel... Your video camera is smart..."might" catch the guy who has had a bad day drags you out of your car and beats you to death, as a stress reliever. (If he doesn't take your camera/phone as trophies!) Or that MPLS crack head that pulls his "Nine" (sideways of course) and smokes your ass.
Ok, this is great and how it should work... but how do you A) notify people; and B) enforce it when someone doesn't follow the rules? I'm not naysaying, I'm genuinely interested in the answer.
Some have suggested that the signs warn of a lane ending, but don’t specify which lane until just before the merge. This would undoubtedly annoy the drivers in the lane that ends, but would ensure that the drivers merge at the end of the lane, and not in the mile before which creates congestion.
Scott and I have been using this for a while; I just wish everyone else would. Unfortunately, people just don't understand it. Thanks for putting this out there. Ren
This video caters to the drivers of Minnesota, who are born (and bred) to be merging-impaired. If you've ever driven in the great state of Minnesota, you know exactly what I mean. If it involves merging into traffic, you can guarantee that MN drivers will screw it up. It probably stems from "Minnesota Nice", which is a form of over-politeness that not only makes merging difficult, but also makes four-way stops daunting, at best.
...I don't get it. I've *always* tried to 'zipper' in to traffic, whether I am the one merging or speeding up/slowing down to let someone else slot in. It's just so much easier than using the danged brakes all the time!
The relative speed of the flow of traffic makes a big difference, which is not mentioned in this video. Also, the frequency of cars arriving, and their speed, makes a difference. An on-ramp onto the freeway merging with slow moving traffic is a bit difference than this scenario.
I do drive rudely. I rudely make you wait for me to pass because you thought you could "pull something" and "skip ahead of me" by being the one schmuck still left in the soon to be closed lane. You want to teach americans to drive? Get them to signal first. THEN maybe I will consider this.
Only place I found that people play by the rules is within the city of Chicago. Although there is way too much traffic and jams still form no matter what.
How is safety increased when you are traveling 50 mph and then this idiot wants to wait til last minute and merge when there was a big gap before hand for him to merge 3 miles away? So when he does merge, I have to brake unexpectedly and 100 cars behind also brake unexpected out of the blue causing a more dangerous situation. Also causing a slinky effect when it does move again making it much slower. If people merge earlier there wouldnt be traffic jam because its constantly moving. Traffic jam is when cars slow down and speed again causing a big slinky effect taking in more space then there should be. And to add to that, it waste gas and causes more pollution into the air.
You're not wrong. The video agrees with you. It says at the beginning that early merging is the correct strategy when moving at speed or nearly free-flow conditions. The zipper merge argument addresses slow, dense traffic. If everyone used both lanes, there would be no place for people to speed ahead, ending that concern. And the use of the space in the second lane would cut down the length of the line of cars, reducing congestion further back.
Its "funny" (really not) how many people are arguing with a literal DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION on how zipper merging is worst than waiting in a long ass line. Your anecdontal expierience (not evidence) doesnt trump the governing body who's whole existance is dedicated to our roadways. But what do i know? I only got a perfect score on both my wrtten and driving test 15 years ago, on the first try, after paying out of pocket for private drivers ed. We really need to bring drivers education back into highschools, for free.
Good god, I wish I were in the UK. In the US zipper merging is seen as being "rude" by many (not me! I think it's logical) but some freight trucks will "politely" idle their truck in the closing lane well before the the merge point, forcing an early merge. If you merge then zip around them, trying to move up to merge, well I have seen freight trucks actively pull OUT of the "through" lane to block the closing lane. ....and they say trying to keep traffic moving is rude?!
Your animation shows nothing but cars and if that's what were actually on the road this zipper merge would work. Reality also has these things called "Trucks" and "Tractor Trailers" which break the zipper. Once the lanes aren't moving at the same speed because someone has to slow down to pull in behind a truck people get confused. The most important part of smooth merges is both lanes need to move at the same speed. So there only needs to be one rule for an approaching merge.... Do NOT pass!
+Threk Trucks and trailors don't matter much, You still find where you are merging, match the speed, and move over when it is time to. What breaks the zipper merge is when someone tailgates and does not let anyone merge in front of them.
This is idiotic advice, because it doesn't work except in an ideal situation. First, merging at the very last moment sets up a standing density wave at the merge location (if traffic is stop and go), or a backwards propagating density wave (if traffic is moving OK and somebody merges). This a rather simple mathematics problem. One can simply watch brake lights approaching a bottlenecking merge to see the density wave in reality. There's also the issue of human psychology (when you've been stuck in standstill traffic for a long time and somebody tries to fly by you and merge in, are you simply going to let them in?). There's assumptions in this zipper merge model that prevent it from being workable. I'm incredulous that our "experts " are making suggestions of this sort.
That's fine. What baffles me is when there is no traffic and the exit is literally right there, but the car behind me just cannot wait 2 more seconds so goes around me and cuts in front, barely making the exit... only for me to drive up right beside him at the light.
CONGRATS! You made it a WHOLE care length ahead! I am sure your parents will be proud!
Holy cow, so many people need to see this video. I don't understand why people think it's "rude" to zipper merge. Because it's not EXACTLY "first come first through"? Oh boo hoo. Yes, let's all extend our wait at a merge for an hour to be "polite". It's absolutely polite to get places late!
Ug, just spent two hours in bumper to bumper traffic on I-80 which could have been partially alleviated if a UPS freight wasn't forcing an early merge for everyone by squatting in the closing lane.
Quickest way to get into a fast wreck. 👍🏼
Also: KEEP SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU.
It's astonishing how many people don't do this at highway speeds. Leaving a healthy space between cars reduces traffic density, allows for easier adjustment to changing conditions and helps prevent traffic jams from occurring in the first place, especially "phantom" jams.
The best way to see this is two lanes merging into one, not one merging with the other. If the signs would have indicated a zipper, more people would have understood it I think.
+Knut Arne Nygård I vote for changing all merge signs into zippers
There is one caveat to keep in mind. In many states the DOT or Highway Dept. will place signs that ask you to zipper merge. So drivers think they are entitled to a merge at the merge point.
But when an accident happens they discover that the ending lane is still legally considered as the one that merges, NOT the thru lane. So therefore the ending lanes drivers are automatically liable for a safe and proper merge and usually found to be at fault.
Some States are revising their laws to reflect a shared liability. But it is not nearly Nationwide yet.
Until then, the thru lane drivers do not usually owe you a merge as the zipper implies, so dont get cocky.
I like this type of merge for construction..and I'm sure vehicles will merge courteously when there’s a highway patrol parked at the merging point.
It will also be great if every state in the U.S had the same laws for merging lanes...
People don't always think this way, which is sad. I'm guilty of being an early merger, but that's because when you're at the merge point drivers won't let you in, at least here in oregon. If we all thought about this courteous way of merging, we wouldn't have issues with merging.
Erm...I'm not sure where in the world this was aimed at. But when I passed my test, here in the UK in the 90's, this was taught to me as standard!
Any intelligent driver can watch the road and adjust his speed to reduce the impact of a driver entering from the other lane.
The zipper merge just turns one long line into two short ones. But it is still the same amount of cars that pass thru the obstruction, so it does not save time. Also drivers hop from one lane to the other back and forth trying to get ahead. They could not do this if the cars were in one long line.
But the long single line can block ramps.
Assuming drivers will actually respect the zipper and take turns in an orderly fashion when they get to the merge point? That's cute. First time driving?
Easy, look for the next car that looks more expensive then yours and cut them off. They'll stop for you.
LA traffic kinda requires that you do this but...there's always one buttmunch who decides to beat the system.
The point of the zipper merge is you wait until the end when the system can't be beat. If you try to make people merge early and leave a mile of open lane, some people are going to take it and slow the other lane down. Just wait to the end. BE one of THOSE people until there are enough for there to be a zipper merge.
If the through lane leaves "polite" gaps, and the merging lane "politely" enters the appropriate gap, this works great. As several others have mentioned, the problem becomes the "zoomer" (rushing ahead in the closing lane to try for ONE MORE FREAKING CAR LENGTH AHEAD! Like you're gonna make you destination 8 seconds earlier matters?) and the "close follower" (follows the car ahead too closely for the closing lane to merge).
0:42 the zipper merge is a choke point that CAUSES traffic jams, maybe mndot should go back and re do their licence test
This is why my van will be outfitted with heavy duty "car" pushers.
Sorry but if there's been signs for the last 3 miles warning you your lane ends and the construction is visible for a mile and you wait until 10ft to try and merge, you're going to be stuck there for a while...
+Stuart McWilliams I'm never stuck. I do exactly this and pass hundreds of MORONS who could have been using all of the available square footage of both open lanes until the construction. If I encounter a DICK who won't let me merge, it's simple. Out comes my video camera and then they get the ticket. Simple. I love passing sheep who don't know basic highway maneuvers.
Stuart McWilliams and
I. P. Freely: Yeah no ticket ever... "MN Nice" goes out the window when we get behind the wheel... Your video camera is smart..."might" catch the guy who has had a bad day drags you out of your car and beats you to death, as a stress reliever. (If he doesn't take your camera/phone as trophies!) Or that MPLS crack head that pulls his "Nine" (sideways of course) and smokes your ass.
Ok, this is great and how it should work... but how do you A) notify people; and B) enforce it when someone doesn't follow the rules?
I'm not naysaying, I'm genuinely interested in the answer.
+OuttaGoodNamesDangit A sign on the opposite side of the road, which reads: "Yield to merging traffic during congestion or face fines"
+daveandrews84 Well, that answers the first, but I don't see how well it would work unless a cop was stationed nearby.
Some have suggested that the signs warn of a lane ending, but don’t specify which lane until just before the merge. This would undoubtedly annoy the drivers in the lane that ends, but would ensure that the drivers merge at the end of the lane, and not in the mile before which creates congestion.
Scott and I have been using this for a while; I just wish everyone else would. Unfortunately, people just don't understand it.
Thanks for putting this out there.
Ren
This video caters to the drivers of Minnesota, who are born (and bred) to be merging-impaired. If you've ever driven in the great state of Minnesota, you know exactly what I mean. If it involves merging into traffic, you can guarantee that MN drivers will screw it up. It probably stems from "Minnesota Nice", which is a form of over-politeness that not only makes merging difficult, but also makes four-way stops daunting, at best.
...I don't get it. I've *always* tried to 'zipper' in to traffic, whether I am the one merging or speeding up/slowing down to let someone else slot in. It's just so much easier than using the danged brakes all the time!
This is common sense, its called the golden rule, also drive like everybody else can't.
The relative speed of the flow of traffic makes a big difference, which is not mentioned in this video. Also, the frequency of cars arriving, and their speed, makes a difference.
An on-ramp onto the freeway merging with slow moving traffic is a bit difference than this scenario.
I do drive rudely. I rudely make you wait for me to pass because you thought you could "pull something" and "skip ahead of me" by being the one schmuck still left in the soon to be closed lane. You want to teach americans to drive? Get them to signal first. THEN maybe I will consider this.
Only place I found that people play by the rules is within the city of Chicago. Although there is way too much traffic and jams still form no matter what.
How is safety increased when you are traveling 50 mph and then this idiot wants to wait til last minute and merge when there was a big gap before hand for him to merge 3 miles away? So when he does merge, I have to brake unexpectedly and 100 cars behind also brake unexpected out of the blue causing a more dangerous situation. Also causing a slinky effect when it does move again making it much slower. If people merge earlier there wouldnt be traffic jam because its constantly moving. Traffic jam is when cars slow down and speed again causing a big slinky effect taking in more space then there should be. And to add to that, it waste gas and causes more pollution into the air.
You're not wrong. The video agrees with you. It says at the beginning that early merging is the correct strategy when moving at speed or nearly free-flow conditions. The zipper merge argument addresses slow, dense traffic. If everyone used both lanes, there would be no place for people to speed ahead, ending that concern. And the use of the space in the second lane would cut down the length of the line of cars, reducing congestion further back.
Its "funny" (really not) how many people are arguing with a literal DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION on how zipper merging is worst than waiting in a long ass line. Your anecdontal expierience (not evidence) doesnt trump the governing body who's whole existance is dedicated to our roadways. But what do i know? I only got a perfect score on both my wrtten and driving test 15 years ago, on the first try, after paying out of pocket for private drivers ed. We really need to bring drivers education back into highschools, for free.
7 years ago: realityme.net/2007/10/22/driving-patterns-let-the-ass-merge/
Good god, I wish I were in the UK. In the US zipper merging is seen as being "rude" by many (not me! I think it's logical) but some freight trucks will "politely" idle their truck in the closing lane well before the the merge point, forcing an early merge. If you merge then zip around them, trying to move up to merge, well I have seen freight trucks actively pull OUT of the "through" lane to block the closing lane.
....and they say trying to keep traffic moving is rude?!
Your animation shows nothing but cars and if that's what were actually on the road this zipper merge would work. Reality also has these things called "Trucks" and "Tractor Trailers" which break the zipper. Once the lanes aren't moving at the same speed because someone has to slow down to pull in behind a truck people get confused. The most important part of smooth merges is both lanes need to move at the same speed. So there only needs to be one rule for an approaching merge.... Do NOT pass!
+Threk Trucks and trailors don't matter much, You still find where you are merging, match the speed, and move over when it is time to. What breaks the zipper merge is when someone tailgates and does not let anyone merge in front of them.
Zipper merge = "bully merge"
This is idiotic advice, because it doesn't work except in an ideal situation. First, merging at the very last moment sets up a standing density wave at the merge location (if traffic is stop and go), or a backwards propagating density wave (if traffic is moving OK and somebody merges). This a rather simple mathematics problem. One can simply watch brake lights approaching a bottlenecking merge to see the density wave in reality.
There's also the issue of human psychology (when you've been stuck in standstill traffic for a long time and somebody tries to fly by you and merge in, are you simply going to let them in?). There's assumptions in this zipper merge model that prevent it from being workable. I'm incredulous that our "experts " are making suggestions of this sort.