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.
In traffic circles, even if someone messes up, the problem is usually resolved and the circle is back to normal operation within a minute or so. Unless someone is literally camped in the middle of the circle, life finds a way.
The number of people I've seen use the inner lane to turn out of the circle pisses me off. Change lane to outer circle, then exit the circle. The number of times I've nearly been hit because some asshat in a giant truck decided they own all the lanes is too high to count.
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.
Zipper merge is effective if it takes place at the end of the line, not the merge point. Essentially as traffic backs up, the merge point should back up as well. That isn’t practical in reality; you can’t dynamically move the merge point IRL.
... Just go to the end and then merge. It doesn't mean drive up to the wall and then try to turn 90 degrees. The entirety of Europe does zipper merges and it's an incredibly easy thing to do. You just need drivers that think of other things rather than just themselves.
You can’t zipper merge when you’re unable to move forward after waiting until the last secondnot being allowed to zipper merge by selfish assholes and being pressed up against the road closure.
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 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
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.
Yes, I know that "we queue" in the UK. So why not make a number of queues equal to the number of available lanes and then take it in turns when it's time to merge? Instead of making a single queue multiple lengths longer than it needs to be that will inevitably block even more junctions further back and cause even more traffic, YOU FUCKING MORON!!!!
Edit: downvoted by nine absolute mongs that obviously weren't taught very well in their driving lessons. Not brave enough to put forward a counter argument, are you though?
Plenty of situations where this meme applies. In Seattle the West Seattle bridge was out for almost two years. People were routed underneath it where there were two lanes, one that routed into a forced left turn, and one that proceeded straight (where 80% of people wanted to go). Without fail, a huge number of people would "zipper merge" into the right (straight) lane and skip the huge line. Seattleites are such pushovers that they would always let these line cutters in. Which slowed down traffic for everybody: both the people trying to turn left (because they were stuck behind these jokers trying to force their way in) and everyone else who was patiently waiting their turn to go straight.
Seeing people on the Seattle subreddit try to justify this antisocial behavior with false notions of zipper merging was truly enraging.
That's a flaw of city traffic planning. If that's the case, then the meme should be Kermit looking at the city planner that decided that absurd scenario would be reasonable.
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
Two lanes or one will fit through a 1 lane naroowed section in a perfectly optimized way at the same speed. 1 lane cab only carry "x" cars per second. But by putting the merge at the choke point, we end up with gaps when people hit the brakes to let the other lane in and don't accelerate at the same speed. I lane with 10 ft gaps between cars might get through a bit faster because a perfect merge with 10 ft gaps isn't going to happen. Basically, its the Nagel-Schreckenberg effect except everyone gets stuck slowing to 15mph at the merge instead of merging early and possibly oinng through the restriction faster without issue.
Having said that, there's no mechanism to enforce early merging other than being a good driver (or the unsung hero's who straddle both lanes to prevent cutting). I've given up. If no one else will drive properly, then why shouldn't I drive to the very front and push my way in? I'm just punishing myself by doing it the better way because it requires everyone to participate.
Eventually, we can avoid this by using dynamic signs on a gantry over the road to close/open the lane way ahead of time depending on flow and how far back the line goes.
Eh I don't think lane straddling is a good idea either, if everyone zippered appropriately we wouldn't need that, and if both lanes are relatively clear we wouldn't need it either. I think driving will always suck no matter what, "safe driving" is something no one can really agree on. Not to mention there is a section of drivers who believe aggressive driving is not only acceptable, but a way to protect the ego.
To clarify, by "play chicken" I mean dive into the other lane and forcing other people to slam on their breaks. Not merging when they can. My frustration is just around safety, not getting cut off or anything.
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.
Yeah yeah I get all that and I know how to merge. I was talking more about drivers who are overly aggressive and reckless. Especially in construction zones and when there are accidents. And yeah I guess I do think I'm probably a little morally superior to the jackasses speeding and cutting in aggressively/in really unnecessary unsafe manners in their 3-ton f250s.
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.
They're trying to clown you because "zipper merging everyone should do it" but they're not thinking about human nature once again.
It's like communism. If everyone was perfect, leaving enough room and always willing to let people in at the top of the lane without slowing down, then it would work.
But all it takes is one asshole, or even someone that is merely distracted by their kid or something, and the guy in the ending lane has no room and will have to slam on their brakes to stop.
And then they somehow have to merge into decently fast traffic from a dead stop, which is not easy. (Unless of course, the other lane stops to let you in, thus delaying everyone)
The system we do now is shitty, but the alternative if you end up caught stranded is far worse.
If there are so many bad drivers on the road, why are they there?
How are they allowed to pass their driver's exam?
If they're not licensed, how are they allowed to drive?
Why are the standards for getting a license or getting on the road so low?
The answer is simple, there is no alternative. Socially the thought of an alternative is considered to be looked down upon if it is even there at all.
Public Transit and Walk-able Infrastructure are fantastic alternatives for people who should not, could not, or would not drive. And with alternatives to driving in place, standards for driving can be made to rise without alienating the population from traveling.
This is me... Yes I am an asshole. I just got done waiting 10 minutes in the proper lane slowly inching along, with miles behind of signage saying x lane is closed. You think you can just ignore all those signs, drive to the very possible end of the closed lane and suddenly cut me off? Nope, someone else can take pity on your lazy impatient ass, fuck you. Zipper merge my ass, in reality you either get in line in the right lane asap and wait your turn or get bent trying to pull your bullshit.