Keith V wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 12:45

George Beckman wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 13:43

Sorry, Keith. Merging everyone in a two mile space has a much better chance than merging in 40 feet when the cones are crowding in. That's why the signs are two miles out. 1) you _have_ to merge, so merge and 2) merging is easier at 45 than when stopped 0.

This is important. It's the right way to merge.
I'm on a mission to undo years of brainwashing that you need to move over at the first lane closed ahead sign. The signs are there to remind you, not to make you merge. That's why they say "lane closed ahead", not "Merge Left".
When you see the "Merge Left" sign, then you merge.

( This only applies in heavy traffic, not light traffic )

1. Read what the MN DOT says in my links above.
2. The zipper merge eliminates the shock wave from early merges
3. The zipper merge prevents 'jerks' from driving by you on that open lane ( they are doing nothing wrong )
4. using both lanes as long as possible will keep the average speed higher
5. zipper merge removes the "if you're not in my lane by now I'm not letting you in" mentality

I've done it both ways, Minnesota is pushing hard on the zipper merge, the zipper merge is less stressful and faster than early merging.

They are actually pushing that up here in Washington State as well, have been a few radio commercials about it. "Wait, Merge Late" or something like that. My FIL works for DOT and says that it is supposed to help the flow of traffic just like all of the traffic circles popping up around here.

He also says the biggest problem is the "your not getting in front of me" mentality and the fact that westerners have no clue how to properly navigate roundabouts, especially in heavy traffic. They are intended to help here but are almost having a negative effect. I lived in Germany for 8 years and was absolutely astounded at how fast the drivers over there would negotiate a large 2 lane roundabout.

I for one agree with Jim, when it says a lane is closed ahead I go ahead and get over. I do that because I have the room to get over and don't have to look like a douche stuck in the lane that is closing cause no one will let me in because I just passed a mile of stopped traffic and they are pissed at me. Trust me, I don't want to let that guy in either.

That's just me though, do what you want.


Jared

Keith V wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 09:51

The RIGHT way is for no one to move out of the right lane until it ends. That way all traffic is moving as fast as possible and no one can zoom by and disturb the 'holier than thous' in the left lane. Because as we all know, if youre not already in the left lane they aint gonna let you in. So when someone does George Jestson into the left lane everyone has to hit the brakes and the resulting shock wave is what causes the long stops for no reason.

Google 'Zipper Merge'
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/07/the-beauty-of-zipper-merging-or-why-you-should-drive-ruder/

Now let me explain how I handle jackdonkeys that think they are entitled by God to blow past everyone waiting their turn to enter the non-closed lane to shoehorn themselves in the front of the line.

I move over into the closING lane and move at the speed of the non-closING lane. When I get to the cones, the driver that was behind me when I was in the non-closING lane is so grateful that someone stood up to the jackdonkeys trying to get ahead of everyone else, they wave me in. And none of us are inclined to accommodate the jackholes that are on my bumper blowing their horns and flashing their lights and gesturing that I am number 1. And the point where the cones are has now become your "zipper" for the people that thought they were going to get in front of everyone else.