Zipper merges
 

So, driving on 466? 466A? there was a sign that said 'right lane closed ahead'. The closure was quite a distance ahead - as in more than 1/2 mile. Where I come from in Massachusetts, we are taught to merge with the left lane AT the actual closure in a 'zipper merge' - one car in left, then one car in right. Otherwise, you end up with one line of traffic for much longer than they intended with the closure.
Now, some wanna be traffic cop decided he would have his truck straddle the center line effectively blocking two lanes of traffic. He started this at the first sign that said 'right lane closed' and did not allow anyone through on the right. Have I entered a zone of different traffic laws?
For reference, i had just come from my Covid 19 vaccine that had two lanes of traffic that eventually merged. The local sheriff actually got on his bullhorn and said 'folks, keep two lanes until the merge' several times. He actually got out of his car and walked up to people to explain it to them.
So, I am fairly certain I am correct, but being in a convertible my only recourse against a truck was yelling at him being an idiot :icon_wink:

I believe you are correct that traffic moves faster with a zipper merge at the point that two lanes become one.

At the same time, I am not at all surprised that some self-appointed lane sheriff decided that he/she knew better.

I agree with you.

Very often a large tractor trailer will do the same thing and as a result you get a long long line of traffic moving very slowly.

...

I completely disagree with merging where the lanes merge as it creates exactly what the original poster claims to be better. When people merge when first seeing the signs where a lane will be ending then they move through the effected area faster. When people wait till they have to merge you see those in the proper lane having to slow down or stop to let those people in....this is in fact what causes the major backup miles from the lane ending.

People who drive to where you have to move into that lane are hoping not to wait as long to get through the area. That is the reason why they put the "lane ends" sign up so far back...to give folks a chance before it becomes imperative to move. They are just like line cutters at any register or ticket booth.

If trying to justify your behavior why not check with department of transportation like I have and get the truth and not what fits your reasoning?

We used to do 'zipping' in UK as a matter of course, but today the young, and sadly the not so young, have no driving etiquette, resulting in an every man/woman for their selves attitude, and the delays are so much longer.
We led the world in queuing for transport, shopping etc., but that too had gone with the wind.
'Push and shove' is the new mantra.
Gentleman stood for ladies, and gave up their seats if there wasn't one available for her.
Do that today, and you are liable to get a mouthful of abuse or practically accused of harrassment in response.
Holding doors open for someone has nearly finished, and as for a simple "Thank you" for doing so, forget it!
I mourn the loss of manners, and civility.

Good advice to do some research. Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia all say using both lanes and zippering at the end is more efficient. There is a statement in one of the articles that Germany feels this way too though I didn't look for an official German statement.

Interesting that you mention the "lane ends" signs - both the Colorado and Minnesota articles mention changing the signage to discourage the early merging you seem to be defending.

Which DOT sites did you find in your research that say the opposite? Please provide links and not just assertions.

When you have a bunch of tractor trailers in the merging process an early merge will certainly slow things down.

Ever notice how long it takes them to speed up

Works in theory nice traffic flow merging uninterrupted
Real world you'll always get the ones that will not merge till last second because they can't read and feel its there right and traffic backs up due to their It's all about me and where I'm going attitude
Not an hour goes by you don't see it here or any where's else

Finally the source of where all or bad habits originated?😁

For some's viewing pleasure courtesy of the State of Nebraska.
BTW, a sheriff from Wildwood, said exactly the same thing....

zipper merges in construction zones florida - Bing video

Mortal1 - did you catch the 40% REDUCTION in backups with late zipper merge??

I agree. The theory is sound. However, in real life, you can merge about 150-200 feet before the lane ends, and then the guy behind you will drive right up to the end and try to sneak in. In NY, drivers who see this happening will hit him before letting him in. And an accident will REALLY slow things down.

It is a well known fact that bad habits were never heard of here until we had American tourists.
Even the GI's after WW2 went home better mannered. (Except those from New York of course!) :throwtomatoes:

Looks like we need a traffic club here in The Villages.

1. Original post, "I'm fairly certain"
2. I Believe
3. I agree
4. I learned from my dad
5. I disagree
6. Driving Etiquette
7. Research.....now we're talking.....Why not do a real life study on 466a while it's all screwed up anyway????

I had never heard of "zipper" merging until I read this post. It would make perfect sense if drivers in the real world drove the way the drivers in the animation shown (in the You Tube video posted above) drove. However, in real life all of the drivers in the open lane would be bumper to bumper, instead of moving at a steady pace with enough space to allow a merge without risking an accident. I like it when a trucker blocks the lane that is soon to be closed off, because that gets everyone in line earlier, and avoids the line jumpers. I don't care what the Nebraska DOT preaches. People just don't drive, in real life, the way the cartoon cars drive in the demonstration video. It's laughable that the "authorities" think they might.