Two Lanes Merging into One: You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are merging into one at a construction area - left to right. While you are sitting there in the right lane, dozens...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are merging into one at a construction area - left to right. While you are sitting there in the right lane, dozens of cars are speeding by in the left lane. In a few minutes, they will try to cut into the line up ahead. If they didn't do that, there would not be much of a delay when merging lanes. On the way home from PA yesterday, I saw two 18-wheelers in the left lane holding back traffic. My friend talked to one driver at a rest area. He said that most drivers don't know how to merge, and that holds up traffic. When cars race up the left lane and try to cut in, I do everything I can to keep them out. They should be a mile behind me, not holding up the flow of traffic.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I was on a freeway that had a closure, and they used a "zipper" effect on traffic. Worked like a charm! No one got upset because the other lane was barging in and both lanes moved nicely.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

AzPicLady wrote:

I was on a freeway that had a closure, and they used a "zipper" effect on traffic. Worked like a charm! No one got upset because the other lane was barging in and both lanes moved nicely.

That's ideal.

Old Coot

AzPicLady wrote:

I was on a freeway that had a closure, and they used a "zipper" effect on traffic. Worked like a charm! No one got upset because the other lane was barging in and both lanes moved nicely.

How does that work and who is "They"

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

That's ideal.

Yes.
Unfortunately there are too many people that do not believe in the zipper merge,
they just gotta get as far ahead of people as they can........
Zipper merges let both sides flow evenly.
But there are always idiots.

JustJill Loc: Iowa

jerryc41 wrote:

You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are mer... (show quote)

Yes! I hate last minute mergers! Especially in town. People that travel that way everyday know there are lane closures but do it anyway.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

The best is when they put up signs telling people to use 2 lanes until the merge points. This way the line is 1/2 as long and no one is cutting in, and no one is trying to stop them. People then have no issues letting every other car merge in, and everyone is waiting their turn at the merge point. Everything runs smooth as possible.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Old Coot wrote:

How does that work and who is "They"

It was on a federal highway in Illinois, so I don't know if it was IDOT or the feds. It's the only place where I've seen that, but it sure worked well. Cars simply merged one by one. Even trucks. It eliminated that "get in the shorter lane" syndrome, as both lanes were equal. I didn't see anyone trying to but in, because there wasn't any use for it. And if two cars tried to get in, I didn't see it happening.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

AzPicLady wrote:

It was on a federal highway in Illinois, so I don't know if it was IDOT or the feds. It's the only place where I've seen that, but it sure worked well. Cars simply merged one by one. Even trucks. It eliminated that "get in the shorter lane" syndrome, as both lanes were equal. I didn't see anyone trying to but in, because there wasn't any use for it. And if two cars tried to get in, I didn't see it happening.

But there's always a few......

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BigDaddy wrote:

The best is when they put up signs telling people to use 2 lanes until the merge points. This way the line is 1/2 as long and no one is cutting in, and no one is trying to stop them. People then have no issues letting every other car merge in, and everyone is waiting their turn at the merge point. Everything runs smooth as possible.

Yes, I saw those signs yesterday.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The worst thing I saw was on the Mass Pike at night. They were working on the left lane without lights. They had flashlights. One guy was riding on the back of a trailer holding a flashlight pointing at the road - I guess to show cars that he was there. Maybe the work crew was being punished. "No lights for you!" 😁

And that was where the traffic cones for merging weren't lit up. I was in the left lane, and I noticed an 18-wheeler coming closer and closer to me because his lane was blocked off. Crazy!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 wrote:

The worst thing I saw was on the Mass Pike at nigh... (show quote)

One does NOT want to hear an 18-wheeler dynamic braking hard behind you!

JustJill Loc: Iowa

AzPicLady wrote:

It was on a federal highway in Illinois, so I don't know if it was IDOT or the feds. It's the only place where I've seen that, but it sure worked well. Cars simply merged one by one. Even trucks. It eliminated that "get in the shorter lane" syndrome, as both lanes were equal. I didn't see anyone trying to but in, because there wasn't any use for it. And if two cars tried to get in, I didn't see it happening.

Actually that is a good way to do it. It seems to work in drive through lanes at fast food places. If you cut in too soon there, they may try to give you the wrong order.

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

"It's all about ME!"

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

AzPicLady wrote:

I was on a freeway that had a closure, and they used a "zipper" effect on traffic. Worked like a charm! No one got upset because the other lane was barging in and both lanes moved nicely.

But But But that takes common sense!!!