Two Lanes Merging into One
Apr 29, 2024 14:57:55 #
jerryc41 wrote:
You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are mer... (show quote)
IF people didn't tailgate there would be no traffic jam there would be room for a car to move over without disrupting traffic!!
Apr 29, 2024 14:58:25 #
jerryc41 wrote:
You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are mer... (show quote)
The zipper merge is a far superior idea as far as traffic management goes. The trouble with getting over early is that…well…a lot of people are just inconsiderate a-holes and will drive up the now empty lane to the front because they're too special to wait. Zipper merge alleviates this issue…as does blocking them with your RAM 5500HD and 40 foot fifth wheel RV back when we lived in it full time and traveled.
Apr 29, 2024 16:21:19 #
Apr 29, 2024 16:21:58 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
But But But that takes common sense!!!
Something that is not in everybody's toolbox anymore.
Apr 29, 2024 16:25:53 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
IF people didn't tailgate there would be no traffic jam there would be room for a car to move over without disrupting traffic!!
Now there's a concept!
Apr 29, 2024 17:17:30 #
-Back in the 60s, 70s, a concept that was taught in several driving schools was the "Take Gap, Give Gap." This required the willingness of drivers to take turns, so to speak. It is something that was instilled in my driving school that my SO gets a little upset with me. Over the years she saw the actual effects of the method. Another name, of course, is the zipper effect. Unfortunately, this seems to have fallen aside in favor for "I'm going to get in there regardless." The gap I shoot for is behind the vehicle so that I have room to avoid dangerous pacing. Now, the street engineers have not been attuned to the concept, as well as other systems. My pet peeve is the short approach lanes on the Interstates. Even worse are the stop signs on the actual feeder lanes. One has to go 0 to 60 in an eight of a mile to get to matching speed (75MPH) of the Interstate. Not everyone has been to a high speed chase school. (My personal was 140mph+. I lost my target because his equipment was better than mine. But two weeks later, he got wrapped around a tree.)
Apr 29, 2024 17:44:03 #
jerryc41 wrote:
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. ....
I asked a traffic engineer about this situation once. He said people should try to get the lanes as equal as possible and then alternate (i.e., zipper) merge at the spot where one of the lanes discontinues. This avoids a lengthy backup in the continuing lane while the discontinuing lane stays empty for an 8th of a mile. Unfortunately, there's rarely any signage about this, and even where there is, I've still seen people try to butt in right after the car ahead instead of alternating. It does take cooperation, and there's not much of that on the road these days. However, blocking people from trying to equal the lanes and alternate merge is not helpful and just invites road rage.
Apr 29, 2024 18:05:17 #
MFTVGirl wrote:
I asked a traffic engineer about this situation on... (show quote)
Maybe signs?
"Zipper merging moves faster (and is safer)."?
Apr 29, 2024 20:23:49 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
But But But that takes common sense!!!
You're right. And a touch of kindness. Only in midwestern farm country!
Apr 29, 2024 21:01:03 #
scallihan
Loc: Tigard, OR
Sometimes I get these reels on Facebook - drivers th8nking they can push an 18-wheeler around. They are hilarious!
https://youtu.be/EKxoJq3Eafw?si=5x_bZxaT9XdKIeEH
https://youtu.be/EKxoJq3Eafw?si=5x_bZxaT9XdKIeEH
Apr 30, 2024 03:57:43 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
jerryc41 wrote:
You've all seen this situation. Two lanes are mer... (show quote)
Getting into Sandy Hook NRA is like that. Good Samaritans get in the right lane, exit for SH only lane. The others drive up the left & cut in holding everything up in the right lane & if they have a problem getting in which happens a lot, People try to get to or go through Sea Bright, NJ are screwed too. At least there is a way to avoid it by getting over the Highlands Bridge (where the exit only lane begins) by 8 to 8:30 am at the latest. 7-7:30 is even a better choice.
Apr 30, 2024 04:08:30 #
jerryc41 wrote:
That's ideal.
only in a perfect world, most of the time it's a Me Me Me first world.
20 years of driving a 18 wheeler I have seen most a lot of silly things being done on the road.
Apr 30, 2024 04:23:41 #
tcthome wrote:
Getting into Sandy Hook NRA is like that. Good Samaritans get in the right lane, exit for SH only lane. The others drive up the left & cut in holding everything up in the right lane & if they have a problem getting in which happens a lot, People try to get to or go through Sea Bright, NJ are screwed too. At least there is a way to avoid it by getting over the Highlands Bridge (where the exit only lane begins) by 8 to 8:30 am at the latest. 7-7:30 is even a better choice.
This is why at my last job in St.Louis I requested a 4:00 am to Noon shift, it was great my first 3.5 hrs of work were very peaceful and productive after that they were only as hectic as I allowed them to be! Getting off at Noon was nice too very little traffic, and most the ME first a@@holes were still in their whatever's.
When in the merging lane situation I always left ONE car ahead of me If they DIDN'T try to force their way in! believe it or not I-44 went from four lanes to three and down to two in less than 2 miles, talk about a bitch!!
I quit that job and got a better paying job in St.Louis County until I retired 5 years later.
Apr 30, 2024 06:01:05 #
chrissybabe
Loc: New Zealand
The ones who don't know how to 'zipper merge' are the same ones who get up first before the plane has even stopped.
Apr 30, 2024 06:55:50 #
whfowle
Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque
Old Coot wrote:
How does that work and who is "They"
Two stacks of cars on parallel lanes merge like a zipper closing. "they" is the drivers involved. Works very well except for all the greedy drivers who always want to be first and don't care about anyone else.
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