The Daily Populous Monday May 10th, 2021 day edition
Authored by eu.usatoday.com and submitted by sasquatchh

Drivers, you're merging all wrong: Being polite is causing traffic jams, experts say

Show Caption Hide Caption Zipper merge video- How to keep moving When confronted with lane closures and heavy highway traffic, using a zipper merge is the best way to keep traffic moving. Cincinnati.com

Commuting in heavy traffic can be a pain and merging can make it even more stressful – especially when it seems that drivers are playing by different rules.

A lane is closed ahead: Two lanes of vehicles will soon be narrowed to one. Some drivers merge early and get to the correct lane as fast as possible, then wait for traffic to advance. Others don't seem to have a problem zooming ahead and "cutting" in line.

But according to many experts, the driver trying to be polite is probably making traffic worse than the driver who jumped ahead.

William Van Tassel, American Automobile Association Manager of Driver Training Programs, said that AAA recommends using the "zipper" approach to merging.

The zipper method, in which drivers merge late, is based on the idea of a zipper's "teeth." Just as a zipper smoothly comes together, a zipper merge can keep traffic flowing in both lanes by bringing some organization to the merging process, AAA says.

"The zipper merge has shown to keep traffic moving more smoothly, compared to a less structured approach," Van Tassel said.

A zipper merge is recommended because leaving a lane unoccupied as a result of early merging is inefficient. It only makes traffic heavier, proponents say.

Highway patrol pulls over hearse: in Las Vegas high-occupancy vehicle lane. Is the body an occupant?

Cash raining down on Atlanta highway: Stops drivers in their tracks

The Colorado Department of Transportation encourages drivers to use the zipper merge tactic. And it can reduce delays up to 40%, it said.

"We all learned in kindergarten not to cut in line, and there are lots of people who think zipper merging is cutting in line,'' Fort Collins traffic engineer Joe Olson told the Coloradoan. "Zipper merging is for the greater good, but people still don't see it that way.'

Some states' drivers are resistant to the more efficient, but seemingly less polite maneuver. According to Wired, Minnesota launched a media blitz to encourage drivers to zipper merge in 2011, with billboards and more.

Drivers in California have had trouble coming to an agreement on whether late merging is acceptable. In 2017, the Sacramento Bee searched for a tie-breaker on what was appropriate merge etiquette in the state, but a highway patrol spokesperson simply told them that drivers should merge cordially and safely.

No matter what, it's important to remember that merging isn't a race.

"When merging, your goal should be to maximize your smooth 'flow' forward through traffic, not to 'beat' other drivers," said Van Tassel.

Follow Morgan Hines on Twitter: @MorganEmHines.

atomicxblue on May 10th, 2021 at 03:04 UTC »

> "... if everybody takes their turn ..."

Yeah, good luck with that one. People will shank your grandmother to get where they're going 5 seconds quicker.

naturalbornchillr on May 10th, 2021 at 02:24 UTC »

Unfortunately all it takes is one dick to stop a zipper.

amscraylane on May 9th, 2021 at 22:47 UTC »

Except, it only works in areas where people know how to take turns.