More on merging…. The Zipper

I just posted regarding matching the the speed, and not stopping on the ramp or lane you are moving from.

However, we must continue on a similar subject…. The Zipper. Just like the zipper on clothes, we are bringing together two hard objects.
With clothes, its the teeth, and with traffic, its cars and trucks.
See how the zipper almost looks like a road below

Here is what you are supposed to do. You are supposed to match the speed of the lane you are trying to merge into. The vehicles in the lane you are moving into are to make reasonable accommodations to assist your merge.

This means if you are the one merging, should try and match the speed as soon as reasonably possible.  When I say as soon as reasonably possible, keep in mind that:

1. minimizing the difference in speed is the safest.
2. gunning it is not energy efficient — yea this goes out to you that wait to the end to try and match your speed.
3. Start speeding up early; cutting in when you have not matched speed with the traffic in the lane you are moving to is EXTREMELY UNSAFE, and causes everyone else to use extra energy because you didn’t start speeding up early enough. twelve people losing a tenth of a gallon because you wanted to save a couple tenths still loses half a gallon to the oil tycoones, and higher gas prices (so you didn’t save anything).
4. Use the shoulder to overshoot if necessary and safe to do so. Remember this is an emergency procedure. If you have to do this often, you need to start planning better when you need to merge, and possibly get the word out on proper merge etiquette/procedures. Oh and get people to stop doing #5
5. Stop jumping the line. It pisses people off, and ends up hurting us all when people start not letting people in. Plus, pissed off people then piss you off, and both sides end up in a pissing power match that may end up with some sort of road rage.

This concept of merging works well anytime there is a merge. Getting on a highway, lane ends, construction, accidents, evacuations, major events (sports/concerts/etc.)

I have found several links supporting this, however without going past the first page of a google search, most mainly discuss closed lanes due to construction:

• Merge Principles by US. Dept of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration
• Vent of the day: Zipper merge
• The first one: I don’t know everything the zipper merge by Jeff Caylor
  • The only caveat, and critique is that I must add to his post is that you should not jump to the head of the line when you are staying in your lane.
  • Waiting till the last minute does not mean jumping the line.
  • To his issue of 3 cars getting over at the wrong time multiplying to the point that eventually the left lane is empty. I add that this encourages people to jump the line, and piss people off…. leading to road rage, and not let you in when they get up front.
  • Instead, you should pick a car and stay with them. Proper etiquette would then mean that people would actually let you in.
  • Waiting works in a very important way. Cars that are spaced out are less likely to collide, and are able to move faster, and hit there breaks less. In the time you are matching speed with the other lane, drivers in both lanes become familiar with each others driving patterns, position, and building trust thus speeding the merge when it does happen.
• Merging Traffic Lanes: Question by: jgballard
  Brings up the issue of jumping the line, why people do it, and the related frustration.
• Zipper Method Traffic Merging Comprehension Issues By Ed Kohler
  Ed discusses the zipper method, and makes some valid points, yet his frustration with slow people in the left lane is the same frustration that leads to road rage with the people in the right lane. He is right to educate people on the zipper method, yet, the best education method is to show people that respect gains respect. If you drive in the left lane, show the right lane that you respect them, and you will gladly be let in. If done right, the left lane would not be empty. Show the way with the lane full, and thereby the proper way.
• Queue jumping or zipper merge by David Levinson
  Mentions that games such as queue jumping, or not letting cheaters in is not good, and that it is safer to for the two lanes to go approximately the same speed. Mentions:
  
  • Kenny Bellew complains about Late Merging on the highway
  • MnDOT’s current preferred strategy Motorists reminded to use zipper method to merge during single-lane traffic on Highway 61 bridge at Hastings