I hate zipper merging
Posted by Wyprice@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 205 comments
So in my drive this morning I reached a 1 lane part and literally a half mile of the road wasn't being used so since I know how to zipper I used as much of the lane as I could and finally when I merge 3 people flipped me off and 5 total made sure I couldn't merge.
So 1 I already felt like an asshole then 3 people wanted me to feel like an asshole despite doing the technically correct thing. I'd love to hear other thoughts and to teach people to zipper merge
InsanelyAverageFella@reddit
Luckily in my city, most people have some level of tint on their windows so I can barely see them if they are flipping me off. There's a cultural misunderstanding of how zipper merges work in the US and this is what ends up happening.
ABane90@reddit
I think the misunderstanding is WHEN it works, and it's actually a pretty limited set of circumstances where more cars need to fit in a smaller space to prevent traffic on the road being EXITED. Zippering physically cannot make traffic get through a merge faster, and in fact due to human error only makes it take LONGER to get through a merge area. The ONLY benefit is not blocking up the road the mergers are leaving. If you have to hit your breaks or the person in the traveling lane has to hit their breaks then you have just generated traffic. If you match speed with through traffic and merge when convenient then every car approaching the "merge point" continues at speed. So based on human reaction times if through traffic speeds are over 45 miles an hour it is always slower to zipper than early merge, to avoid breaking which IS the traffic.
tonydaracer@reddit
Those people are just ignorant to the process. Nothing you can do about that. Don't feel bad for doing something the right way just because others don't understand, and don't let them change the way you do things either.
I zipper merge in an area that absolutely hates it. On the highway they'll leave a whole mile of lane space just to merge. I won't speed up drastically, but I will maintain a reasonable speed and if that means I pass some cars then so be it. If someone wants to be upset and not let me in, I just let them go ahead without a fight, not a big deal at all.
ABane90@reddit
YYou can't zipper merge by yourself... smh. You're just being a dick.
Buddy-Lov@reddit
My take on it is…if you leave enough space, I’m gonna take it. I got tired of being the bozo who waits thru three turns of the light because people aren’t paying attention.
opaqueism@reddit
Yup, this. I try to make my next move when doing something like this unnoticeable until I’m about to actually do it because you know how people are when you put your blinker on and try to get in front of them, even with 6+ car lengths in-between them and the car in front of them. If I notice they start speeding up, I won’t do it. If I notice that my maneuver will either disrupt the flow of traffic, cut someone off, or just be outlandishly dickish, I won’t do it. But shit, if you leave me a nice wide space, you best be sure as hell I’m taking it.
HawaiianSteak@reddit
youtube.com/watch?v=NWlxv8pPZFg
KalenWolf@reddit
This Is The Way.
Watching out for bad drivers is stressful enough as it is, I don't need to spike my blood pressure fuming about it. Eating a few extra seconds or a minute of lost time in order to not get into an accident and not get into a foul mood is a good trade and I'll take it every time.
I do wish that more DMVs/RMVs would produce some kind of public awareness campaign or something, though - a lot of people still have never even heard the phrase "zipper merge" or have no idea what it is and where it's applicable.
Independent_Bite4682@reddit
Unless it is profitable the government agencies will cry "safety" but will not do anything about it.
espakor@reddit
Zipper merge only works if people keep safe distances from each other and don't be assholes for no fucking reason. And folks on the main lanes and jump off to the merge lanes to try to beat another 2-3 cars just to back shit up once again. Makes me really want to push these fuckers off the road sometimes but I like my job this time.
JoJoTheDogFace@reddit
It is like people do not understand that anytime you hit your brakes in traffic, you are causing everyone behind you to hit their brakes for a longer period of time.
The worst part of all of this is that as far as I can tell the only data used to support the claim that zipper merges work are simulations. Simulations will never be able to prove something is correct as the person that makes the sim will only add what they think is important (and sometimes leave out things that contradict their views).
For a zipper merge to work properly, no one should be hitting their brakes. That means that the live lane and dead lane both must be moving at the same speed and keeping safe distances, not to the car in front of them, but to the car that would be in front of them if they were in the live lane. This is the only was to not need to brake. If you are doing that, you are not moving any faster than if everyone was in one lane.
The killer is brake lag. When the first person in a line of cars hits their brakes, the next person takes a small amount of time to react. During this time, they get closer to the car in front than is safe, so they have to slow more than the care in front of them to remain safe. This then happens for each car in the line. If there are enough cars, this will always result in traffic coming to a stop.
So, while in a perfect world, with everyone acting perfectly, a zipper merge is not less effective than a normal merge, in the real world, the desire to get as far ahead and cut in front of others causes zipper merges to reduce throughput and cause additional traffic backups.
bdougherty@reddit
What you're describing also happens at every merge point created by people merging early. So even with this effect, the single merge point of a zipper merge will be more efficient. Even if it's not the theoretical maximum efficiency.
JoJoTheDogFace@reddit
The zipper merge is only more efficient when people are not involved, so on simulations.
If the two lanes are keeping correct spacing, there are no more cars in a section than would be with an early merge.
Now, if we hand off control to computers that are outside of the individual cars, it will be as efficient as possible. At that point, there will be no difference between the two as the limiting factor is the closed roadway.
As for braking being the same, that is not true. Yes, if a zipper merge kept the same spacing as cars in a single lane, it would be the same. But they do not do this. They jump in when there is a car length. A normal merge does not require this, but a last second merge will nearly always result in braking.
So, no. The zipper merge does not have the same braking that early merges do. They brake more because they are trying to fit into spaces that are too small.
That could be alleviated by people driving in a more cooperative mode. I just do not see that happening in the US with the me me me mind set.
bdougherty@reddit
I'm confused. This sounds like people merging early?
JoJoTheDogFace@reddit
Why would that mean that?
Have you not seen people charge ahead of a line of cars to jump into a space too small for them at the end? This seems to be the norm for people that want to "zipper merge".
CanuckInATruck@reddit
This first line is why zipper merging doesn't work. You can't leave space in front of you without having another car dive into it, usually hitting the brakes while doing so.
Zipper merging is a great theory if everyone is on the same page. Being that only a fraction of drivers understand how and why it works, it just causes more issues.
There's also 2 types of people who zipper merge. 1 is the people who match the speed of the live lane, and merge without causing an interruption. The other is the people who race down a dead lane then cut off the live lane while braking, causing everyone behind them to have to brake or at least slow down, add8ng to the back ups.
Then you get commercial trucks involved, mixed with all the drivers who refuse to respect their size or space needs and refuse to be "stuck" behind them, and it causes more jam ups.
Zipper merging is like c0mmun1sm- it works great on paper but human nature breaks it completely.
Necro_the_Pyro@reddit
Seriously. Everyone I've ever seen who argues in favor of zipper merging always talks about how "if everyone did it it would work perfectly and be much more efficient" while completely ignoring the fact that the people driving cars are people, and so by default everyone is not going to be doing it correctly, and a lot of them are going to be actively sabotaging it regardless of whether you are doing it the way it should be done. It's an especially big problem with zipper merge because it only takes one person fucking it up to cause the next 50 cars to have to stop at the end of the lane and force their way into traffic, causing all of the cars in the other lane to have to slam on their brakes as well. I like the communism analogy, I'm stealing that.
bdougherty@reddit
This same thing also happens when people merge early, creating many merge points, so you might as well lead by example and do it the right way (zipper).
Necro_the_Pyro@reddit
No, if it happens when you try earlier; you still have room to try again before the lane runs out instead of stopping in the middle of the road and making the problem even worse.
AndyJaeven@reddit
I drive a school bus and regularly have other drivers come inches away from hitting me because they try to speed past me at the very last second while I’m merging instead of just letting me in and going around me afterwards. Drives me fucking insane.
I’m at the point where I just force my way into the lane no matter how much they honk or flip me off because otherwise I’ll literally get run off the road by these non-contributors.
CanuckInATruck@reddit
My signal lights are statements, not requests. Took me a bit to learn that, but now it makes things suck a little less.
Apprehensive_Bad6670@reddit
The answer is enforcement. In germany you will be ticketed for not allowing another car to zipped merge. Works beautifully
CanuckInATruck@reddit
Here in Ontario, you get your license for simply paying a fee. I wish we had the testing standards some Europeans have.
And our cops couldn't care less about actual law enforcement.
Apprehensive_Bad6670@reddit
The decline in the GTA has been horrendous. The entire system has been running on good will and honesty, and is rapidly collapsing at the moment
CanuckInATruck@reddit
I'm a niagara based local trucker. I'm all too familiar with the GTA nightmare lol.
purplishfluffyclouds@reddit
Zipper merging works just fine in spite of the assholes. It’s your ability to ignore the assholes that allows it to work.
Intelligent_Mind_685@reddit
An alternate view. Not trying to claim right or wrong. Maybe just a coincidence that so many people already had gotten traffic down to one lane. Maybe a lot of early mergers. Who knows? But in that situation those drivers see themselves as already being in line, in which case they see you as cutting their line.
What you did was a correct zipper merge. I’m not sure why everyone else was already in a single line but because they were already there they see you as “cutting”. I don’t know what I would have done in this situation, myself. I know if I were one of those drivers in the line, I’d have let you in cause I know other drivers are humans, too
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Yeah I know the mentality that causes people to flip me off it's the same mentality that causes me to feel bad for zipper merging but it's a mentality that needs to change
WorkingDogAddict1@reddit
Zipper merging only exists on reddit.
Intelligent_Mind_685@reddit
I’ve been driving for over 20 years and consider myself to be more than a bit of a rule follower. The term zipper merge was something I learned this year here on Reddit. These types of things, as good as they may be, are not good at educating existing drivers
WorkingDogAddict1@reddit
It's worth pointing out that it isn't the law or even in the driving manuals of most states, they just say that the lane that's ending has to yield
omnimon_X@reddit
The best part about those losers is you never have to talk to them. Just follow the rules of the road, especially those that speed up traffic.
WanderingFlumph@reddit
Don't even bother looking to see if they are flipping you off or not. Watch the car, not the driver.
WantedBeen@reddit
I can't even tell when people are flipping me off, until my passenger points it out lol
Educational-Bid-3533@reddit
I just pretend they're waving, and wave back.
Gqsmooth1969@reddit
Respond with a thumbs down. Somehow it hurts more.
Imaginary-Round2422@reddit
Thumbs up is even better.
mschiebold@reddit
This is what I do when I see bad behavior
KrustenStewart@reddit
This is exactly what I do lmfao
mschiebold@reddit
This is what I do when I see bad behavior
tianavitoli@reddit
ya i laugh at them. some dumbass getting on the highway last week figured they could just occupy the space i needed to merge into and i would have to slam on my brakes and get behind them, despite being in front of them.
they were forced to concede and angrily blasted their horn. they got the finger, and much to my delight, the car in front of ME flipped them off as well.
still makes me lol
bothunter@reddit
I had someone do that to me, and someone on a motorcycle chased after them to give them the finger. It was amazing.
opaqueism@reddit
I once honked (and will willingly admit it was a very long, obnoxious honk) at this absolute idiot for stopping in the left lane of a 3-lane roadway in the airport. There was no reason for him to do so, no pedestrians or even a crosswalk, no stoplights, no cars, no debri - nothing. What was he doing? He was balls deep on his fucking phone. I just let that shit rip for damn near a minute until 2 other drivers and someone standing outside of the terminal doors told me to knock it off. Why couldn’t they tell this stupid pea-brained, phone-addicted smartass to get a move on instead? I get, the honking was a little excessive and annoying, but I only continued blaring the horn after seeing he wasn’t even looking up from his phone nor moving even a millimeter.
I also honk as I drive a huge shuttle bus that you cannot see in front of so to just randomly have someone slam the brakes in front of me isn’t a great thing, as no one can see what’s going on and I cannot stop as fast as a sedan, suv, van, etc. I would love to not be slammed into from behind and dealing with an accident for no reason other than someone being stupid and coming to a sudden stop in front of me, while I follow behind leaving proper distance between us, only for the idiot behind me, assuming I was the one going too slow and is tailgating me, to rear-end me.
Kitchen-Somewhere445@reddit
Generally, a car horn should only be used when absolutely necessary to alert other drivers or pedestrians of an immediate danger or potential collision. Not to express anger or frustration or to get someone to hurry up.
stevenip@reddit
I think someone stopped in the middle of a lane of traffic counts as a reason to honk the horn though.
rojo1161@reddit
Exactly. Honk at me when the light is green, but I can't go safely due to a pedestrian or something else you can't see from being behind me and it makes me want to put the car in park and go back and discuss it with you.
TheTightEnd@reddit
I have no issue with using the horn to express a complaint at those who deserve it.
Minimum-Register-644@reddit
Most dipshits breaking road rules are both arrogant and selfish. Willing to risk lives for a trip a few seconds shorter, having to get that extra car length or even just driving on shoulders and footpaths. Absolutely pathetically bad driving yet they seem so proud of it. Hell a guy was harassing me here as I called this type of driving little man behaviour.
Blepikko@reddit
You indeed started yapping but it’s okay because I read It all
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Best advice here tbh
KeyboardJustice@reddit
Absolutely not. Not pissing people off has a tremendous safety advantage that far outweighs traffic efficiency. Fade into obscurity and merge early.
Tractorguy69@reddit
Yet in Germany the zipper merge is the national standard, is executed flawlessly (how to pick out the tourist), and given just how safe and efficient the autobahn is even with the open speed limit sections your answer is patently false and small minded, but let me guess you are the sort of driver who intentionally closes the gap
KeyboardJustice@reddit
Yet in America people brandish when you cut their line. Your answer is foreign to my experience so must be false and small minded, but let me guess you are the sort of driver who doesn't factor the intentions of others into your decisions. I never close a gap if someone is signaling their intentions, or even if I can guess them.
Tractorguy69@reddit
Dude, the problem with America is that you are all so ready to brandish, the lack of congestion on the Autobahn is because of the zipper method. I live in North Anerica and have driven all around the world. , as a continent houses the most egocentric people ever, so individualistic that they cannot comprehend how something that benefits the collective whole will also benefit them. The squabble over merging is what almost always causes the crawl, if you don’t believe me look at how the slow down always occurs before the interchange and improves slightly beyond. Again this relates directly back to globally American psychology being so individualistic (the root of my belief that we are collectively very narrow or small minded).
I was not all angry when I responded and the comment on narrow mindedness relates to the fact that you summarily dismissed the zipper method with such disdain. Having deployed and loved around the world, it’s easy to develop a more global sense of things rather than revert back to the ‘only thing I’ve ever known’. Still not angry in the slightest.
As a driver I very much believe in allowing indicated intent to govern my driving response, I personally will not intentionally close a gap, s even though I may only receive this courtesy less than 50% of the time, I’d rather not perpetuate this childish behaviour, it’s not fucking NASCAR, the prize for being first on public roads is not a date your cousin pass to the Daytona 500.
Side note, the corn brandishing had next to no chance of actually hitting you, factor the inability to satisfactorily compromise between aiming and driving, accounting for any speed differential and then the deflection caused by going through glass with constant curves (angle of incidence causing deflection) this would be a next level feat of marksmanship. If I ever thought that the brandishing was anything more than pathetic posturing I’d laugh and then employ the larger and more effective weapon at my disposal, the two tons of steel, an understanding of driving dynamics and physics.
The point, any problem set that you look at with only one preconceived answer will unlikely ever be solved efficiently or effectively. Actually consider new ideas and ask yourself why they might work and you may be pleasantly surprised by the outcomes. Again we all know that the NA highway system works like a 2” sewer system for the city of LA, perhaps e should be looking at nations who have consistently better outcomes and improving ourselves. The other thing that Germany got so right with the Autobahn was how they manage the prioritization of responding emergency vehicles.
KeyboardJustice@reddit
Well said. If either lane has to come to a stop for any reason, the merge point becomes the slow spot as people start from a stop to merge. Otherwise maybe we're just more prone to rubber necking.
In light to moderate traffic that's flowing really well I see late merges all the time it works fine, there will be gaps. I only really see it be an issue when traffic is fully stopped. People all waiting in line to get through the restriction at 1mph. The lane that is closing is empty for a few hundred feet before the cones. Logically we should use that space to reduce further congestion downstream, but the person who dares take advantage of it will be singling themselves out. Being the change you want to see in the world doesn't really work there as you will only be reinforcing not doing that in everyone's mind as they see you as an asshole.
When traffic is stopped I will not be the one zipping to the front. I will make all possible effort to be in the lane that is not closing early enough to not get stuck with nobody letting me in.
Vegtamskvida@reddit
I like how you're saying people getting pissed off in traffic is dangerous, but blame the people safely driving
KeyboardJustice@reddit
Blame? You're making this into something unrelated. Zipper merging isn't safe driving, it's efficient driving. Just like how having close following distances through a green light so we can get everyone through and the 10th car doesn't have to wait 30 damn seconds to start moving after the light turns... is efficient, not safe. Causing road rage is also not safe.
Vegtamskvida@reddit
If someone zipper merges safely, and someone else gets mad, it's on the person who gets mad. HAVING road rage is not safe
kgxv@reddit
I believe in zipper merging, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that zipper merging is not only the “rule of the road,” it’s not even taught in driver’s ed. The word “zipper” never appears in my state’s driving manual.
NWXSXSW@reddit
I’ve never heard the term before. I was taught that it’s the responsibility of the driver in the merging lane to do the merging, and the drivers in the lane being merged into should maintain a safe speed and keep a safe distance between themselves and other drivers. People trying to read each others’ minds and speed up/slow down to accommodate each other is a recipe for traffic jams in a best case scenario.
fijimermaidsg@reddit
I have do a quick merge to get into the right lane within a short stretch of the highway that we use frequently. Sometimes, we manage this rare zipper merge maneuver... it requires co-operative drivers hence it's rare...
espakor@reddit
Most of the time, the drivers on the main lanes will purposely be 2" behind the car in front of them to prevent a merge
NWXSXSW@reddit
When that happens traffic is already at a crawl and I just force my way in.
kgxv@reddit
That is correct. The law states the lane that ends must yield to the active lane that continues.
quigonskeptic@reddit
My state DOT has done a lot of education on zipper merging, but that primarily only educates social media users.
Z_Clipped@reddit
It's technically called "late merging" by engineers. They just changed the name to "zipper" to avoid people mistaking the word "late" for its negative connotation.
kgxv@reddit
That term also does not appear in my state’s manual lol.
Z_Clipped@reddit
There are a lot of driving skills and situations that aren't mentioned in the manual, so I'm not sure what your point is here.
It appears in supplementary materials in several states that have adopted awareness campaigns, but there are signed zipper merges all over, even in states that haven't, so it's definitely something you should understand and do when its appropriate.
kgxv@reddit
If you read what I’ve said you’ll see I agree with zipper merging. I, as I already clearly stated, was merely pointing out that it is, in fact, not the “rule of the road” or taught in driver’s ed. My point was made in my first comment already lmao.
Z_Clipped@reddit
In some cases it is.
Like here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
And here.
Except it IS in fact taught in many drivers' ed classes and commercial driving schools.
Like this one.this one.
And this one.
And this one.
And this one.
kgxv@reddit
The overwhelming majority of the country does not make it a law, and I clearly pointed out my state specifically.
I would perhaps recommend reading a little closer before misplacing condescension like that.
Z_Clipped@reddit
It's the law wherever you see any of that signage, regardless what state you're in. So yeah, it's the law everywhere, just like stopping at intersections is the law everywhere there are STOP signs.
Imaginary-Round2422@reddit
I come from New England. Nosing in when it’s my turn to merge comes pretty naturally.
a1ien51@reddit
I got in an argument with a friend that said zipper merging does not work and he says he blocks people. I proceeded to tell him that that blocking is WHY it does not work. When enough people block and do not allow a lanes to flow it is the problem. I will never win the argument with him.
I have to zipper 3 times on my commute because lanes end.
AllMoneyGone@reddit
Go to the merge point, signal, merge.
If the first car “doesn’t let you in”, slowly assert yourself in that lane with the front of your car/wheel leading. Each time a car “doesn’t let you in” drives by, you force yourself more and more into that lane. Until you’re taking up a big enough percentage of the lane where the next car coming up either lets you in or hits you on purpose. AFAIK it’s impossible to block someone from merging if they’re using this technique. Unless of course, they want to purposely get into an accident; which instinctively no one wants to do.
Necro_the_Pyro@reddit
Beautiful illustration of why zipper merging doesn't work in real life. Can't believe you're actually arguing that coming to a complete stop and then forcing your way into traffic is better than just getting over a couple hundred feet earlier when you have the chance.
AllMoneyGone@reddit
But it does work, it’s proven, and it’s by design. If they wanted you to merge 500ft early, they would’ve ended the lane 500ft early. Why are we spending so much money building roads to not use them?
The only time I merge early is when there’re no cars and the lanes are flowing at full speed. Besides that, what am I gonna do? Block a completely free lane just to get behind and wait with everyone else who made a “choice”? Meanwhile causing more traffic for everyone behind me? It makes no sense. In fact, I’m much less inclined to let you in if you’re merging early and I’m already in the non-merge lane. However, I’ll always let you in if you’re at the end, like you’re suppose to.
Necro_the_Pyro@reddit
No, it works in theory when everyone follows the rules perfectly. It's like communism; sounds great on paper but goes to hell the moment you add people. The issue is that a single person doing it wrong or being cut off causes a chain-reaction backup that prevents it from working properly until traffic clears enough for the line of cars stopped at the end behind the one person who did it wrong or got cut off to all go; which can easily not happen till rush hour is over. Also, if you're going out of your way to block people trying to merge the usual way, you are part of the problem and a perfect example of the kind of person that causes zipper merge to fail in real life.
AllMoneyGone@reddit
The usual way IS merging at the end, at least that’s how I see it. I’ll leave plenty of room for you to merge if you use the lane to its end. 500ft back? I won’t leave an obvious gap for you to merge in early.
Necro_the_Pyro@reddit
If you're not leaving a gap big enough for someone to merge into, you're following too closely to begin with.
Alpine_Nomad@reddit
It sounds like other people hate zipper merging, not you. Basically, people who hate zipper merges will intentionally sabotage it, making it as inefficient as possible, thus justifying their entitled attitude.
hurtful_pillow@reddit
Same for roundabouts. People insist on using the one on my block as a stop sign, or will just treat it like it is still the way it was before the circle was built. In heavy traffic you essentially have a triple zipper situation, but the cross street will just run 32 cars through as though the other direction still has a stop sign and they conveniently ignore the yield signs.
So in an effort to reduce congestion, they made it worse because stupid people refuse to adapt.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Honestly one of my biggest pet peeves is treating a yield sign as a stop sign
MilodrivintheHiLo@reddit
How else are you supposed to treat it if you don’t have the right of way?
timid_soup@reddit
When yielding, you dont have to stop if there aren't any cars in your way, you can just keep driving.
MilodrivintheHiLo@reddit
Yes I know how they work. OP didn’t specify whether they have the right of way or not. Like my other comment says “at least folks there acknowledge the sign”. In my town yields are suggestions more than anything, not that it’s right but you have to be aware to avoid those that inevitably don’t yield.
vegaskukichyo@reddit
Your other comment is stupid too. You're saying they acknowledge the sign... How? By stopping? Then that's treating it like a stop, not a yield. Weird that you're intent on defending that one point of view which is definitively wrong, especially since it's just semantics.
Tight-Top3597@reddit
It's a yield sign because you don't have the right of way.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Like a yield sign, Car there = don't go, car not there = go, My biggest pet peeve is when people see car not there = don't go.
MilodrivintheHiLo@reddit
At least where you are folks acknowledge the yield sign. Here 99/100 drivers blow through yield signs they might as well save the money and not use them
teajay530@reddit
this is everywhere in america. even in a small roundabout, no traffic to be seen anywhere, people will still come to a complete stop at the roundabout. so infuriating
Rexxmen12@reddit
I had a NEW YORK STATE TROOPER come to a complete stop in the roundabout to let a pickup into it. There was almost no traffic, so it's not like the pickup was waiting, and he'd only just stopped.
vegaskukichyo@reddit
Cops love breaking the rules of the road. They're a huge threat to public safety, ironically.
opaqueism@reddit
And they can be told over and over and over again how to execute a road-about correctly, and I know damn well they see others who actually do it properly, yet, they never actually learn or don’t give a fuck trying to learn. It’s “my way or the highway, if you don’t like it, suck it up. I’m driving how I want so stop being aggressive” even when you’re just trying to drive normally (not even being aggressive whatsoever) and they’re majorly impeding traffic
darklegion30@reddit
A horn is supposed to be used in order to avoid an accident, and frankly if that's what people are doing at roundabouts here then the situation absolutely calls for that. But you can't really explain to those clueless drivers how ignorant and unpredictable what they're doing is from inside your car.
That said, I've never really seen anyone do this inappropriately around me in the US. Usually I see proper yielding to the traffic already in the roundabout if someone is coming to a full stop. Not to say I don't believe you, I absolutely believe this happens. Just...hopefully it doesn't spread everywhere.
WienerBabo@reddit
I understand people who don't want to zipper merge. They're afraid of someone trying to block them at the merge point so they switch lanes early.
But please don't become part of the problem and block people who are trying to zipper properly.
MET90LX@reddit
Well although zipper merging is the courteous way to merge. The proper way to merge is to yield to traffic already on the road. Which means slowing down to get into the open slot might have to let a few cars pass before you merge. Those people not letting you merge. Albeit is rude and frustrating. They’re technically not wrong.
kosashi@reddit
That depends on where you live.
MET90LX@reddit
I tend to forget about the non Americans on Reddit. But I’ve driven all over America and unless it’s a traffic light controlled on ramp. Yielding is the proper way. I’m not saying it’s the best way. But it’s how the law is. I personally try to zipper merge. And I allow people to merge. I used to be one of those ego maniacs. Until o became a school bus driver and spent a lot more time on the road. It’s much easier to let people people over than be a grump and start road rage over something as silly as letting someone over.
Jim_in_Albuquerque@reddit
You can't teach people how to zipper merge. First, you would have to get them to let go of their "me first and I don't care about you" attitude, and that has to be done in early childhood.
Thanks, Mom!
Apprehensive_Bad6670@reddit
I used to be one of those that didnt know about zipper merging (until relatively recently). I always intepreted this as people just trying to cut in line, and behaved the same way. After learning about it, i began mentioning it in conversation. It seems 1% of (Canadian) people know about this, and are still skeptical after hearing my explanation of how its not only correct, but more efficient.
There has to be a major cultural shift on this point, otherwise youre just pissing in the wind. Everyone will hate you for doing this
meanrisefifty@reddit
They put all that pavement there for a reason.
Apprehensive_Bad6670@reddit
Yeah, I really cant explain why Canadians dont know this, but there is a huge stigma and moral riteousnous around the idea. A person that doesnt patiently queue up and "wait their turn" the moment they notice the lane is ending is vilified
JoJoTheDogFace@reddit
"when I merge 3 people flipped me off and 5 total made sure I couldn't merge."
This does not sound like a zipper merge. This sounds like you were passing people. If one side of a zipper moves faster than the other, the zipper breaks.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
When everyone jumps to early merging a mile and a half early yeah of course im going faster and passing people, if i was in the lane that was ending at the same speed as the main lane I kinda defeat the purpose of the zipper.
meanrisefifty@reddit
You need to match speeds before the zipper.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
And there should've been people in my lane to make the zipper work but people don't know how to zipper. It makes no sense to sit in the other lane going 3 miles an hour so that people's feelings don't get hurt
Independent_Bite4682@reddit
There is zipper merging (which I assist when I am in the established lane) then there is cutting where someone goes down the shoulder or squeezes to be a second/third/fourth car when I am adjusting for one.
meanrisefifty@reddit
When I get close to where the zipper starts I will match the speed of the car next to me and put a signal on so its clear im not just trying to shove my way in at the minute, but rather smoothly merge into the flow of traffic. Then I use the whole lane until it ends.
EffectiveSalamander@reddit
I see a lot of drivers who still are trying to pass cars well past the point when they should have already merged - it's down to one lane, time to merge.
Independent_Bite4682@reddit
I have them going down the shoulder forcing their way in.
opaqueism@reddit
I honestly don’t get why people can’t just let one merging car in per one car in the right of way lane. It would make shit much faster, more efficient, would be less likely to cause an accident, reduce the amount of people hitting or slamming on their brakes and causing a chain of braking behind them when it was never needed to begin with, etc. It honestly just makes so much sense when you watch it being executed flawlessly…
Oh wait, I forget people lack common sense, don’t use their eyeballs, don’t learn how they should be doing things either by example, by being taught or by watching the world in working order. Most drivers don’t know how to co-exist with others on the road, drive accordingly in whatever situation it may be (traffic, weather, debri, road closure/lane ending, merge lanes, random pedestrians crossing where they shouldn’t, driving the speed limit), cannot seem to look past just the car that’s ahead of them, cannot seem to be fully aware of anything except what’s in front of them, cannot seem to adjust the vehicle’s speed/position based on what’s going on around them, don’t know how to stop or pull over to the side for emergency vehicle to pass, etc.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
True, no going into the shoulder from me, just trying to get to class on time for a quiz
Independent_Bite4682@reddit
I drive box truck and have almost been in a few collisions where I have passed the zipper merge only to not see a last minute asshole come down the shoulder and almost aim for the right front corner of the truck.
cfbswami@reddit
Here is the rule:
If traffic is moving - at all - you (of course) just keep moving, merge with traffic - why would you not use an available lane? In addition it's much safer.
If traffic is stopped - nobody is going anywhere - it's probably rude to fly to the end, and muscle your way over. Blinker on / wait for someone to let you in.
People create safety hazards - and impede the flow of traffic by hitting their brakes - going that 90 degree merge - ignoring about a quarter mile of open lane. Really dumb.
cearno@reddit
Have to agree. I'm kind of surprised by the responses here.
Zipper merging is 100% more efficient, but if everyone is already merged and you are the one guy flying to the end... Well, that just lacks situational awareness. A zipper can't be done with one car into a tight lane of hundreds of cars stacked.
Moreover, I see functional traffic zippers all the time. It's strange that OP was the only one in that lane. If he had time to see this many people flip him off, I'm guessing he was trying to merge into a traffic jam for an exit, which is ultimately more disruptive than waiting due to the latency it takes to determine someone is waiting for you, adding to the line lag. Yikes lmao.
purplishfluffyclouds@reddit
No one needs to “fly” to the end, lol. You use the lane until it ends. It’s not that complicated. If it’s empty, it’s because 25 other people are idiots who don’t understand how to do it. That doesn’t suddenly invalids the empty lane or zipper merging.
Just follow the rules and ignore the idiots. If one of the idiots doesn’t let you over, you wait for a normal person who will. It all works out in the end.
cearno@reddit
There are situations when zipper merging does not apply - ex. an exit from an interstate, especially if it's jammed - People in the middle lane are not entitled to use “zipper merge” to cut the 2 mile line for the exit. Unfortunately, we don't have enough context and it is that complicated. So yeah, it is suspicious.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
After went i noticed a small line of cars following me to continue the zipper, but I doubt it lasted before they got bullied back into the line with everyone else
purplishfluffyclouds@reddit
It doesn’t matter. Just keep doing what you know is right to do and carry on with your life. You have to ignore the idiots.
itsnotmyid4@reddit
I wish that whenever possible, they would set up the area where you would zipper merge with a lighted sign and arrow to Zipper Merge Here. Just relying on people to do it is not working.
Hot_Cup_7499@reddit
I know you're not supposed to but I don't really care anymore, when I know a merge is coming I just get over to the left before the merge even happens, I'm not fucking with that. People do not know how to merge especially with all the tailgating that's rampant in this country.
AvocadoIndependent53@reddit
Fuck their ignorance 🤘🏼😎
lituga@reddit
I think half of America would lose their minds if explained to how a zipper merge is actually supposed to work
Look_b4_jumping@reddit
I think people do understand how it works. There is a perception that the people that refuse to merge until they drive past everyone that has already merged are cutting in line. Which is exactly what is happening.
lituga@reddit
zipper merge means you stay in your lane and provide enough space so you can merge at or near to the closing point
A lot of people just enter one lane super early and sit there, then block out the people actually trying to do the ZIPPER from the other side. Basically making it a one lane road.
We're not talking about where a lane is closing and they race ahead to jump in.
snarkle_and_shine@reddit
What’s interesting is that most people seem to know how to zipper merge when using on/off ramps. But when it comes to construction zones or other merge point, they act stupid.
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
F**k those a**holes. You're doing it right. Zipper merge is the right way. It's better for everybody.
grumpy_tired_bean@reddit
this isn't tiktok, you can say Fuck and Asshole
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
Even eliding them, it apparently hurt some feelings, judging by the downvotes.
Jodid0@reddit
I think most people understand the concept of a zipper merge but are such shitty drivers that they can't execute in practice. On paper it's simple and effective. But in reality, in the USA, zipper merges just end up being inefficient and cause secondary traffic jams.
Many drivers that sit in the overcrowded lane just freeze up when someone tries to zipper merge, and either they block the merging car or they abruptly stop and take a while to get going again. On the other side, I see alot of people trying to zip in at the end of the lane and they hesitate and don't take the opportunity to merge when there is space. I also see alot of people simply driving all the way to the end of the lane before they even look for openings, which is really really dumb. Then they either freeze up and come to a complete stop or they merge directly on top of other people trying to force themselves into space that doesn't exist and putting everyone else at risk of an accident. They seem like they're always trying to get one car length ahead despite the lane already ending and there not being any space. Before you reach the end of the lane, you should have already identified the hole you're going to merge into. Just blindly assuming that everyone will open up a hole for you is dumb.
The reality is that it takes two to tango. Forcing a zipper merge and playing chicken with other vehicles is just arrogant and stupid. I use the other lane but I dont expect anything from other drivers, in fact I expect the worse and plan accordingly. It's nice when other drivers are aware and courteous, they are supposed to know how to zipper merge, but you know what they say about making assumptions.
ForgottenCaveRaider@reddit
Merge into the lane you're supposed to merge into before it ends. Such a simple concept.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Use the full road to most efficiently get everyone through faster and move on. Such a simple concept.
ForgottenCaveRaider@reddit
If your lane ends, then you are responsible to merge into the lane that continues. At least, that's how it is where I'm from.
Your opinion is different than a rule. If everyone followed the rules and didn't try to make them up for themselves, there would be no confusion. Seems like this is a casa of "everyone but me is the problem".
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
This is a very solid case of "norms change and people resist change" but fine ill wait and extra 15 minutes because we have to be nice and can't cut in front of a line like we're in Kindergarten
ForgottenCaveRaider@reddit
I'm not sure where you're getting that conclusion from. You can't even support your argument at this point.
The worst is when people slowly drift into the lane that they're merging into, without even signaling or looking because they believe that everyone needs to yield to them. Do you find yourself doing this, or do you merge in following a correct procedure? (Look, signal, look again, verify it's clear, then move over)
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Do you cut people off who are merging into your lane because "that's my spot"
I'm getting that conclusion by the fact you think I think the world revolves around me, it doesn't, however I know how to zipper merge, I know when to zipper merge I know how to merge and I'd rather not waste 15 minutes because other people don't.
ForgottenCaveRaider@reddit
To answer your question, no. I merge in before the terminating lane ends, when there's an appropriate spot to do so.
Sounds like you live in an overpopulated place with overly egotistical drivers and heavy traffic. I'm glad I'm out in the glorious mountains!
Swagman69Dank420@reddit
Yeah people with his cunty mentality are unusually from scum cities. Try skipping the line in Houston and be humbled real quick. Or most likely just shot.
Kbern4444@reddit
Welcome to Mad Max Driving 101.
No one understands stands it let alone is courteous enough to let their minuscule brains allow it sadly. Don’t let it stop you from being a better person.
As long as you’re not one of those people who are a proponent of zipper merge, but also are the same person who blocks off other people doing it. There are many of those hypocrites also.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
I just keep going forward and merge with the cones as they start to close off the lane i'm in. The people in the other lane will move once they realize I'm not yielding for them. Life gets alot easier when you don't care if your car gets a little cosmetic damage here and there
AWholeBunchaFun@reddit
So wait, your lane ends and you just force your way into the other lane?
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
It's a zipper merge. You take turns. When it's my turn, I go. If someone doesn't want to let me take my turn, we'll that's thoer problem
AWholeBunchaFun@reddit
Taking turns is how its supposed to work.. but if you just drive into the side of someone it suddenly becomes very much your problem.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
Not really, cause I don't care if my car gets a few dings here and there. It will do much more damage to thier car anyway and they deserve it if they didn't move. But so far no one has tested me like that. They see I'm not backing down and they yield to me. Most reasonable people when they see a car like this, they get the hell out of the way cause they know it will destroy their car in an accident. It'd be like trying to play chicken with a snow plow, you're fucking retarded if you think you're gonna come out of that on top
Dersemonia@reddit
There is two merging junction that I have to take every time I drive to work and I hate them: if I slow down to let the car beside me in the merging lane merge, it brake, but the day I chose to speed up to let it merge behind me, is the day i find the only car that speed up as well.
imothers@reddit
Just curious, where was this?
Around me in Western Canada, people generally go about 2/3 the way down the lane that ends before merging. They could go further, but don't for what ever reason. If the through lane is stop and go (more stop that go) I usually pull up to within about three to five car lengths of the end of the lane that has to merge, pick a spot and merge. It goes smoothly enough, no honking or middle fingers. If the merging lane and the through lane are both stop and go, then the zipper rule generally works, once I make it clear with the indicator and car position (I move to the left edge of the lane I am moving out of, for example) where I am going.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
And i was about 2 car lengths away from the end... so yeah... middle school behavior
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Outside boulder colorado
Woodythdog@reddit
Zipper merge gets a bad rap because of all the assholes who move from the active lanes into the merge lanes just so they can pass twenty cars and then zipper back into the lane they were originally in.
I’m not saying OP did this just that this behaviour is responsible for a lot of the animosity towards zipper merge
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Yeah no stayed in my lane and it just ended and I was like "Oh okay zipper merging time" and people were really upset
SunSpotMagic@reddit
So you saw an entire lines of cars, skipped your chance to get into line and instead went alllllll the way to the front to try and force your way into line at the very last moment? Ya, they had a reason to be irritated. Waiting until the last possible moment to merge and get in line is selfish and a dick move. You can zipper merge well before the end of the line.
purplishfluffyclouds@reddit
Sorry, Bud. You’re the one who needs to go back to driver’s ed.
AWholeBunchaFun@reddit
Thats not at all how zipper merging is done. You are supposed to use all of the available space in both lanes until the merge point. Don't just cram into one single lane as early as possible.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
I could merge before the line the entire point of a zipper merge however is right before the end of the line so you're technically the one who doesn't understand how to zipper merge
Alert-Industry6217@reddit
I never understand when people line up for miles when there is an perfectly good lane available. I have even seen that happen a few times and there was literally nothing in the right lane. It just looked like there was a wreck a while ago and people were still jamming up the left lane.
purplishfluffyclouds@reddit
It’s just stupidity. These are likely the same people who stop a full car length behind the line at a light for no reason.
BlatantDisregard42@reddit
Zipper merge is only really helpful if traffic is heavily congested. If everyone has room to safely merge well before the lane ends, traffic will usually keep moving without stopping. That is, as long as some asshole doesn’t decide their way is better and force an unsafe merge at the very end of the lane where traffic is moving the slowest and cars are closer together. That’s the kind of maneuver that forces the whole lane of traffic to a stop just to accommodate your zipper fetish.
Pristine_Paper_9095@reddit
Yeah this is why zipper merging doesn’t work in practice. It’s beautiful on paper, but it takes exactly ONE person to turn it into a traffic disaster (not you). The problem with it is that it can handle nearly zero variability in input to produce a consistent output. Unfortunately, due to human nature, the variability in a given “input” is not predictable.
I get the people who incessantly argue to always zipper, but I think they’re out of touch with reality a little bit.
As an actuary, I’m very used to things that seem great in theory not panning out in reality due to non-quantifiable or unknown variables. This is just another example of that.
opaqueism@reddit
Yep. This is spot on.
I drive for work, respect the hell out of it, and follow all rules of the road and traffic laws, when applicable. However, there will be some instances (in this cause the zipper merging situation) where people are majorly fucking it up, either obliviously or intentionally not allowing there to be a gap for people to merge as their lane is ending, slam on their brakes or speed up randomly as fuck, majorly disrupting the flow of traffic, etc. and it’ll cause you to have to break a rule or law to get away or around their stupid ass. That’s the only time I’ll ever do it, or find it acceptable when others do it.
I wish one of our non-quantifiable or unknown variables wasn’t people not understanding even the most basic, simplest shit about driving a motorized vehicle. Like, truly the shit I see on a daily basis, whether at work or in my personal car, is shit that I saw other kids do, including stupid shit I did, when I went to drivers ed for my permit at 15 years old. I’m talking grown ass men and women, some of which I know have been driving for well over 20-30+ years and drive as if they don’t have a lick of experience, common sense, eyeballs, a brain, situational awareness, spacial awareness, or basic understanding of driving (or truly anything at all, it seems). I’m sure I’m missing quite a lot of things here.
Then you’ve also got the oblivious drivers, the timid ones who freak out when someone makes a right on red into their lane a football field away from them, the ones who have tunnel vision and have 0 fucking clue what’s going on around them, the blind ones who aren’t actually blind but don’t use their god-given eyeballs because fuck me, how did you miss a semi-truck that’s coming head-on towards you and just turn dead in front of it? Blind (or completely idiotic) stupid fucks man, I’m telling you. You’ve also got the completely entitled, main character, everyone get the fuck out of my way I own this fucking road, angry, enraged, road raging lunatics who have such small egos that the teensiest, smallest little beep beep when they’ve very clearly ran a red light or stop sign and almost slammed into the car who’s beeping at them, sends them fucking spiraling. Veins popping out the fucking forehead, trying to run you off the road/hit your vehicle/fight you/kill you/etc. straight raging at you for them doing what they shouldn’t be doing or breaking traffic laws and almost crashing into you. I hate having to co-exist with small-brained, can’t be assed to realize and/or acknowledge and apologize for being in the wrong, can’t just accept they did some stupid shit/almost caused an accident where they’d be at fault, raging, entitled, selfish, oblivious, non-considerate, doesn’t know how to coexist with others, vile, nasty fucks.
Logans_Runt_Owl@reddit
They should turn this comment into a national Public Service Announcement.
liquid_acid-OG@reddit
This is my take as well.
I think of we had stricter licensing it could be achieved.
Tight-Top3597@reddit
Don't feel like an asshole, you did everything right, those people are dolts for not understanding that it isn't the middle school lunch line you don't need to get in line and wait your turn, use both lanes up to the merge point.
trizkit995@reddit
You hate it because your entitled.
JoeeyMKT@reddit
Whether people zipper merge or not doesn't really matter in practice, it almost never improves the efficiency/throughput of a road, but it also doesn't really hurt it either.
The throughput of the entire road is constrained by the throughput of the single lane after the merge, so that is what we should be aiming to optimize. Typically, there are other factors that constrain the throughput more than the merge type, such a trucks or tractor trailers travelling slowly in the single lane section, or narrow lanes/road conditions in that single lane. People can merge into the single lane using just about any method at a faster rate than the lane itself can push vehicles through it, thus the type of merge doesn't really matter.
That said, the single benefit of zipper merging is for traffic that wants to exit the road before the merge point. If vehicles utilize both lanes before the merge, the physical length of the backup will be half as long, which means those wanting to exit before the merge may not have to sit in (as much) traffic to reach their exit.
But if you have to drive through the merge, it doesn't really matter if the situation is set up as an early merge or a zipper merge, you're gonna be waiting pretty much the same amount of time. So if most people are merging early go ahead and go all the way up to the merge point in the open lane, you might save yourself some time there. And you're not doing anything wrong.
fuzzy-lint@reddit
If there’s a gap, take it. If you’re cruising past miles of backup to shove in then I’m inclined to say you’re clearly the asshole. Merging is finding a spot and putting yourself in it, if there’s no spot then you’re just shoving your way in.
Lazy_Assistance6865@reddit
Sounds like a typical day driving around seattle. Zipper merging is like a social crime here and I don't know why!!
wtfisthepoint@reddit
I love zipping past dummies
BriscoCountyJR23@reddit
I love zipper merging when speeds are slowing down, it works as intended.
Where it sucks is when traffic is light and is moving at normal speeds and then some idiot merges at the last second and has to brake to slow down which causes a chain reaction of all cars braking.
CafeTeo@reddit
Imagine if you are at the store and everyone decides they must all use the same cashier even though there are 2 or 3.
That's what NOT zipper merging is.
People are just so used to doing the same thing.
Give it time. I am seeing more and more merges around the country getting closer to doing it right. And some that come close to zippering.
We will get there.
FoxtrotSierraTango@reddit
It's more like you have 2 checkout lanes. There's a sign that says lane 2 is closing, please use lane 1. The lane 2 cashier is sitting there happily processing transactions, but people who follow the signage just wait for lane 1.
That's what zipper merging is - The sign says "Lane ends merge left", not "Lane ends in 1000 feet, merge then". It's literally the only sign on the freeway that you have to not follow to behave the way the highway engineer wants you to.
Potential_Fishing942@reddit
Zippering is meant for sitting or slowed traffic (which it sounds like what you experienced).
In free flowing/ fast traffic, you should get over when possible to avoid people breaking when you merge. There is a reason they often start putting up lane ends signs like 2 miles in advance- if folks merge with our breaking as much as possible you won't get jammed as much.
AiminJay@reddit
I’ve been saying this forever. Got into an argument with a friend when he flew through the merge lane to the end and had to force his way in which meant drivers in free-flowing through lane had to slow down for him to get in. I was like dude you should have merged back there when there was plenty of room and traffic is moving! He just just wanted to cut to the front of the line.
Interesting-Yak6962@reddit
It’s better to just stop both lanes and put green and red lights opposite of each other so that it alternates between left and right and left and right lanes that ensures that they file up properly in a zipper.
followyourvalues@reddit
Man. I clicked thinking the title read, "I have a zipper meeting."
I really wanted to know about your zipper meeting.
Sigh.
Legal-Law9214@reddit
A zipper merge really mostly applies in dense, steady traffic. If there was no one behind you and a better gap before your lane ran out you could have merged earlier.
Dachannien@reddit
It's something of a prisoner's dilemma. People don't necessarily hate the idea of the zipper merge. They hate the fact that you passed a dozen people while using the lane that was ending.
If everyone used both lanes up to the merge point and then zipper merged, then you wouldn't be able to do that, because both lanes would be full and moving together. Everyone in the other lane would be happy because you would have to wait your turn.
On the other hand, people don't zipper merge because they don't trust the people in the continuing lane to actually zip the zipper.
Dr_Llamacita@reddit
I feel you. There’s a part of my everyday journey to work that I hate for this exact reason. Basically I turn left onto a street that leads to an entrance to a local expressway. The stretch of road between where I turn left and the entrance consists of 4 blocks, all 4 of which have an intersection with a traffic light. The traffic lights are not synced, so if you miss one you miss them all and it’s very annoying.
Anyway, this stretch of road is all 2 lanes Unity right before the expressway entrance, right after the final traffic light interaction, where it turns into one lane. I shit you not, every time there’s any degree of moderate traffic, I’ll miss the left turn signal initially because nearly everybody who knows the area will line up in the left lane right away, literally 4 traffic lights away from where the right lane ends. Just sitting there in a long line instead of utilizing the right lane until they get closer to the expressway entrance. It’s so ridiculous that every time, I’ll get in the right lane and soar past all of them. Saves me minutes of time sitting in red lights, but I can’t help but saying “fucking idiots” out loud to myself as I cruise past all of the whole they’re crawling behind a school bus just because they don’t know how to zipper merge. Sometimes I get attitude from those drivers lined up in the left lane, but I don’t care because they’re dumb as fuck for thinking they need to do that. lol dumbasses
Scav-STALKER@reddit
It may be unpopular here, but I hate zipper merging with a passion. More often than not if people started merging back when the “lane closed ahead” signs started there wouldn’t even be a delay in traffic in my area considering its not super dense traffic
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
Not on this road that had a traffic light on a divided highway... I honestly kinda hate the road, it's trying to be a highway but with lights because they don't have the money to make it into an actual highway.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
Your requirement is to properly merge into the lane you need to be and it’s your responsibility to do so safely.
Those already in the lane have no requirement to stop for you.
I find it best to merge early and just bide my time.
Wyprice@reddit (OP)
True but merging early and biding my time goes against the zipper merge I've been taught to start doing
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
The zipper only works if everyone is doing it….unfortunately it doesn’t happen that way.
Jeffryyyy@reddit
Just keep at it, people will slowly learn over the tests to do the same
Mammoth_Pack_6442@reddit
All those others are chumps for filing into the non closing lane early. Don't worry about how they feel. You did the right thing and made traffic move faster whether you know it or not. There needs to be some PSAs made for things like this. People are totally clueless about simple concepts like, zipper merge, keeping right except to pass, not running red lights, using blinkers, the list goes on and on. Don't feel bad. Those middle fingers are telling your you're number one.
HawaiianSteak@reddit
They're the asshole, not you.
Orionsbelt1957@reddit
So, here's the thing, no matter how much people will state that they unequivocally know how zipper lanes work, the fact is that there is no legal description of how these are supposed to work. So, given this, everyone thinks they are right. In fact what they are giving is an opinion. Zipper lanes were developed by the same highway planners as a remedy to fix the mess they created on the first place. That's all you need to know other than it's a free for all out there.
Constant_Kale8802@reddit
No. Respect the zipper. You were in the right here.
Ivy1974@reddit
I don’t get the big deal. Leave room in front of you. Seriously!
iAMtheMASTER808@reddit
I disagree about teaching people to zipper merge. Then it would take longer to get through for those of us who know. Take advantage of peoples stupidity
jason200911@reddit
it's my favorite part of driving. much better than 4 way stops.
Sense of cooperation without needed government assistance to tell everyone what to do.
#economic liberalism #TeddyRosevelt #libertarian
Fine-Association8468@reddit
People that mess up the zipper merge are trash. I never understood why they want to make things more difficult haha
windowschick@reddit
I'm in the Midwest. Milwaukee suburb specifically. People have been shot for attempting to zipper merge. People really, really, hate when other people try to zipper. They view them as uppity and not waiting their turn (not me. I was taught how to drive by an angry German anarchist. He had....interesting views.). True "Midwest nice" in action.
Fokazz@reddit
Sounds like you don't hate zipper merging ... You hate people who don't know how to zipper merge
dutchman76@reddit
Those people are so annoying, I regularly run into passive aggressive idiots trying to block me from merging where we're supposed to, for some reason it happens more near the capitol city of my state.
WanderingFlumph@reddit
People who are against the zipper merge are crazy well entrained in their ways. My partner was with me while we got caught in traffic caused by a zipper merge upstream that we weren't going to go through and had to wait an extra cycle to make our light.
Even as I pointed out how we're at that moment the people slowed down by others' refusal to zipper merge she held that they were in the right and morally superior for getting over early and fucking up traffic for everyone else.
Tall-Poem-6808@reddit
When I love the most in this case is when 1 asshole tries to block the free lane while you still have a 1/4 mile to go. I usually just go around them on the shoulder, with a little wave, and keep going.
Most people hate zipper merge because they've never actually seen it done right. It's like people who don't like veggies because all they ever had as a kid were overcooked, saggy broccoli.
Wonderful-Status-247@reddit
Always thought it would be funny to jump into the spot they just vacated by swerving out to block you. Not usually possible, but if they came out far enough then just maybe ...
Away_Week576@reddit
Where I live in OK, there is such a strong “first come first served” mentality that people will actually pull onto the center line to make zipper merging impossible. They were there first, and they don’t care if you take an extra 45 mins getting home to preserve their rightful place in line.
Away_Week576@reddit
Where I live in OK, there is such a strong “first come first served” mentality that people will actually pull onto the center line to make zipper merging impossible. They were there first, and they don’t care if you take an extra 45 mins getting home to preserve their rightful place in line.
Equivalent-Ad-6182@reddit
Sometimes it works ok and other times not so much. When I lived in Philly and spent a lot of time driving in NY and NJ, zippering worked really well. Other times when traffic was heavy, if you shot up the lane that ended you could lose your life trying to cut the line. When a large percentage of people can't even merge properly getting on/off the highway, zippering is an abstract concept.
Money-Towel-3965@reddit
People are just fucking ignorant and haven't the slightest clue what's going on outside of their own commute. That's why our traffic is so bad, self righteousness and stubborn oblivious people who just can't fathom efficiently getting the fuck out of the way and letting people drive. I don't give a damn how fast you're going, if it's faster than I feel like going then I'm getting out of your way. Simple common sense
KrevinHLocke@reddit
In another scenario. I was zipper merging. I let the car on the right go ahead, and the car behind it floored it, tailgating him. Then the 2 cars behind him tailgated him. So instead of 1 L 1R 1L 1R, etc... it was 1 right, three more right. I slammed on my brakes so I wouldn't hit them, causing the people behind me to slam on their brakes.
Just because the jackasses passing on the right didn't know how to zipper merge.
KrevinHLocke@reddit
In another scenario. I was zipper merging. I let the car on the right go ahead, and the car behind it floored it, tailgating him. Then the 2 cars behind him tailgated him. So instead of 1 L 1R 1L 1R, etc... it was 1 right, three more right. I slammed on my brakes so I wouldn't hit them, causing the people behind me to slam on their brakes.
Just because the jackasses passing on the right didn't know how to zipper merge.
Sklibba@reddit
They are the assholes in this situation, not you. I wouldn’t feel bad if I stopped at a 4 way stop sign and went when it was my turn and then got flipped off by someone trying to do a rolling stop. While no, zipper merging isn’t required, it is recommended by virtually every department of transportation because it very clearly improves traffic flow, whereas people all trying to merge way ahead of the end of a lane causes traffic jams. People who are against it are stubbornly insisting on looking at traffic like it’s the lunch line at school.