Why do left lane drivers block the right lane before a merge?

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

Because if you merged in turn, when told the Lane was closed, everything would move so much smoother. By having to actually stop the traffic to get into the correct lane when you’ve run out of lane you are STOPPING THE TRAFFIC rather keeping the flow going a mile or so out from the lane closure. It’s shocking so many people on here don’t under that.

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

The RAC seem to disagree with you, I get it might feel like the right thing to do and we British love a queue but it’s incorrect in this case. https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/zip-merging/

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

And the Highway Code differs. It just common sense that if you don’t leave it until the last minute traffic will flow rather than stop. The only thing stopping the traffic is cars pushing in when they’ve run out of road. What needs to happen is everyone merging into the two remaining lanes over that mile you’ve been give notice off, then it doesn’t stop.

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

It might feel like common sense but it’s not correct, if we use the two lanes and merge we all move faster rather than sit in one long queue. The linked article opines that as well as others on this thread. Take today as an example, no one had to stop for me (or the van behind me) so we didn’t cause any disruption of slow anyone down. It’s frustrating that we all meant to suffer due to people not wanting to think it through and change their opinions.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

What happens when everyone does it though? Merge into the open lanes, over that mile or so, and everyone keeps moving. If it’s down to a fight when the bollards are there it’s carnage. What causes the queue?

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Cars can fill both lanes in parallel up to the merge rather than sit in one long queue and we let one in at a time with no one stopping, if we do that no one gets an advantage and it removes any advantage of being in the lane that’s closing, I know it is hard to get heads round but that’s faster for all, 2 lanes good, 1 lane bad.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

I agree. The ideal way is for that to happen over a mile or more rather than when you hit the bollards and traffic has to stop to let you in.

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

But it’s not, the point is to use the length of the road, if we all merge over the mile you end up with gaps and people merging at different points. This causing stop starts to the flow as well as the opportunity for some to feel like merging drivers are taking advantage and merging late.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

So how does merging at the last minute speed things up when it brings things to a standstill?

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

It doesn’t bring it to a standstill, we are all moving at roughly the same speed and just slow slightly to let people in, other counties do it, it’s inevitable that there will be disruption at some stage as it’s roadworks. This way though it’s kept to its minimum as it’s consistent and fair for all.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

We do, but we do over the mile rather than the last ten meters. Do it over a mile and it works fine, fifty cars stood behind bollards at the last minute and the traffic stops in both lanes. Can you not see it’s easier to merge traffic over a mile rather than a few feet?

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

No, we are not living in a world where everyone will do that in a way that everyone likes, you’ll always have people go to the end and other people get grumpy about it as well as all the random slowing to allow cars in at various points. You’ll be faced with letting more than one car in if it’s over a mile of merging. If we all just agree to merge in the same place (the actual merge) then we all move at the same consistent pace with no grumpiness.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

You are missing the point. Is it easier and quicker to merge a thousand cars over a mile or a thousand cars over fifty feet?

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

I know you think it is but it isn’t in real life with real people all behaving differently.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

Well it wouldn’t be if people didn’t hammer it down the outside lane rather than merge in turn over the mile, which was your original point. Basically we are where we are and there will be people that cause the congestion to save themselves a couple of minutes and those that do the right thing and keep the traffic moving as much as possible. Frankly I’m never in that much of rush so I’ll let you in whenever you want to.

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree here :) no matter where you merge it causes disruption and the queue to slow down, currently I use the whole lane which moves me on with my day while causing no more disruption than joining a mile earlier. More often than not no disruption at all as there are normally big gaps at the front to slip into without slowing anyone down. I honestly appreciate the replies though as interesting to hear the logic even if I think it’s faulty! I’m sure as well you wouldn’t agree with people pulling out to slow people passing which was my original question.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

Oh yes, I absolutely wouldn’t condone moving out to stop people passing. And yes, thank you for a polite and civilised exchange of views which is unusual on Reddit!! Have a great rest of the weekend 😀

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Same to you!

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pinkappleflower@reddit

This has got to be my biggest annoyance with driving! I have missed some junctions that have in turn added a lot of time to my car journeys because of this. I think some people just like going mad on the power.

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Sallytraffic101@reddit

How the hell did you miss a junction, didn’t you know where the inside lane was?

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Opening_Line_5802@reddit

If they are swerving out they should just go to the front of the queue...

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

They’d rather just try to stop others and try and force them to join the queue of the misplaced miserable

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G60JET@reddit

It’s actually punishable under some driving offence. There was some footage that when viral of a guy blocking lane 3 on a motorway doing this and he got charged. Dash cam footage can be submitted via the internet in many countries.

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ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Today would definitely be punishable, was crazy to think what the consequences could have been.

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Quick-Minute8416@reddit

Because people are idiots. The problem is they think anyone going down the right lane is cheating and pushing in, whereas in reality you’re the one who is completely correct- the Highway Code says that all available lanes should be used up to the point of merger. They’re just bellends who like to pretend that they’re traffic cops after watching too many Channel 5 cop shows.

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Ethermoralis@reddit

The problem is this - where is the point of merger ? It can’t be exactly where the cones are because that would actually cause more problems with a a stop start effect. If the point of merger is further back then cars can pace things to gradually form an opening which people can glide in to without anyone having to come to a full stop. Maybe traffic management regs and highways codes need to be updated to indicate a merge point where shooting past more than 3 cars is prohibited.

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VolcanicBear@reddit

Maybe people could learn to merge.

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Quick-Minute8416@reddit

The merge point is usually very well signed - you get countdown signs from at least 500 yards before hand. When you get past the 100 yards sign, and the cones start to close off the affected carriageway, that’s when you merge. It really isn’t that difficult.

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Coast-Prestigious@reddit

People feel like if they queued then you have to too. Never mind that you’re supposed to use both lanes until the merge happens and then do the “zip”. I swear 50% of traffic problems are just caused by people not understanding basic Highway Code / common sense rules.

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dollarfrom15c@reddit

They think you're pushing in. You're not of course - if everyone used both lanes up to the merge in point then traffic would move a lot faster - but some people don't think logically. I have to admit though, when I see an Audi or BMW racing past me and merging at the last second, I don't think "what a reasonable and logical person!"...

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pinkappleflower@reddit

Its the behaviour of the driver though isn't it. If someone is speeding down to try and quickly get in front of you, you can safely assume they're pushing in. If someone is politely driving up next to you to try and squeeze in, they're obviously not pushing in.

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All_within_my_hands@reddit

Funnily enough when I see someone making a comment as if the brand of car you drive dictates who you are as a person I don't think "what a reasonable and logical person".

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AerodynamicHandshake@reddit

Because it seems like you're pushing in. This is a scenario where you should merge in turn, but there are others where it isn't the case, and a lot of people don't know the difference and do things like this.

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rising_then_falling@reddit

They really just need to put "use all lanes until merge" or something on the signs so people learn this stuff.

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Lost-in-Limbo@reddit

Like many have said, people can’t seem to fathom how merging actually works and that if done properly will be quicker for everyone! Just like a zip.

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chinese-newspaper@reddit

They just don't know how to drive

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Why do left lane drivers block the right lane before a merge?

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37 Comments

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Sallytraffic101@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

pinkappleflower@reddit

Sallytraffic101@reddit

Opening_Line_5802@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

G60JET@reddit

ASeriousMoonlight@reddit (OP)

Quick-Minute8416@reddit

Ethermoralis@reddit

VolcanicBear@reddit

Quick-Minute8416@reddit

Coast-Prestigious@reddit

dollarfrom15c@reddit

pinkappleflower@reddit

All_within_my_hands@reddit

AerodynamicHandshake@reddit

rising_then_falling@reddit

Lost-in-Limbo@reddit

chinese-newspaper@reddit

AutoModerator@reddit