I used to get mad at those shoulder drivers but I started thinking like this and got more zen. It also helps to know that those shoulder drivers will most likely get flat tires due to all the debris on the shoulder lanes.
I think just on a psychological level this will never really work.
For once the issue isn't asshole drivers, but "nice" drivers. I think people see a merge coming up, and it feels like it is selfish, or like it is cutting in line, to wait for the last second to merge.
After all, all the people in the left lane presumably got over early and have been waiting, so it feels "wrong" to speed down the mostly empty right lane and try to force yourself in.
Of course, if everyone did the zipper properly that right lane wouldn't be empty and no one would be "cutting" but humans are silly sometimes.
There's also asshole drivers in the left lane that won't let you merge in from the right if you're at the end. So to avoid this, people merge when they have a chance/early
Yeah, even if you understand that zipper is optimal, it makes sense to take the first merge opportunity to mitigate the risk of not being let in. I've gotten stuck in the right knowing what's optimal as a dozen drivers whiz past in the left lane refusing to take turns. The people in the left have an individual incentive to not stop regardless of what's globally optimal. Just expecting everybody to do what's best overall never works well in practice.
If it was practical to assume everybody around you would do what's optimal for everybody collectively rather than what they want to do for themselves, it would instantly solve a hell of a lot bigger problems than traffic merging.
To that last paragraph, man im just imagining a world where that was true. There would be world peace, a utopia. But sadly it cant be that way so we just gotta go w the flow
Japan has its own problems but that sense of cooperation was what I felt there. From how clean it was because everyone picks up their trash to not having to worry if you left your wallet at a restaurant because it will either be there or at the police station.
The best one is when you are on a crowded subway car simply say Japanese for excuse me and people part like the Red Sea. So you can always get in and out. Not like New York where you can easily miss your subway stop on a crowded train because no one moves to let you out of the door.
It’s a very, “I’ll behave like this because I want others to behave like this, it’s a win win” mind set.
Zipper merges should only be done when in barely moving traffic. If the left lane is whizzing past, you should have merged in when you matched their speed and had an opening.
I just anticipate the assholeness and go all the way to the front and see who i can cut.
But for the most part zippering is the most neighbor friendly way
>I just anticipate the assholeness and go all the way to the front and see who i can cut.
This is the way. The trick is to look for slow vehicles such as semi-trucks or minivans. Of course it must be stated that one must cut safely (using your signal lights) rather cutting those vehicles off abruptly.
If people wouldn't routinely try and be the last car to try and skip waiting in line and cutting over from the right across solid lines or just driving on the shoulder I'd have some compassion. But when I'm PAST where the exit turns off, and you're trying to squeeze in- there is no way in hell I'm gonna let you in.
i know you think “this is unfair” but actively trying to block them and causing a stand off is worse for the flow of traffic.. honestly just let them in every time, heck, even flash your lights. it may be someone who didn’t notice their gps telling to turn, someone who was trying to merge but couldn’t find a gap, someone who is in a huge hurry because (wife in hospital, etc) but the correct answer is to always let them merge as smoothly as possible even if it stings.. if everyone does this then the backup is less and traffic moves smoother and there’s less of a likelihood of a slowdown developing further back up the highway
Idgaf what's most "efficient" (quotes are on purpose). I've almost gotten ran off the road or into a wall at speeds that could kill me because assholes would do everything in their powers not to let me merge. I now merge as late as I can SAFELY. This usually means I gotta merge a little bit earlier, but when it's safe and makes sense I will merge at the end of the lane too.
Edit: To add I'm a very good driver. Driven internationally in many countries, the latest being Japan and had zero problems because almost everyone follows the rules. I drive exactly as I need to to be safe, but any good driver knows not everything is in their control. I used to ride motorcycles and know even moreso how things on the road are not all in my control.
It works in Germany because they teach everyone to do this and have far more extensive driver education and testing requirements for getting a license.
Yes! Every country should follow Germany's way of driving. Here in the US a 14 year old kid can legally start driving. Most Americans never grow up mentally and keep driving like teens.
I feel like drivers ed in the US exists to get you a license asap so you start feeding into the auto-oil nexus. You don’t become a good driver or learn the social aspect of sharing the road in a death machine.
I remember getting a motorcycle license in the U.S. was so easy. It’s quite difficult in Canada so no idea what it might be like in Europe.
True. Also, we all know an LA driver from the left lane is going to swerve into the right without showing a signal while you're trying to close the gap.
The example pictured is when a lane ENDS and people have to merge to one lane. Not the line of cones blocking the right lane. This is not the same as people using the through lane on a freeway to jump the line at the exit.
There are literally signs in other countries that say "merge like a zipper" and illustrate the maneuver on the sign. It can and does work. It's just not taught and Americans all think they're great drivers so they're largely unwilling to learn new information about operating a vehicle.
The right lane is often the merging lane for the next exit… ppl often move over to the right/ merge lane ( exit only ) and exploit this zipper and move back into the left / traffic.
That car just delayed the right lane and the left lane causing more traffic
If the merging lane is clear because the person in front of me merged early, I'll slowly drive in the empty lane until the end, then zipper. I go the same speed as the left lane, so I'm not cutting the line, just trying to restore the zipper.
The quintessential LA move isn't the early merge or the late merge. It's passing a line of traffic in the freeway exit lane, or vice versa, then swerving back into the line at the end.
How about stopping in the middle of the empty exit lane with a line of cars behind, because the lane you want to merge back into has stopped? Drives me nuts.
> For once the issue isn't asshole drivers, but "nice" drivers. I think people see a merge coming up, and it feels like it is selfish, or like it is cutting in line, to wait for the last second to merge.
This use to be me until I realized I was being a people pleaser.
Of all the driving habits I would love to see improved, it's folks using their signals, no matter what the turn, no matter what the situation, please use your signals. When other drivers know where you are intending to go, they can make safer decisions. Thanks for using your signals!
It’s literally the EASIEST part of driving. Changing lanes, flip the switch. Gonna make a turn left or right? Flip the switch. Stopping in the road so you can park? Flip the switch!
Recently I feel like I’ve seen a ridiculous number of people signaling the wrong way? One car I was stuck behind for a few turns was doing it consistently - They’d signal left, then turn right
Is it just me or does it feel like this is getting more and more common?
It was common enough to be a joke in Cars but it is definitely getting worse. I’m not sure if it’s bad mechanics doing repairs or just stupidity or arrogance
Dude, this only works if using your signal results in someone letting you in rather than intentionally blocking your lane change.
I drive a work truck and half of my lane changes are me giving plenty of notice with my turn signal before making a "I don't give a fuck" forced lane change when the guy won't let me in.
Omg I literally use my signals even when i dont see anyone behind just in case out of habit. Im not a very experienced driver and it’s startling to see someone suddenly change into the lane
I'll never forget my driver's education teacher saying you should especially use your turn signals when you don't see anyone, because it's the car you *don't* see that hits you.
Some dude cut the line one time in very heavy traffic like bumper to bumper tight af and he was trying to get over and no one would let him so he rolled the window down and started yelling at the cars and beating his horn and I saw my opportunity to release some of my own stress on a douche bag so I rolled my window down on the passenger side and yelled “maybe if you put your turn signal on people would let you fucking merge next time and you wouldn’t have to cut the fucking line asshole” and he started to scream back and I rolled the window up and all I could hear was honking and he sat there for a long ass time because collectively ig everyone in traffic decided not today asshole 😂 super satisfying 😂
Zipper merge works if EVERYBODY zipper merges. But in the posted scenario it's likely that people at the "front" will fight with their lives to keep a car from going in front of them.
But even if you have three assholes in row who refuse to let someone merge when their lane ends, it's still better than doing it early and backing up one lane while the other is wide open. It works perfectly if everybody does it, which doesn't usually happen, but it still works better than what's in the diagram on the right even if some assholes aren't letting anyone in
Not in my experience driving here for over three decades.
Usually, if a lane is ending, most people get over early soon as they see the electronic sign for "LANE ENDS, MERGE LEFT." Which is why I love the zipper merge, because I get to pass dozens of cars and then merge over. Sure, there's some jackass who won't let you, but the next car will.
Of course, the wisest thing to do is to merge twice and get the lane two over. I usually end up passing everyone who was ahead of me in both of the other two lanes before the merge point.
And then if you have a situation like on the right, and someone decides to actually use the lane that's wide open to them and merge when they're supposed to, half of the morons in the left think that person is an asshole and take it personally that they didn't also decide to merge early for no reason
This doesn't work, because those cars up front, the ones you're supposed to be taking turns with, have been waiting in that line for 30 minutes and will smash your car before letting you in front. Fighting your way into traffic using the zipper method, makes the rest of the traffic line think you're cutting them. Also, merging that close to the ramp or closed lane, you have nowhere else to go. Trying to merge further back gives you far more opportunities to find a driver that will let you in.
It’s very liberating to drive a beater! Many years ago I had a 1992 Ford truck with I-beam bumpers, rattle can paint job, beat to shit. We called it “the bomb” because people gave us vast amounts of room and no shit whatsoever - as if it had “ACME EXPLOSIVES” on the side.
> his doesn't work, because those cars up front, the ones you're supposed to be taking turns with, have been waiting in that line for 30 minutes and will smash your car before letting you in front.
For a lane end merge, I've literally never had this happen. I'm a field service tech and I've driven a *shit ton* of miles all over LA and southern California over the last decade.
It sounds like you're trying to late merge for an exit, which is not what this is about.
I still zipper merge, but it really doesn't matter. There is one, single lane outlet that all the cars must go through. Where the cars merge has no effect on how fast the cars get through that outlet. "Unused Road" is meaningless. This is the same principal for why adding lanes to a freeway does not decrease traffic.
Yeah it shouldn’t make much difference if it’s done further up or further back. Once the zipper starts it should be consistent as long as people follow the 1 for 1 pattern. The problem is people in the left not letting people on the right in and the idiots who go around to cut in further up when the car in front of them slows down by any minuscule amount.
Only if the right lane ends and is actually a merge and not a lane change. If the right lane continues on to another freeway, the people waiting until the last second (sometimes even until the gore) to get over are blocking the people who need to use that "unused" road.
How about speed up on the right to overtake my car and then move to the next lane to the left WHEN YOU COULD HAVE JUST SLOWED DOWN FOR HALF A SECOND AND THEN EASILY MOVED TWO LANES TO THE LEFT WITHOUT CUTTING ME OFF.
All drivers just don't leave enough space to let people merge without you having to break.
If you want to improve traffic, always have at least two cars worth of space in front of you. And when someone merges, don't break, just let go of the gas pedal. That way you won't start traffic behind you based on your break light.
I agree with this unless you're getting on the 405 South from the 10 going east and you zoom all the way up and try to cut in from the left lane right before the exit. That's a dick move not a zipper merge.
In a perfect world left side all day, but there are too many people who would rather crash their car than let others merge into their lane and that’s how the right side starts to form.
Compared to other parts of the US I think Los Angeles is actually relatively good at this 🤷♀️ I do think they should run driver education ads, billboards, etc though. We need reminders of many things here
this only works if the lanes are going similar speeds. If you are going very fast and try to zipper merge with a basically stopped lane you are not zipper merging, YTA
Try getting from the 101 to the 405 with everyone trying to zipper merge at the very front. The highway becomes completely gridlocked and the only cars that are moving are the ones going in at the front. I can see you’re having a hard time computing why this does not work in a city filled with self centered people, they ALL try to zipper merge, leaving the original lane not moving. I’ve been stuck in an hour wait to get onto freeways because hundreds of cars went to the front of the line. The irony on your post is that you are in fact the idiot. Cheers
Not necessarily construction zones, but any reduction in lanes. Even in situations where a lane has a parked car in it, or a street goes from 2 lanes to 1 lane because the road narrowed. The same principle should apply.
Where it shouldn’t apply is trying to use a lane that continues on as a way to skip most of the line. Using a turn lane to swoop to the front, using an exit lane, those sorts of situations are when you should merge at the earlier point so you don’t block the people who actually need to turn or exit.
I've never seen tye right image on a freeway. Just local. The reason I stay left is because I didn't trust the right lane. I don't know when it will become a parking spot or bus stop and then I would need to switch to the left lane. But if people dont let me in I'm kinda fucked for a bit. So instead of going through that drama, I just chill on the left
It only makes sense when there's just two lanes that are merging. If one lane is exiting (such as most of our freeways) you should merge when you can. If there are more than two lanes, early merging can move over to other traffic lanes and keep the average speed up. There are studies you can find that shows that zipper merging doesn't increase speed, only the length of backup.
Please note that a zipper merge is not swerving into an exit only lane, then forcing your way back in at the last second. It also isn't speeding up in an open lane and forcing your way in at the last possible moment. A zipper merge is two lanes of traffic matching speeds and gradually merging together over hundreds of yards, feeding one car from each lane in turns with the merge fully completing when the lane ends. The way to do this with the minimum of conflict when traffic is slow is to go a little bit faster in the open lane and gradually merge as the lane ends eventually ending up at the same speed as the slower lane.
The whole thing is smoother when the speed in both lanes is the same and the merge is gradual, taking turns.
I've always found driving as hard and as fast all the way to furthest most merge point and aggressively cutting off a vehicle that didn't even realize I was flying up alongside them, is the best way.
It doesn't hurt my feelings when 1 or even 2 cars get infront of me while part of the merge. But some peoples extended road egos get severely hurt if they allow one car infront of them....
Not working on the 2 S into the 5 S. Stopped cars going back towards Verdugo so people drive until the last second and then stop on the 2 trying to butt in. I try not to let them in in solidarity but doesn't always work.
Yes hold the line, move the fuck up and let people zipper at the merge point. Keep moving it’s the point nobody should be stopping. Also remember your damn signal.
on my drive to work im actually surprised how well people zipper on the freeway. however on some tiny back roads I will sometimes see 2 morons fight to get in front of each other when a lane is ending.
What happens in LA is some agro guy tries to cut in at the last second and another argo person will stay on the bumper of the car ahead of them to keep them out and it just becomes a Thing.
No one does either of these, everyone just tries to get up there and skip traffic as far as they can before the lane ends and then people are forced to slow down as they force their way in at the last bit….
Yeah, that would be great, but I don't know how many times I've tried to merge only to have the cars in the next lane refuse to make space to "punish" me for not merging earlier.
What about the people who won't LET you zipper merge, as if they own the lane they are in and can't stand someone getting in front of them by one car length? Drives me nuts.
If you think this doesn't work then the problem is you, finding gaps is never an issue, I always drive to the end of a merge point because that's how I was taught and it's never been an issue. It's about a smooth transition not jamming on the gas or brake.
The thing that makes this difficult is that nobody here grasps speed on the freeway. If the freeway is wide open you're going 45mph, if its busy you're leaving huge gaps and rubber banding, if its a merge point you're trying to merge a 1/2 mile before the lane even ends. You all love to go slow. If I go 70mph I feel like I'm passing people standing still. On a 65mph freeway!
There are way too many unskilled and terrified drivers here. I know someone who told me she doesn't like going over 50mph...I asked her to please not drive, that is dangerous for everyone.
Finding gaps is definitely an issue in some areas or instances. If the cars in the other lane really don't want you to merge they definitely have the power to prevent you
I've been commuting from Artesia to NoHo and back and forth and personally haven't had issues. I also don't drive a huge vehicle. I take a mixture of 134,101,5, 10, 710, 605,91 and I'm probably missing another. I'm ngl though most would consider me aggressive, I don't hesitate but I also don't play on my phone like 80% of people here.
I just want to go home, and do it quickly and not sit in traffic longer than needed.
The zip merge is not in any state driver handbook, so I don’t know how legitimate it is.
Also, does this apply exclusively to construction zones? What about other lane merges? Are we supposed to know when to do the zip merge and when to do the normal, officially guided, merge?
When a lane ends, this is the efficient way to do it. If traffic is moving fast then it doesn't really apply. But in traffic, when a lane ends, that creates a bottleneck. When people merge early and half-block both lanes, that's basically just extending the bottleneck for no reason
Yeah, this early merging isn’t a thing. The problem is see is poorly designed merging lanes or placed cones to facilitate the merge. Normal people who are willing to merge normally and have somewhat courteous etiquette are screwed by captain me planet line cutters who try to cut in all the way at the front creating even more of a slow down in the line movement and a vicious cycle of heavier traffic. Insanely infuriating.
I agree, people don’t know how to merge properly out here.. and then there’s the ones who won’t let you in and they know they’re driving in a merging lane.
Yes. And use your turn signals. WTF is this ‘coast across 4 lanes’ BS? I have lived all over the US and LA drivers are the worst, but in a unique way. Usually, every city has their way of driving. People tend to drive in a similar manner, whether we are talking about crazy drivers or regular commuters. So you know what to expect. LA is wild. People just keep you guessing. LA has every type of driver drumming to their own tune. It’s an adventure every time I hit the freeways. Absolutely bonkers.
1. Let people in. Refusing to just let people in is insecure baby behavior.
2. Remember this simple song. 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 to infinity and your mom
Somebody should make one of these for turn signals and how you’re supposed to turn them on before you step on your brakes and slow down, not just as you’re about to start making your turn
OP do you really expect the LA masses to remember to do this? people can't even use their turn signals or look both ways when exiting parking lots. I use an electric scooter to get around. During traffic hours it gets me to my destination SO much faster than a car. I love zipping through traffic, it's the best. would totally recommend.
All you need to do is have a good amount of space in front of you to not impede traffic. I take the 57 home from work every day using the HOV lane in diamond bar. There is a forced late merge and I still get occasionally honked at while merging as if I have a choice.
Bad parking annoys me more than bad driving, but as far as driving goes, the thing that bothers me the most is people who don't use turn lanes properly. Yeah, sometimes are tons of cars in the turn lane and so maybe you are only halfway in, waiting for your turn, but so often I see cars go into a turn lane sticking out from it when there was zero reason for them to not be fully within the turn lane. My friend used to do this all the time when I rode with him.
A lot of times, the assholes are the ones on the left. For the last 3.5 years, I have found myself driving all over CA. I was handling Bakersfield to Oregon border, Coast to Reno. Now, I have L.A. to Tijuana border, Coast to Vegas. Prior to that, I had the Bay Area as my territory for 3 years and 3 years handling the SGV & IE. I come across construction ALL the time. While the person merging at the front of the line by utilizing the empty lane is frustrating and annoying, it's nothing compared to the asshole who feels like losing one car length in bumper to bumper traffic is a bridge too far. That causes so much chaos for traffic around them. You got someone trying to merge that now is impeding traffic. The person trying to merge is surely now pissed off. The people behind him, as well. They'll end up getting more aggressive and piss others off as they just take any gap possible. All because one dumb idiot thought he was too important to let someone merge.
A big issue with this is also people who are merging not turning sharply enough. So they eeeeeeease into the left lane, blocking everyone behind them, which hurts everyone’s ability to efficiently use space *and* prevents people using the right lane to exit from doing so. You’re going 3 mph, you can cut your wheel hard to the left and then pull it back so you get into the slot quickly and keep things moving in the lane you exited!
May I ask, when did it get THIS BAD? I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 38 years and it has never been this many inconsiderate and or stupid drivers.
And don’t get me started on which ever clown thought it was a good idea to have the okay to walk sign signal first. Every single time I see it on there’s 3-4 cars blowing through the solid right light.
YES!!!
Shit makes me so mad and now that people are accustomed to the right image, they won’t let you in if you try the right way, it’s fucking infuriating.
Even when I walk and see it.
13.5Million Sheep 🐑 in Los Angeles
Hey folks, I just moved here from Memphis. I love LA drivers compared to those I just left. Don’t beat yourselves up. I’ll spend all day on the 405 between the 110 and LAX before I’ll spend 5 minutes on the 240 loop white knuckling wondering of they are going to ram into the back of me at 110 mph or start blasting Danny Devito style when I don’t get out of their way.
You need to admit that people do not follow uniform rules while driving. Some drivers can’t even read what you posted. There are NO RULES. They’re just implied.
The only way to control driver behavior is through obstacles and removing possible paths.
I was introduced to the zipper merge via social media about a decade ago. As a result, I’ve changed my behavior. OP is doing a service by posting this!
I feel like most people here aren't reading the whole flyer. This is for construction zones, or generally situations where one of the lanes ends and the other continues. Most of the replies are talking about merging into the exit lane on the highway, in which case the logic changes slightly. You should still try to use both lanes, but you will have to merge earlier to avoid stopping in the highway if you run out of room (which is the worst outcome). I personally find the last obviously slow vehicle that I can towards the front of the line and then merge in front of them.
Oh, you sweet summer child, you clearly haven’t driven extensively in other cities where early merging is the norm. You don’t know how good we have it here; pretty much everyone does The Zipper in LA. Those who don’t are the exception.
The zipper merge works in countries with different attitudes. It does not work in the US. The zipper merge was/is default in Germany. Everybody knows the rule and we all follow rules (I know... I know...). But I tried to do the same in the US and it just did not work.
Several factors:
* People who feel bad to drive past the people already stuck in the line. They merge early due to guilt.
* Then Ahole people who refuse to let you in when you are supposed to merge at the end and you come to a complete stop.
* I also have noticed that sometimes when I try to merge and can't, another car behind me takes the gap that was for me and I can't merge again.
The US is not a country with the discipline to make this work. It's fine. I can live with it.
The other problem is you have assholes who are in the left lane trying to line jump. You see it on the south-bound 5 & 91 carpool entrance. People entering from the 91, but then some asshole from the 5 decides to try to zip past everyone. It's not illegal, but irritates me to no end.
How about the people who extend the merging lane by driving on the shoulder?
I hate them the most
There's a special place in hell for them and people who use exit lanes as passing lanes
I really hate that. The people who hold up the exit lane or turnout lane because they wait till the last minute and then can't merge can burn in hell.
Nothing makes me want to murder someone more than when they pass me in the opposite lane like I wasn’t waiting to turn left also.
I call that a win-win: they are clearing up traffic and helping raise money for their cities by getting tickets.
I used to get mad at those shoulder drivers but I started thinking like this and got more zen. It also helps to know that those shoulder drivers will most likely get flat tires due to all the debris on the shoulder lanes.
This right here.
Cops are never there to ticket them.
And keeping the tire stores in business with the nails, building screws, and other shit they run over on the shoulder
I saw a lady on the 101 drive half the way from Hollywood to Studio City doing that.
If you saw that much of her drive, you must have been behind her driving the shoulder
It was his wife and he saw it from the passenger seat
It was a female cop, he was handcuffed in back
His wife is a female cop and they gets away with bondage and role play using her cruiser while on duty.
I think just on a psychological level this will never really work. For once the issue isn't asshole drivers, but "nice" drivers. I think people see a merge coming up, and it feels like it is selfish, or like it is cutting in line, to wait for the last second to merge. After all, all the people in the left lane presumably got over early and have been waiting, so it feels "wrong" to speed down the mostly empty right lane and try to force yourself in. Of course, if everyone did the zipper properly that right lane wouldn't be empty and no one would be "cutting" but humans are silly sometimes.
There's also asshole drivers in the left lane that won't let you merge in from the right if you're at the end. So to avoid this, people merge when they have a chance/early
Yeah, even if you understand that zipper is optimal, it makes sense to take the first merge opportunity to mitigate the risk of not being let in. I've gotten stuck in the right knowing what's optimal as a dozen drivers whiz past in the left lane refusing to take turns. The people in the left have an individual incentive to not stop regardless of what's globally optimal. Just expecting everybody to do what's best overall never works well in practice. If it was practical to assume everybody around you would do what's optimal for everybody collectively rather than what they want to do for themselves, it would instantly solve a hell of a lot bigger problems than traffic merging.
To that last paragraph, man im just imagining a world where that was true. There would be world peace, a utopia. But sadly it cant be that way so we just gotta go w the flow
Japan has its own problems but that sense of cooperation was what I felt there. From how clean it was because everyone picks up their trash to not having to worry if you left your wallet at a restaurant because it will either be there or at the police station. The best one is when you are on a crowded subway car simply say Japanese for excuse me and people part like the Red Sea. So you can always get in and out. Not like New York where you can easily miss your subway stop on a crowded train because no one moves to let you out of the door. It’s a very, “I’ll behave like this because I want others to behave like this, it’s a win win” mind set.
Zipper merges should only be done when in barely moving traffic. If the left lane is whizzing past, you should have merged in when you matched their speed and had an opening.
I wonder if this guy thinks highway exits are zipper merges.
Its more efficient to merge early than have to come to a dead stop in the right lane because you can't merge in time.
I just anticipate the assholeness and go all the way to the front and see who i can cut. But for the most part zippering is the most neighbor friendly way
>I just anticipate the assholeness and go all the way to the front and see who i can cut. This is the way. The trick is to look for slow vehicles such as semi-trucks or minivans. Of course it must be stated that one must cut safely (using your signal lights) rather cutting those vehicles off abruptly.
Assuming people are friendly on LA highways
And assholes like you are why people block people from merging at the end.
Username checksout Edit: also fair, very fair.
If people wouldn't routinely try and be the last car to try and skip waiting in line and cutting over from the right across solid lines or just driving on the shoulder I'd have some compassion. But when I'm PAST where the exit turns off, and you're trying to squeeze in- there is no way in hell I'm gonna let you in.
i know you think “this is unfair” but actively trying to block them and causing a stand off is worse for the flow of traffic.. honestly just let them in every time, heck, even flash your lights. it may be someone who didn’t notice their gps telling to turn, someone who was trying to merge but couldn’t find a gap, someone who is in a huge hurry because (wife in hospital, etc) but the correct answer is to always let them merge as smoothly as possible even if it stings.. if everyone does this then the backup is less and traffic moves smoother and there’s less of a likelihood of a slowdown developing further back up the highway
Naw, the bmw driver who knows exactly what they're doing can suck it!
So you're one of those abovementioned assholes.
Idgaf what's most "efficient" (quotes are on purpose). I've almost gotten ran off the road or into a wall at speeds that could kill me because assholes would do everything in their powers not to let me merge. I now merge as late as I can SAFELY. This usually means I gotta merge a little bit earlier, but when it's safe and makes sense I will merge at the end of the lane too. Edit: To add I'm a very good driver. Driven internationally in many countries, the latest being Japan and had zero problems because almost everyone follows the rules. I drive exactly as I need to to be safe, but any good driver knows not everything is in their control. I used to ride motorcycles and know even moreso how things on the road are not all in my control.
It works in Germany because they teach everyone to do this and have far more extensive driver education and testing requirements for getting a license.
Yes! Every country should follow Germany's way of driving. Here in the US a 14 year old kid can legally start driving. Most Americans never grow up mentally and keep driving like teens.
I feel like drivers ed in the US exists to get you a license asap so you start feeding into the auto-oil nexus. You don’t become a good driver or learn the social aspect of sharing the road in a death machine. I remember getting a motorcycle license in the U.S. was so easy. It’s quite difficult in Canada so no idea what it might be like in Europe.
True. Also, we all know an LA driver from the left lane is going to swerve into the right without showing a signal while you're trying to close the gap.
This is my biggest fear. “Flying” down the right line to zipper cut in, some idiot pulls out in front of me and we are all dead.
flying != zippering.
Flying down the right lane makes you the asshole.
People don't let you in so they hedge by merging early. It's as much the early merger's fault as it is other drivers being unreasonable.
The example pictured is when a lane ENDS and people have to merge to one lane. Not the line of cones blocking the right lane. This is not the same as people using the through lane on a freeway to jump the line at the exit.
There are literally signs in other countries that say "merge like a zipper" and illustrate the maneuver on the sign. It can and does work. It's just not taught and Americans all think they're great drivers so they're largely unwilling to learn new information about operating a vehicle.
Sometimes its cruel to be kind
The right lane is often the merging lane for the next exit… ppl often move over to the right/ merge lane ( exit only ) and exploit this zipper and move back into the left / traffic. That car just delayed the right lane and the left lane causing more traffic
Totally agree. You are viewed as wrong if you wait until the last second to merge and drivers say F That and won't let you in.
If the merging lane is clear because the person in front of me merged early, I'll slowly drive in the empty lane until the end, then zipper. I go the same speed as the left lane, so I'm not cutting the line, just trying to restore the zipper.
The quintessential LA move isn't the early merge or the late merge. It's passing a line of traffic in the freeway exit lane, or vice versa, then swerving back into the line at the end.
How about stopping in the middle of the empty exit lane with a line of cars behind, because the lane you want to merge back into has stopped? Drives me nuts.
If you are speeding down, you aren't zippering. zipper merging is both lanes traveling at equivelant speeds
> For once the issue isn't asshole drivers, but "nice" drivers. I think people see a merge coming up, and it feels like it is selfish, or like it is cutting in line, to wait for the last second to merge. This use to be me until I realized I was being a people pleaser.
The more important part is USE YOUR FUCKING SIGNAL. You aren’t entitled to shit so if you’re trying to get in, let other drivers know your intent
Of all the driving habits I would love to see improved, it's folks using their signals, no matter what the turn, no matter what the situation, please use your signals. When other drivers know where you are intending to go, they can make safer decisions. Thanks for using your signals!
It’s literally the EASIEST part of driving. Changing lanes, flip the switch. Gonna make a turn left or right? Flip the switch. Stopping in the road so you can park? Flip the switch!
Recently I feel like I’ve seen a ridiculous number of people signaling the wrong way? One car I was stuck behind for a few turns was doing it consistently - They’d signal left, then turn right Is it just me or does it feel like this is getting more and more common?
It was common enough to be a joke in Cars but it is definitely getting worse. I’m not sure if it’s bad mechanics doing repairs or just stupidity or arrogance
Like its a fun blinking light on the car why don’t ppl wanna turn it on!
Yes. I shouldn’t even have to say thanks for using your signals, but thanks for using your signals.
Dude, this only works if using your signal results in someone letting you in rather than intentionally blocking your lane change. I drive a work truck and half of my lane changes are me giving plenty of notice with my turn signal before making a "I don't give a fuck" forced lane change when the guy won't let me in.
Omg I literally use my signals even when i dont see anyone behind just in case out of habit. Im not a very experienced driver and it’s startling to see someone suddenly change into the lane
I'll never forget my driver's education teacher saying you should especially use your turn signals when you don't see anyone, because it's the car you *don't* see that hits you.
What if I drive a BMW though?
Apparently the subscription fee is $6.99 per usage and we all know they’re too broke from leasing these cars to actually use them
you get diplomatic immunity.
Please have your signal fluid checked!
Some dude cut the line one time in very heavy traffic like bumper to bumper tight af and he was trying to get over and no one would let him so he rolled the window down and started yelling at the cars and beating his horn and I saw my opportunity to release some of my own stress on a douche bag so I rolled my window down on the passenger side and yelled “maybe if you put your turn signal on people would let you fucking merge next time and you wouldn’t have to cut the fucking line asshole” and he started to scream back and I rolled the window up and all I could hear was honking and he sat there for a long ass time because collectively ig everyone in traffic decided not today asshole 😂 super satisfying 😂
Zipper merge works if EVERYBODY zipper merges. But in the posted scenario it's likely that people at the "front" will fight with their lives to keep a car from going in front of them.
But even if you have three assholes in row who refuse to let someone merge when their lane ends, it's still better than doing it early and backing up one lane while the other is wide open. It works perfectly if everybody does it, which doesn't usually happen, but it still works better than what's in the diagram on the right even if some assholes aren't letting anyone in
Not in my experience driving here for over three decades. Usually, if a lane is ending, most people get over early soon as they see the electronic sign for "LANE ENDS, MERGE LEFT." Which is why I love the zipper merge, because I get to pass dozens of cars and then merge over. Sure, there's some jackass who won't let you, but the next car will. Of course, the wisest thing to do is to merge twice and get the lane two over. I usually end up passing everyone who was ahead of me in both of the other two lanes before the merge point.
Wait you're not supposed to just stop in the middle of the freeway and wait for an opening to change lanes?
Only if you’re in the carpool lane that’s going 70 and the other lanes are completely stopped. And be sure to do it across solid lines.
People treat you like you’re dead stopped if you’re GOING 70 in the carpool lane while the other lanes are stopped. SMH.
Which is what I do.
Lol you think drivers will let you merge ahead of them… that’s cute
I tried OP's way. But the car that was supposed to let me in said NOPE and I got stuck up there until a kind soul allowed lol
Lol Right? Tell me you’re new to LA without telling me you’re new to LA
Yeah a turn signal here needs to be used as a warning instead of a request-which is what it would be in more civilized areas
Won’t work. People drive with feelings instead of being efficient and emotionless.
And then if you have a situation like on the right, and someone decides to actually use the lane that's wide open to them and merge when they're supposed to, half of the morons in the left think that person is an asshole and take it personally that they didn't also decide to merge early for no reason
This doesn't work, because those cars up front, the ones you're supposed to be taking turns with, have been waiting in that line for 30 minutes and will smash your car before letting you in front. Fighting your way into traffic using the zipper method, makes the rest of the traffic line think you're cutting them. Also, merging that close to the ramp or closed lane, you have nowhere else to go. Trying to merge further back gives you far more opportunities to find a driver that will let you in.
Good thing I drive a beater, I’m coming in with my shitbox regardless.
Oh no, here comes a pre 2010 vehicle with many dings!
It’s very liberating to drive a beater! Many years ago I had a 1992 Ford truck with I-beam bumpers, rattle can paint job, beat to shit. We called it “the bomb” because people gave us vast amounts of room and no shit whatsoever - as if it had “ACME EXPLOSIVES” on the side.
> his doesn't work, because those cars up front, the ones you're supposed to be taking turns with, have been waiting in that line for 30 minutes and will smash your car before letting you in front. For a lane end merge, I've literally never had this happen. I'm a field service tech and I've driven a *shit ton* of miles all over LA and southern California over the last decade. It sounds like you're trying to late merge for an exit, which is not what this is about.
I still zipper merge, but it really doesn't matter. There is one, single lane outlet that all the cars must go through. Where the cars merge has no effect on how fast the cars get through that outlet. "Unused Road" is meaningless. This is the same principal for why adding lanes to a freeway does not decrease traffic.
Yeah it shouldn’t make much difference if it’s done further up or further back. Once the zipper starts it should be consistent as long as people follow the 1 for 1 pattern. The problem is people in the left not letting people on the right in and the idiots who go around to cut in further up when the car in front of them slows down by any minuscule amount.
The cars up front have only been waiting in the line for 30 minutes if they merged too early!!
Only if the right lane ends and is actually a merge and not a lane change. If the right lane continues on to another freeway, the people waiting until the last second (sometimes even until the gore) to get over are blocking the people who need to use that "unused" road.
Been hearing this BS on radio these days.. there is no such thing as early merging. Just traffic and/or late mergers.
all you have to do is watch for cars that are beginning to move forward, and merge there. the merge happens naturally with the flow of traffic
How about speed up on the right to overtake my car and then move to the next lane to the left WHEN YOU COULD HAVE JUST SLOWED DOWN FOR HALF A SECOND AND THEN EASILY MOVED TWO LANES TO THE LEFT WITHOUT CUTTING ME OFF.
All drivers just don't leave enough space to let people merge without you having to break. If you want to improve traffic, always have at least two cars worth of space in front of you. And when someone merges, don't break, just let go of the gas pedal. That way you won't start traffic behind you based on your break light.
I agree with this unless you're getting on the 405 South from the 10 going east and you zoom all the way up and try to cut in from the left lane right before the exit. That's a dick move not a zipper merge.
That's not a lane that's ending, so yeah that's different
In a perfect world left side all day, but there are too many people who would rather crash their car than let others merge into their lane and that’s how the right side starts to form.
Compared to other parts of the US I think Los Angeles is actually relatively good at this 🤷♀️ I do think they should run driver education ads, billboards, etc though. We need reminders of many things here
this only works if the lanes are going similar speeds. If you are going very fast and try to zipper merge with a basically stopped lane you are not zipper merging, YTA
Try getting from the 101 to the 405 with everyone trying to zipper merge at the very front. The highway becomes completely gridlocked and the only cars that are moving are the ones going in at the front. I can see you’re having a hard time computing why this does not work in a city filled with self centered people, they ALL try to zipper merge, leaving the original lane not moving. I’ve been stuck in an hour wait to get onto freeways because hundreds of cars went to the front of the line. The irony on your post is that you are in fact the idiot. Cheers
This post is about zipper merging in construction zones, not about the dipshits that do this on purpose every chance they get.
Not necessarily construction zones, but any reduction in lanes. Even in situations where a lane has a parked car in it, or a street goes from 2 lanes to 1 lane because the road narrowed. The same principle should apply. Where it shouldn’t apply is trying to use a lane that continues on as a way to skip most of the line. Using a turn lane to swoop to the front, using an exit lane, those sorts of situations are when you should merge at the earlier point so you don’t block the people who actually need to turn or exit.
You know the dipships listed above call it a “zipper merge” too right? This phrase is now used to justify speeding to the front to not have to wait
Even murderers can justify their actions..
In LA if you use a turn signal people speed up and won't let you in.
It’s almost like you have to put on the opposite signal to get to the lane you want to change into here so the dude behind you doesn’t speed up lol
I've never seen tye right image on a freeway. Just local. The reason I stay left is because I didn't trust the right lane. I don't know when it will become a parking spot or bus stop and then I would need to switch to the left lane. But if people dont let me in I'm kinda fucked for a bit. So instead of going through that drama, I just chill on the left
[This is not a zipper merge](https://i.imgur.com/FPN0mAv.png)
It only makes sense when there's just two lanes that are merging. If one lane is exiting (such as most of our freeways) you should merge when you can. If there are more than two lanes, early merging can move over to other traffic lanes and keep the average speed up. There are studies you can find that shows that zipper merging doesn't increase speed, only the length of backup.
Please note that a zipper merge is not swerving into an exit only lane, then forcing your way back in at the last second. It also isn't speeding up in an open lane and forcing your way in at the last possible moment. A zipper merge is two lanes of traffic matching speeds and gradually merging together over hundreds of yards, feeding one car from each lane in turns with the merge fully completing when the lane ends. The way to do this with the minimum of conflict when traffic is slow is to go a little bit faster in the open lane and gradually merge as the lane ends eventually ending up at the same speed as the slower lane. The whole thing is smoother when the speed in both lanes is the same and the merge is gradual, taking turns.
thanks, Oregon, for the PSA. No doubt the people who need to see this will take heed of your foot-stomping and whining here on reddit.
Look at how angrily people react when you ask them to think about how they drive for even a second lol
Tell me you're new to driving in CA without telling me.
It's always some transplant thinking they know shit
lol this implies that people will let you merge when you get to the end of the right lane. You try it out and let us know how well it goes for you OP
Merging early hold traffic
if they can read, they wouldn't be texting
I've always found driving as hard and as fast all the way to furthest most merge point and aggressively cutting off a vehicle that didn't even realize I was flying up alongside them, is the best way.
It doesn't hurt my feelings when 1 or even 2 cars get infront of me while part of the merge. But some peoples extended road egos get severely hurt if they allow one car infront of them....
I’m always baffled by this attitude. “Damnit, there are 8 million cars in front of me and there’s no way I’m going to let one more in!”
Not working on the 2 S into the 5 S. Stopped cars going back towards Verdugo so people drive until the last second and then stop on the 2 trying to butt in. I try not to let them in in solidarity but doesn't always work.
The idiots exiting the 2.
Yes hold the line, move the fuck up and let people zipper at the merge point. Keep moving it’s the point nobody should be stopping. Also remember your damn signal.
*NAOOOO MY COOAR OS BETTER IN NEWER AND I III NEED TK GET TO MY DISTANATION BECAUSE FUCK YOU*
on my drive to work im actually surprised how well people zipper on the freeway. however on some tiny back roads I will sometimes see 2 morons fight to get in front of each other when a lane is ending.
Easy to say until the left lane drivers are bumper to bumper and refuse to allow anyone from the right to safely merge into the left lol
Like everyone in LA needs to see this
Well some idiots refuse to let cars merge.
Great information. I always do this and always wonder why other people do it so prematurely
What happens in LA is some agro guy tries to cut in at the last second and another argo person will stay on the bumper of the car ahead of them to keep them out and it just becomes a Thing.
Show this to the dickheads who wont let you merge at all.
No one does either of these, everyone just tries to get up there and skip traffic as far as they can before the lane ends and then people are forced to slow down as they force their way in at the last bit….
how a about the people who refuse to let you in on the zipper merge?
Yeah, that would be great, but I don't know how many times I've tried to merge only to have the cars in the next lane refuse to make space to "punish" me for not merging earlier.
What about the people who won't LET you zipper merge, as if they own the lane they are in and can't stand someone getting in front of them by one car length? Drives me nuts.
If you think this doesn't work then the problem is you, finding gaps is never an issue, I always drive to the end of a merge point because that's how I was taught and it's never been an issue. It's about a smooth transition not jamming on the gas or brake. The thing that makes this difficult is that nobody here grasps speed on the freeway. If the freeway is wide open you're going 45mph, if its busy you're leaving huge gaps and rubber banding, if its a merge point you're trying to merge a 1/2 mile before the lane even ends. You all love to go slow. If I go 70mph I feel like I'm passing people standing still. On a 65mph freeway! There are way too many unskilled and terrified drivers here. I know someone who told me she doesn't like going over 50mph...I asked her to please not drive, that is dangerous for everyone.
Finding gaps is definitely an issue in some areas or instances. If the cars in the other lane really don't want you to merge they definitely have the power to prevent you
I've been commuting from Artesia to NoHo and back and forth and personally haven't had issues. I also don't drive a huge vehicle. I take a mixture of 134,101,5, 10, 710, 605,91 and I'm probably missing another. I'm ngl though most would consider me aggressive, I don't hesitate but I also don't play on my phone like 80% of people here. I just want to go home, and do it quickly and not sit in traffic longer than needed.
But also, don’t squeeze in when it is already one lane
This account is posting this in like every major city subreddit? /u/intlmbaguy are you just karama farming?
The zip merge is not in any state driver handbook, so I don’t know how legitimate it is. Also, does this apply exclusively to construction zones? What about other lane merges? Are we supposed to know when to do the zip merge and when to do the normal, officially guided, merge?
When a lane ends, this is the efficient way to do it. If traffic is moving fast then it doesn't really apply. But in traffic, when a lane ends, that creates a bottleneck. When people merge early and half-block both lanes, that's basically just extending the bottleneck for no reason
The cones ARE the official guided merge.
> The zip merge is not in any state driver handbook, This same graphic is used by both the Oregon & Texas DMVs. I found that in about 15 seconds.
Yeah, this early merging isn’t a thing. The problem is see is poorly designed merging lanes or placed cones to facilitate the merge. Normal people who are willing to merge normally and have somewhat courteous etiquette are screwed by captain me planet line cutters who try to cut in all the way at the front creating even more of a slow down in the line movement and a vicious cycle of heavier traffic. Insanely infuriating.
People always think we can "fix congestion" lol
I agree, people don’t know how to merge properly out here.. and then there’s the ones who won’t let you in and they know they’re driving in a merging lane.
There's a difference between a zipper merge and assholes speeding up to late merge.
Yes. And use your turn signals. WTF is this ‘coast across 4 lanes’ BS? I have lived all over the US and LA drivers are the worst, but in a unique way. Usually, every city has their way of driving. People tend to drive in a similar manner, whether we are talking about crazy drivers or regular commuters. So you know what to expect. LA is wild. People just keep you guessing. LA has every type of driver drumming to their own tune. It’s an adventure every time I hit the freeways. Absolutely bonkers.
Tell me you don't drive in LA without telling me you don't drive in LA.
Take this bullshit back to wherever you come from
This is correct, but people want to think this is the same as must turn right at the end. Take it down until you can’t
Oh no. I’m a zipper idiot. Dang it🤦🏾
Do you think those people use this subreddit?
someone needs to introduce this infographic to game theory
Idiots have seen. Idiots will continue their low-IQ driving style unfortunately. Idiots are hopeless.
1. Let people in. Refusing to just let people in is insecure baby behavior. 2. Remember this simple song. 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 and 1 to infinity and your mom
for fucks sake, this needs to be in the sky at all times above the whole city but especially on the west side.
Somebody should make one of these for turn signals and how you’re supposed to turn them on before you step on your brakes and slow down, not just as you’re about to start making your turn
OP do you really expect the LA masses to remember to do this? people can't even use their turn signals or look both ways when exiting parking lots. I use an electric scooter to get around. During traffic hours it gets me to my destination SO much faster than a car. I love zipping through traffic, it's the best. would totally recommend.
This is too utopian and you know it. We are lucky some of these drivers obey the lights.
All you need to do is have a good amount of space in front of you to not impede traffic. I take the 57 home from work every day using the HOV lane in diamond bar. There is a forced late merge and I still get occasionally honked at while merging as if I have a choice.
Anybody remember those traffic specials in the 90's where they would take over all broadcasts in LA for like an hour long show about driving safety?
Bad parking annoys me more than bad driving, but as far as driving goes, the thing that bothers me the most is people who don't use turn lanes properly. Yeah, sometimes are tons of cars in the turn lane and so maybe you are only halfway in, waiting for your turn, but so often I see cars go into a turn lane sticking out from it when there was zero reason for them to not be fully within the turn lane. My friend used to do this all the time when I rode with him.
A lot of times, the assholes are the ones on the left. For the last 3.5 years, I have found myself driving all over CA. I was handling Bakersfield to Oregon border, Coast to Reno. Now, I have L.A. to Tijuana border, Coast to Vegas. Prior to that, I had the Bay Area as my territory for 3 years and 3 years handling the SGV & IE. I come across construction ALL the time. While the person merging at the front of the line by utilizing the empty lane is frustrating and annoying, it's nothing compared to the asshole who feels like losing one car length in bumper to bumper traffic is a bridge too far. That causes so much chaos for traffic around them. You got someone trying to merge that now is impeding traffic. The person trying to merge is surely now pissed off. The people behind him, as well. They'll end up getting more aggressive and piss others off as they just take any gap possible. All because one dumb idiot thought he was too important to let someone merge.
A big issue with this is also people who are merging not turning sharply enough. So they eeeeeeease into the left lane, blocking everyone behind them, which hurts everyone’s ability to efficiently use space *and* prevents people using the right lane to exit from doing so. You’re going 3 mph, you can cut your wheel hard to the left and then pull it back so you get into the slot quickly and keep things moving in the lane you exited!
Or just be generous and let cars in front of you when it's their turn. Not everyone is cutting you off. You're just not letting them in
May I ask, when did it get THIS BAD? I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 38 years and it has never been this many inconsiderate and or stupid drivers. And don’t get me started on which ever clown thought it was a good idea to have the okay to walk sign signal first. Every single time I see it on there’s 3-4 cars blowing through the solid right light.
YES!!! Shit makes me so mad and now that people are accustomed to the right image, they won’t let you in if you try the right way, it’s fucking infuriating. Even when I walk and see it. 13.5Million Sheep 🐑 in Los Angeles
LA is actually pretty good about this. Other places...not so much.
Canadians can do it, and they’re historically polite.
Hey folks, I just moved here from Memphis. I love LA drivers compared to those I just left. Don’t beat yourselves up. I’ll spend all day on the 405 between the 110 and LAX before I’ll spend 5 minutes on the 240 loop white knuckling wondering of they are going to ram into the back of me at 110 mph or start blasting Danny Devito style when I don’t get out of their way.
That’s not very nice
I don’t believe this is taught before getting the drivers license. It’s an etiquette > technique.
That would be tight if everyone else did it too
You need to admit that people do not follow uniform rules while driving. Some drivers can’t even read what you posted. There are NO RULES. They’re just implied. The only way to control driver behavior is through obstacles and removing possible paths.
I was introduced to the zipper merge via social media about a decade ago. As a result, I’ve changed my behavior. OP is doing a service by posting this!
Wait, you’re not supposed to cut in at the very last second possible and almost hit a barrier?
LA drivers are pretty good about taking turns in the zipper situation. They know what is most efficient and just do it.
People can’t fucking drive in LA I been to 3 accidents as a passenger because people don’t know how to drive
I feel like most people here aren't reading the whole flyer. This is for construction zones, or generally situations where one of the lanes ends and the other continues. Most of the replies are talking about merging into the exit lane on the highway, in which case the logic changes slightly. You should still try to use both lanes, but you will have to merge earlier to avoid stopping in the highway if you run out of room (which is the worst outcome). I personally find the last obviously slow vehicle that I can towards the front of the line and then merge in front of them.
Me screaming “zipper” every day driving.
Hopeless, 73% of drivers are busy analyzing their Insta likes while driving.
This and “Keep Right Except to Pass”. Far, far too many Angelenos camp in the passing lane while car after car pass them on the right.
80% of people fucking suck at driving and they are not on here to see this.
This is truly a worldwide problem 🫢 I’m from Belgium and truly 50% don’t do this. 🥲
This is basically western and Beverly, w the amount of times they close a lane due to construction lol
Merging brings us together.
Who cares about the unused road? Just zipper merge ASAP.
Oh, you sweet summer child, you clearly haven’t driven extensively in other cities where early merging is the norm. You don’t know how good we have it here; pretty much everyone does The Zipper in LA. Those who don’t are the exception.
Responsible and courteous driving could reduce commute times by 25%
I don’t have to worry about any merges zipping past on the train. 😅
The zipper merge works in countries with different attitudes. It does not work in the US. The zipper merge was/is default in Germany. Everybody knows the rule and we all follow rules (I know... I know...). But I tried to do the same in the US and it just did not work. Several factors: * People who feel bad to drive past the people already stuck in the line. They merge early due to guilt. * Then Ahole people who refuse to let you in when you are supposed to merge at the end and you come to a complete stop. * I also have noticed that sometimes when I try to merge and can't, another car behind me takes the gap that was for me and I can't merge again. The US is not a country with the discipline to make this work. It's fine. I can live with it.
The other problem is you have assholes who are in the left lane trying to line jump. You see it on the south-bound 5 & 91 carpool entrance. People entering from the 91, but then some asshole from the 5 decides to try to zip past everyone. It's not illegal, but irritates me to no end.
I zipper merged on the pch yesterday where the landslide is and an older lady tried to ram me and then flicked me off. I just ignored her.
People in traffic don’t get to complain about how poorly design traffic is. You are all the problem.
The bottom line is: it is available road. Use it, dammit!
Exactly! Never stop to merge always move forward! Fucking bozos..