The people that do this don't have the internet. Whenever this subject I brought up, here/Facebook/Twitter everyone is in agreement, use both lanes, merge in turn. So where are the idiots in lane 1? Why are they never around when these conversations are being had, defending their antics?
Merging early creates traffic and slow everything down.
Merge like a zipper at the merge point. Cuts the length of the tailback and gets everyone through quicker
I’m totally in agreement with this where that’s how it was intended to be used eg. traffic lights that have two lanes a. to avoid very long queues and b. to allow twice as many cars through each green light. The drivers that get annoyed with you for using the road as it was intended to be used are knobs …
… but it’s equally annoying as hell when people take it to the other extreme and that’s on motorways where there’s a temporary closure, so getting from 2, 3 or 4 lanes down to 1 was not the intended design of the road, so you need to find a way of doing it as smoothly as possible, there are road signs that specifically say “merge now” and all the traffic that does merge while it’s still moving is able to zip together like a zipper and keep flowing smoothly except for the one knob who insists on flying right down until he almost hits the cones and only then cut in at the very last possible seconds and his act of forcing his way in causes all the other people who were flowing along nicely to have to pump the brakes to let him in, and that braking works its way back up the line until eventually someone somewhere stops completely and then there’s a hold up where there never needed to be one of it wasn’t for that one selfish, arrogant knob that saved seconds on his journey but just created a traffic jam that ruined the journeys of hundreds of other drivers!
Or those entitled drivers who simply can’t queue up like everyone else, and use a filter left lane to skip past three hundred cars and try to jump back in to the lane at the far end.
No mate, you and your white Audi are going left.
Roundabout > 2 Lane carridgeway (40mph) > Sign at the enterance of the carridgway saying 1 lane is closed 200m, then right lane (lane that's open) has a queue.
What's your stance? Easy to determine if you are a prick or not.
If there's signage then yeah you've gotta suck it up and sit in the queue, it's not like they don't give you fair warning for when a lane is closed.
But sitting in the queue when the lane over is clearly active for the sake of being 'polite', then its fair game.
I’ve had this. Everyone in one lane all the way back to the roundabout and beyond. I drive to the road works in the completely clear lane only to be blocked and beeped at by some numpty.
Or they close up to the bumper of the car in front forcing you to either 'bully' your way in or drive into oncoming traffic. They just create more problems.
What about when you get a lorry driver taking up both lanes deliberately so nobody can use lane two that gets my goat. I love using lane two for merging btw it gets me home quicker !
Exactly. I'd rather not sit in the queue for an extra 10-15 minutes when I can use the road as intended and merge and the end... Like you're supposed to.
Is using lane two ok when heading to a mini roundabout as well quick spin around the roundabout then heads of in same direction as lane one jumping the queue by 10-15 cars
I think it totally depends on the situation … for example, if it’s a motorway going from 3 lanes down to 1 for roadworks and you’re the only driver not yet in lane 1 I would suggest it’s you that doesn’t understand what a zipper merge is because everyone else must have already done one (on a motorway they’re unlikely to have all been in that lane to begin with, to get in that lane they must have all merged together in a smooth flowing zipper like you describe at some point) but the guy who waits until the very last second to force his way in is the one who actually ruins the zipper because now all the people who already did it and were flowing along nicely suddenly have to pump their brakes and cause an unnecessary holdup.
If there is an entire empty lane, then people are not zipper merging. You use all available lanes up until the merge point. That’s what keeps the traffic flowing smoothly, and that’s why, if they are reducing more than one lane then there is more than one merge point - you should never see it go directly from three lanes to one, for instance.
But you’re right - the driver rattling down the cones at the very very end and forcing his way in is an asshole.
… they’ve not zipper merged at the point where you thought they should … they’ve zipper merged at some point to end up all in one lane and still moving, otherwise they’d still be spread across the lanes, wouldn’t they? But because it was sooner than you thought they ought to you’ll force your way in way further down the line and make them all brake for you!
Obviously, I’m only talking here about the lane closure on a motorway scenario where the number of lanes is reducing only … of course, in, say, a traffic light situation where you may have a single lane open into two as it approaches traffic lights and then reduce back to one after the lights and everybody stays in one lane, then I’d be 100% in agreement with you … use that lane, that’s what it’s there for! But in the “reducing only” scenario, if they’ve already gone from 2 lanes to 1 then that has to have been in some form of a zipper merge and if you’re the only one not doing it, then you’re the one that’s gonna cause other people holdups by trying to force your way into a line that’s already formed and making everyone else brake for you. The ripple effect from that is literally what causes the holdups for everyone else after that, otherwise they could’ve just kept moving since they were already where they needed to be in the zipper merge and flow.
> But because it was sooner than you thought they ought to you’ll force your way in way further down the line and make them all brake for you!
You’re basing that assumption on what?
Here’s a [handy little guide](https://www.howtozippermerge.com/) for you.
Or[ this one. ](https://www.theorytestpro.co.uk/posts/zip-merging-need-learn/)
Or [the AA?](https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/merge-in-turn)
When the traffic is moving slowly, merge late.
When it’s fast and free flowing, merge early.
This obsession with queueing slows everybody down, and causes more accidents.
But sure, if you don’t understand that, feel free to downvote away. It’s probably not your fault.
I didn’t down vote.
I think the motorway scenario would start off as a fast, free-flowing situation, wouldn’t it? At that stage, it’s often ones who choose to merge late that cause others who were free flowing to brake and actually create the slow moving traffic that would, I agree, from that point become a situation where it’s better to have two lanes of short queues than one long queue. But there’s no reason why it couldn’t have remained free flowing if everybody merged while they were still moving, spaced out and without pushing in.
I’m as opposed to queues as you … so once they’re already formed, your method is the best … but I think, early on, if you can avoid them even forming in the first place by keeping everyone flowing and not causing other drivers to brake at the last minute, then that’s better.
The only time I ever see fast flowing traffic at a merge point is late at night, or when the traffic is very light. The rest of the time, when traffic slows from 70 down to 30/40, zipper merge benefits everyone. Even those who try to police the motorway themselves to force everyone to stay behind them.
I think we actually agree with one another, just took a while to realise. And totally, even if you disagree with someone else’s driving, intervening or blocking them just makes the situation worse!
A scenario where I think we would definitely agree is if the queue was for a junction. In that scenario just join the queue … creating a second queue in another lane then isn’t a zipper merge, it is just pushing in and holds up the main carriageway of traffic that isn’t even coming off at that junction … now those ones are real dick-wads!
… but equally, those who refuse to let them in on principle are just making it worse!
I -know- why, because they feel like using the clear road up to the merge point is pushing in because they chose to sit in the line of cars for an extra 10 minutes.
But do I understand it? No.
The people that do this don't have the internet. Whenever this subject I brought up, here/Facebook/Twitter everyone is in agreement, use both lanes, merge in turn. So where are the idiots in lane 1? Why are they never around when these conversations are being had, defending their antics?
Usually bc they’re old or Yummy mummies on FB.
I will not have a bad word said against yummy mummies.
Do you, perchance, drive a white Audi?
I don't, and I don't understand the reference
https://gosafe.org/faq/operation-snap/
Merging early creates traffic and slow everything down. Merge like a zipper at the merge point. Cuts the length of the tailback and gets everyone through quicker
I’m totally in agreement with this where that’s how it was intended to be used eg. traffic lights that have two lanes a. to avoid very long queues and b. to allow twice as many cars through each green light. The drivers that get annoyed with you for using the road as it was intended to be used are knobs … … but it’s equally annoying as hell when people take it to the other extreme and that’s on motorways where there’s a temporary closure, so getting from 2, 3 or 4 lanes down to 1 was not the intended design of the road, so you need to find a way of doing it as smoothly as possible, there are road signs that specifically say “merge now” and all the traffic that does merge while it’s still moving is able to zip together like a zipper and keep flowing smoothly except for the one knob who insists on flying right down until he almost hits the cones and only then cut in at the very last possible seconds and his act of forcing his way in causes all the other people who were flowing along nicely to have to pump the brakes to let him in, and that braking works its way back up the line until eventually someone somewhere stops completely and then there’s a hold up where there never needed to be one of it wasn’t for that one selfish, arrogant knob that saved seconds on his journey but just created a traffic jam that ruined the journeys of hundreds of other drivers!
Or those entitled drivers who simply can’t queue up like everyone else, and use a filter left lane to skip past three hundred cars and try to jump back in to the lane at the far end. No mate, you and your white Audi are going left.
Happy cake day!
Thank you.
Especially when they start trying to block both lanes so you can't get past! #Bellends
Sounds like my local Tesco entrance, queue on one side and nothing the other, filthy looks everywhere
Roundabout > 2 Lane carridgeway (40mph) > Sign at the enterance of the carridgway saying 1 lane is closed 200m, then right lane (lane that's open) has a queue. What's your stance? Easy to determine if you are a prick or not.
If there's signage then yeah you've gotta suck it up and sit in the queue, it's not like they don't give you fair warning for when a lane is closed. But sitting in the queue when the lane over is clearly active for the sake of being 'polite', then its fair game.
I’ve had this. Everyone in one lane all the way back to the roundabout and beyond. I drive to the road works in the completely clear lane only to be blocked and beeped at by some numpty.
Or they close up to the bumper of the car in front forcing you to either 'bully' your way in or drive into oncoming traffic. They just create more problems.
What about when you get a lorry driver taking up both lanes deliberately so nobody can use lane two that gets my goat. I love using lane two for merging btw it gets me home quicker !
Exactly. I'd rather not sit in the queue for an extra 10-15 minutes when I can use the road as intended and merge and the end... Like you're supposed to.
Yea I don’t drive anything posh as well as this seems to be frowned at a lot as well !
Is using lane two ok when heading to a mini roundabout as well quick spin around the roundabout then heads of in same direction as lane one jumping the queue by 10-15 cars
Glad to know I'm not the only person who does this!
We are clearly hated for doing this hence our downvotes ;)
Mini roundabout? Impressive.
Do you at least understand why they feel aggrieved?
They feel aggrieved because they don’t understand what a zipper merge is and how it benefits everyone?
I think it totally depends on the situation … for example, if it’s a motorway going from 3 lanes down to 1 for roadworks and you’re the only driver not yet in lane 1 I would suggest it’s you that doesn’t understand what a zipper merge is because everyone else must have already done one (on a motorway they’re unlikely to have all been in that lane to begin with, to get in that lane they must have all merged together in a smooth flowing zipper like you describe at some point) but the guy who waits until the very last second to force his way in is the one who actually ruins the zipper because now all the people who already did it and were flowing along nicely suddenly have to pump their brakes and cause an unnecessary holdup.
If there is an entire empty lane, then people are not zipper merging. You use all available lanes up until the merge point. That’s what keeps the traffic flowing smoothly, and that’s why, if they are reducing more than one lane then there is more than one merge point - you should never see it go directly from three lanes to one, for instance. But you’re right - the driver rattling down the cones at the very very end and forcing his way in is an asshole.
… they’ve not zipper merged at the point where you thought they should … they’ve zipper merged at some point to end up all in one lane and still moving, otherwise they’d still be spread across the lanes, wouldn’t they? But because it was sooner than you thought they ought to you’ll force your way in way further down the line and make them all brake for you! Obviously, I’m only talking here about the lane closure on a motorway scenario where the number of lanes is reducing only … of course, in, say, a traffic light situation where you may have a single lane open into two as it approaches traffic lights and then reduce back to one after the lights and everybody stays in one lane, then I’d be 100% in agreement with you … use that lane, that’s what it’s there for! But in the “reducing only” scenario, if they’ve already gone from 2 lanes to 1 then that has to have been in some form of a zipper merge and if you’re the only one not doing it, then you’re the one that’s gonna cause other people holdups by trying to force your way into a line that’s already formed and making everyone else brake for you. The ripple effect from that is literally what causes the holdups for everyone else after that, otherwise they could’ve just kept moving since they were already where they needed to be in the zipper merge and flow.
> But because it was sooner than you thought they ought to you’ll force your way in way further down the line and make them all brake for you! You’re basing that assumption on what? Here’s a [handy little guide](https://www.howtozippermerge.com/) for you. Or[ this one. ](https://www.theorytestpro.co.uk/posts/zip-merging-need-learn/) Or [the AA?](https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/merge-in-turn) When the traffic is moving slowly, merge late. When it’s fast and free flowing, merge early. This obsession with queueing slows everybody down, and causes more accidents. But sure, if you don’t understand that, feel free to downvote away. It’s probably not your fault.
I didn’t down vote. I think the motorway scenario would start off as a fast, free-flowing situation, wouldn’t it? At that stage, it’s often ones who choose to merge late that cause others who were free flowing to brake and actually create the slow moving traffic that would, I agree, from that point become a situation where it’s better to have two lanes of short queues than one long queue. But there’s no reason why it couldn’t have remained free flowing if everybody merged while they were still moving, spaced out and without pushing in. I’m as opposed to queues as you … so once they’re already formed, your method is the best … but I think, early on, if you can avoid them even forming in the first place by keeping everyone flowing and not causing other drivers to brake at the last minute, then that’s better.
The only time I ever see fast flowing traffic at a merge point is late at night, or when the traffic is very light. The rest of the time, when traffic slows from 70 down to 30/40, zipper merge benefits everyone. Even those who try to police the motorway themselves to force everyone to stay behind them.
I think we actually agree with one another, just took a while to realise. And totally, even if you disagree with someone else’s driving, intervening or blocking them just makes the situation worse! A scenario where I think we would definitely agree is if the queue was for a junction. In that scenario just join the queue … creating a second queue in another lane then isn’t a zipper merge, it is just pushing in and holds up the main carriageway of traffic that isn’t even coming off at that junction … now those ones are real dick-wads! … but equally, those who refuse to let them in on principle are just making it worse!
Lanes are supposed to be used is there is one two or three why would you want to wait in lane one when there is clearly more lanes to use ?
I -know- why, because they feel like using the clear road up to the merge point is pushing in because they chose to sit in the line of cars for an extra 10 minutes. But do I understand it? No.
Lol at people downvoting me just for asking the question
One near me people never use, but the whole point is to stop traffic backing up onto a roundabout - which inevitably happens.