Proper way to merge.

[catcauphonic]

Don't get me started on driving peevs. I've been a delivery driver at least part time all my life ... PA-NYC, Los Angeles, & now in and around Seattle. The zipper merge is the way it SHOULD be.

& I'm with Gorn here ... there's always some doofus looking at their phone or combing their hair when the traffic line finally moves ... plenty of room to slip in at the end without holding anybody up.

Same here in KY.

Oh, and I forgot another of my favorite douche that guy driving moves. I encountered this one headed toward Virginia beach:

3) Using exits to get about 20 car lengths ahead in totally stalled 2 lane traffic: both lanes are a parking lot, but there's an exit ramp to get off on the right hand side, and across the overpass, an entrance maybe 100 yards ahead. That guy will exit, then show up with his turn signal on looking to merge back in on the other side of the overpass, "passing" 20 or more cars in traffic that is completely gridlocked. Unbelievable.

What's wrong with this? ^ it's fair and square.

 

[catcauphonic]

you're supposed to use all the lanes until they merge together, and then you're supposed to "zipper in", leaving room for the car in front to get over.

jamming up one lane into a parking lot, getting mad when somebody zooms past in the perfectly legit empty lane next to you, then not letting them in at the actual merge point is what slows everybody down.

(not talking about guys cheating by going in the shoulder lane or whatever, that probably isn't legal and also #$%& them.)

Word, ×1,000

 

[megafiddle]

3) Using exits to get about 20 car lengths ahead in totally stalled 2 lane traffic: both lanes are a parking lot, but there's an exit ramp to get off on the right hand side, and across the overpass, an entrance maybe 100 yards ahead. That guy will exit, then show up with his turn signal on looking to merge back in on the other side of the overpass, "passing" 20 or more cars in traffic that is completely gridlocked. Unbelievable.

...
What's wrong with this?
...

Simple. It's not one of the lanes that's merging.

-

 

[BadJazz]

My preferred method of merging is gently accelerating to roughly half the speed of the traffic I am merging into, which reduces fuel consumption, turn my flashers and high beams on for safety, drop my phone, slam on the breaks to pick up my phone, and once the cars behind me start honking slowly accelerating again, and sounding my horn for safety. Usually at this point the traffic coming sees the fracas I started and politely slows down to allow me, and only me, into the flow. I then salute the drivers behind me. Upon reaching roughly 5 miles per hour slower than the general flow, I accelerate wildly and rush over to the left lane which has fewer cars for safety. I then slow back down (save gas) and let the other lanes hurry along.

 

[megafiddle]

you're supposed to use all the lanes until they merge together, and then you're supposed to "zipper in", leaving room for the car in front to get over.

jamming up one lane into a parking lot, getting mad when somebody zooms past in the perfectly legit empty lane next to you, then not letting them in at the actual merge point is what slows everybody down.

(not talking about guys cheating by going in the shoulder lane or whatever, that probably isn't legal and also #$%& them.)

I have to generally agree with that, but:

"when somebody zooms past in the perfectly legit empty lane",

how does that slow anyone down but him?

-

 

[jmverdugo]

One thing is merging, two or more lanes becoming one - there is usually a sign for it, and another thing is getting in the lane to take an exit, or because the lane you are in doesn't go to where you want to go. These are two different things. For the first one I think is ok to wait till the last moment for the second one no. If you know your lane is not going where you want to go you have to take the correct lane as soon as possible. That's why a line of cars forms there, what do you think will happen if everybody would change lanes right before the exit? Actually the lane gets slower because of the people that change lanes at the last minute disrupting the pace of the line.

And for the guys that think that by changing lanes at the last minute they are not holding anybody or don't create more traffic, what car are you all driving? A magic car that doesn't occupy space? That space where you get in that "naturally" appears will be occupied by your car and is space that the other cars will not advance into, making them stay longer in line, so you literally are cutting in front of the line.

You all can justify it all you want, but is the wrong thing to do.

 

[Downunderwonder]

One thing is merging, two or more lanes becoming one - there is usually a sign for it, and another thing is getting in the lane to take an exit, or because the lane you are in doesn't go to where you want to go. These are two different things. For the first one I think is ok to wait till the last moment for the second one no. If you know your lane is not going where you want to go you have to take the correct lane as soon as possible. That's why a line of cars forms there, what do you think will happen if everybody would change lanes right before the exit? Actually the lane gets slower because of the people that change lanes at the last minute disrupting the pace of the line.

And for the guys that think that by changing lanes at the last minute they are not holding anybody or don't create more traffic, what car are you all driving? A magic car that doesn't occupy space? That space where you get in that "naturally" appears will be occupied by your car and is space that the other cars will not advance into, making them stay longer in line, so you literally are cutting in front of the line.

You all can justify it all you want, but is the wrong thing to do.

someone gets it.

 

[Gorn]

One of those "lines don't apply to me" people, eh?

I'm not gonna convince anyone. Drive in New York and try to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time and you'll see how much lines apply.

 

[Gorn]

One thing is merging, two or more lanes becoming one - there is usually a sign for it, and another thing is getting in the lane to take an exit, or because the lane you are in doesn't go to where you want to go. These are two different things. For the first one I think is ok to wait till the last moment for the second one no. If you know your lane is not going where you want to go you have to take the correct lane as soon as possible. That's why a line of cars forms there, what do you think will happen if everybody would change lanes right before the exit? Actually the lane gets slower because of the people that change lanes at the last minute disrupting the pace of the line.

And for the guys that think that by changing lanes at the last minute they are not holding anybody or don't create more traffic, what car are you all driving? A magic car that doesn't occupy space? That space where you get in that "naturally" appears will be occupied by your car and is space that the other cars will not advance into, making them stay longer in line, so you literally are cutting in front of the line.

You all can justify it all you want, but is the wrong thing to do.

There are lines and rules and the right thing to when driving in Katy Texas (a town with 15000 people) and then there's the way it works in New York City (a town with 8.4 million people). Maybe it's not nice or polite but it's how it works. The people that take a stand for the rules are the people causing accidents.

 

[jmverdugo]

There are lines and rules and the right thing to when driving in Katy Texas (a town with 15000 people) and then there's the way it works in New York City (a town with 8.4 million people). Maybe it's not nice or polite but it's how it works. The people that take a stand for the rules are the people causing accidents.

Gorn, Katy, TX is a suburb of Houston, in fact I can walk 3 miles and be within Houston city limits, Katy is part of greater Houston. Everyday I jump into the highway that has the honor of being the widest highway in the world and drive to the highway that has the honor of having the spot with more traffic in the state of TX.

Moreover I travel for work, every other week minimum, I have driven in most mayor cities and lots of small town in the US.

And no, it doesn't work like that, maybe it works for you, but do you think it works for the rest of the cars that are doing the right thing? Does the guys doing what you are doing outnumber the guys doing the line? I don't think so, I mean this is a long line of cars that you cut in front, you said it, how it works for them? If that is the way it works where you live why isn't everybody doing it? And then what would happen if everybody do it?

 

[Gorn]

Gorn, Katy, TX is a suburb of Houston, in fact I can walk 3 miles and be within Houston city limits, Katy is part of greater Houston. Everyday I jump into the highway that has the honor of being the widest highway in the world and drive to the highway that has the honor of having the spot with more traffic in the state of TX.

Moreover I travel for work, every other week minimum, I have driven in most mayor cities and lots of small town in the US.

And no, it doesn't work like that, maybe it works for you, but do you think it works for the rest of the cars that are doing the right thing? Does the guys doing what you are doing outnumber the guys doing the line? I don't think so, how it works for them? If that is the way it works where you live why isn't everybody doing it? And then what would happen if everybody do it?

It works like it has to in an overcrowded city with roads that weren't built to accommodate so many people with so many cars. Houston driving doesn't compare either.

I didn't specify and I should have. There's a way to drive if you want to get where you're going in a reasonable amount of time and there's a way to drive if you don't care how long it takes. My 14 mile commute can either take 20 minutes or an hour. The 20 minute way doesn't mean speeding or driving overly aggressively or cutting people off in a douchebaggish way. It means driving with purpose and urgency.

Lots of people drive the Katy Texas way because they don't care how long it takes or they're reading the paper and texting.

 

[jmverdugo]

It works like it has to in an overcrowded city with roads that weren't built to accommodate so many people with so many cars. Houston driving doesn't compare either.

I didn't specify and I should have. There's a way to drive if you want to get where you're going in a reasonable amount of time and there's a way to drive if you don't care how long it takes. My 14 mile commute can either take 20 minutes or an hour. The 20 minute way doesn't mean speeding or driving overly aggressively or cutting people off in a douchebaggish way. It means driving with purpose and urgency.

Lots of people drive the Katy Texas way because they don't care how long it takes or they're reading the paper and texting.

Well I'm sorry, I didn't know your time was more important than everybody else's. Obviously you have to drive that way and it's the city's fault of course. You are just doing what you have to so you can share more of your precious time with the world which is eagerly waiting for it. Yeah right...

By the way anybody that is willing to drive during rush hour has a reason to do it, they all have places to be and things to do, but they also chose to wake up earlier so they have enough time to get where they are going and don't have to drive with "urgency".

Again, I'm sorry the world put you in a situation where you have to break the rules and abuse others so you can fulfill your higher purpose in life.

Yeah right...

 

[Gorn]

Well I'm sorry, I didn't know your time was more important than everybody else's. Obviously you have to drive that way and it's the city's fault of course. You are just doing what you have to so you can share more of your precious time with the world which is eagerly waiting for it. Yeah right...

By the way anybody that is willing to drive during rush hour has a reason to do it, they all have places to be and things to do, but they also chose to wake up earlier so they have enough time to get where they are going and don't have to drive with "urgency".

Again, I'm sorry the world put you in a situation where you have to break the rules and abuse others so you can fulfill your higher purpose in life.

Yeah right...

I didn't say my time was more important but your passive aggressiveness is adorable. I said I want to get where I'm going quickly. Lots of others do as well and drive accordingly. Other people don't care how long it takes. They wait in line. It's how it works.

 

[M Sterling]

Guys you're supposed to use both lanes until the merge point. It's the only way to avoid multiple entry points and interruptions. In PA they put up signs that say to do this and still no one pays attention. I laugh so hard at people who get pissed about me doing this.

 

[jmverdugo]

I didn't say my time was more important but your passive aggressiveness is adorable. I said I want to get where I'm going quickly. Lots of others do as well and drive accordingly. Other people don't care how long it takes. They wait in line. It's how it works.

It's call sarcasm big city boy, and you don't have to say anything, we all can see right through you and clearly see the situation here. Moving on...

Just wanted to add that in the top 10 worst traffic cities Houston is 4 and NY is 5. How about that!

 

[Jim Nazium]

Please allow me to interrupt for a moment.

There was a news article the other day speculating that this might be one of the biggest benefits of networked self-driving cars. They could communicate with each other and adjust their speeds to execute the zipper merge smoothly. At some point even stop lights could become unnecessary - cars approaching the intersection from different directions could adjust their speeds and go right through without stopping.

That's all. Feel free to resume the argument.

 

[Gorn]

It's call sarcasm big city boy, and you don't have to say anything, we all can see right through you and clearly see the situation here. Moving on...

Just wanted to add that in the top 10 worst traffic cities Houston is 4 and NY is 5. How about that!

Ooh, insulting my character. A key strategy in any debate. Well done.

 

[Gorn]

Please allow me to interrupt for a moment.

There was a news article the other day speculating that this might be one of the biggest benefits of networked self-driving cars. They could communicate with each other and adjust their speeds to execute the zipper merge smoothly. At some point even stop lights could become unnecessary - cars approaching the intersection from different directions could adjust their speeds and go right through without stopping.

That's all. Feel free to resume the argument.

I bet it'll happen eventually but the insurance companies will fight it. Too much money to be made. Who do you sue if the computer controlled grid has a glitch?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Ooh, insulting my character. A key strategy in any debate. Well done.

To be fair, you've characterized others who do not feel as you do as "fraidy cat", "passive aggressive", "causing accidents by obeying the rules" (edit: i.e. - obeying the law), and "not caring how long their trip takes" in this thread. Given this, the above quote rather drips with irony IMO.

 

[Gorn]

To be fair, you've characterized others who do not feel as you do as "fraidy cat", "passive aggressive", "causing accidents by obeying the rules" (edit: i.e. - obeying the law), and "not caring how long their trip takes" in this thread. Given this, the above quote rather drips with irony IMO.

I'm making broad generalizations about strangers. I didn't insult an individual directly involved in this conversation. I'd say there's a bit of ironic condensation on the quote, not full dripping.