re: Merging lanes...which driver are you?

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Waiting until the very end causes a single point of "merge". You have one opportunity to get in. If there is an a-hole who doesn't leave you enough space, or you miss your chance for some reason, everyone has to hit their brakes to let you in. You just caused a traffic jam. Thinking that somehow utilizing two lanes as long as possible "helps" traffic is stupid.

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You can preach all day about a zipper merge, but you know for a fact that they do not ever work out that way in real life. Merge when you are up to speed and have the opportunity. I'm not saying that has to be right away, and sometimes it will be at the very end, but assuming that you should stay in the lane until the very end will cause problems if there is traffic. There is no doubt about it.

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Zipper merging around here doesn't work because of people who have some preconceived notion that it isn't better. They get all offended that they early merged and someone else is getting ahead of them. If people wouldn't make it a competition, it would work. It works in other developed countries, and as stated multiple times in multiple studies it is generally 15% more efficient. Many places even use electronic message boards to inform drivers when early merging is better based on current roadway speeds. As a civil engineer who actually understands traffic, I get in the shortest lane when merging speeds are low to use as much of the roadway capacity as possible. Usually, some idiot tries to block me from merging. However, when push comes to shove, 100% of the time they end up stopping because their vehicle is nicer than mine and they don' want it damaged.

DP

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Zipper merge likely works for exits/ramps designed for it.

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Where the issue lies is when you have a long merge lane and ample opportunity to get over that you pass up just to be first in line. That point is backed up and bumper to bumper. You will cause someone to go out of their way to let you in and make traffic worse.

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This.

You say you merge late to use as much of the usable highway capacity, but would this not try to shove more cars into a tight spot at one time? I agree that once the traffic starts, it's difficult to stop and getting in early doesn't really "help", but if everyone were smart and got over as soon as signs indicated that a lane was closed, then they could possible get into the proper lane while still at speed with ample gaps to do so. If everyone did this, then 3 lanes could turn into 2 lanes before it was "too late" and keep speed. This would also work "at the last second" if there was always an available gap to merge. But 1 single incident where someone could not get in, will cause a backup since the car in the ending lane will be at near 0 speed due to running out of lane. If he would have started the process a mile back, he has a much greater chance at getting over.

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The example that comes to mind is on College when it merges into one lane once you pass over Perkins. I am always in the left lane.

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That's basically the perfect example of where a zipper merge would be the best way to do things, so as many people as possible could cross Perkins before the light changes.

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before the light changes.

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A light changes everything.

Did y'all miss the "when you need it" part?

I drive in Nola every day and merging pisses me off. Nola people love to stop at the beginning of the merge and wait for somebody else to stop and let them over causing a massive cluster frick.

Main takeaways from the Minnesota DOT policy for those who don't want to read the whole thing (TL;DR):

“Benefits”
We have witnessed 3 primary safety and operational improvements whenever the Zipper System has been deployed.
These improvements were found regardless of whether the system had computerized detection with automated
warning signing or the motorist had to determine whether it was time to “use both lanes” because of a traffic backup.
1) By creating two full lanes of traffic, we reduce the difference in speeds between the two lanes. Therefore,
vehicles generally do not have a reason to switch lanes, and if they do decide to switch, then the traffic is
traveling approximately the same speed in both lanes making the maneuver is much easier and safer.
2) We reduce the overall length of the backup by up to 50% (40% is common). While this may not be important
in rural areas, it is critical in the metro area where the backups affect other interchanges. Therefore, we
reduce the congestion problem for the other interchanges.
3) When both lanes are moving slowly, then everyone is “equally” disadvantaged by the backup and while the
driver may not be happy, they have no reason to be mad at a fellow driver in the backup. Therefore, “Road
Rage” is reduced significantly.
“Misconceptions”
Although motorists seem to believe that a single lane of traffic flowing into a work zone should flow through
unrestricted and much faster without a slow down for merging traffic, this just does not happen in the real world of
traffic hazards. Motorists slow down because of the uncertainty of the drivers’ actions ahead, poor visibility beyond,
signs/drums/barricades and concrete barriers, unexpected temporary curves, construction equipment, and workers
nearby. That slows down the rest of the line of traffic and the longer the queue (line of traffic) the more it slows
down and a longer time before it regains speed. When traffic is heavy, a perfect line of drivers cruising through the
work zone at safe highway speeds and spacing with no delay, is impossible to maintain.
During our previous experience with the late merge system, we have collected and processed data on whether the
system improves (or not) the motorist’s travel time through the work zone. Our analysis has shown that the Zipper
System has no effect on travel time through the work zone. Unfortunately, the motorist’s travel time through a work
zone appears to remain approximately the same regardless of whether the zipper was used or not. However, the
zipper system produces a much safer merge situation and the length of the queue is much less.

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It's ok for cars to pass you and merge at the PROPER point. This goes out to the stupid bitch on Greenwell Springs Rd this afternoon.

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If there is a long line of cars and the merging cars are adding to the traffic, then I see no problem in her actions. You should merge over before your merge lane ends, and not drive down to the point where there is no longer room without being on the shoulder.