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Started By
Message
re: What is so difficult about the zipper merge concept?
Posted on 8/11/25 at 1:23 pm to AwgustaDawg
Posted on 8/11/25 at 1:23 pm to AwgustaDawg
quote:
Whats worse is the a-hole truck drivers straddling the dame line blocking both lanes for several miles so they do not have to do anything other than idle along while they back up traffic for thousands of other folks just trying to get somewhere. Here's a tip, skippy, the DOT built multiple lanes for a reason.
All they are doing is moving the merge point from where DOT placed merge point barricades back to where the moron trucker decided it should be. Then the merge point moves with them to the DOT merge point, until some other moron takes it upon himself to move it again.
The inability of the macho imbecile to allow someone to merge in front of them as the traffic engineers designed it is amazing to me. they merged in front of someone and it was okay. now they own that spot and will yield to no one.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 1:25 pm
0
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:20 pm to Weekend Warrior79
quote:Because that is how the state, parish and local governments are telling us to merge now.
why do drivers in the lane that needs to merge feel the need to drive all the way up to the cones then brake and merge when there is plenty of room for them to cross over within 100’ of the merge point
I hated it at first, but followed the guidance so I got accustomed to it.
We must understand that the system now operates as a rotating merge rather than the old dominant lane model.
Just follow the law or enjoy being Driver 1 when you cause an accident and your insurance skyrockets because you were at fault.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:25 pm to Rabby
Where are you seeing this merge info from state, parish and local governments? I’ve never seen or received anything from them.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:45 pm to DustyDinkleman
Can we please do a lesson on how to properly use a Turn Median next?
I bet 80-90% of the drivers in Houston don't know how to properly position themselves with another car in the median and get pissed off when they can't see around the other vehicle.
I bet 80-90% of the drivers in Houston don't know how to properly position themselves with another car in the median and get pissed off when they can't see around the other vehicle.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:24 pm to Ingeniero
Im skipping pages of this thread so this has probably already been stated, but many in the early part of this thread are missing the point of the zipper merge. It makes both lanes even, rather than punishing the through lane with early merges while the merge labe is a passers paradise. As an aggressive driver i love it when all the grandma's start merging early and choking the through lane while I drive 60 up to the cones. If everyone adopted the zipper then both lanes move the same and I couldn't find an advantage.
No matter what, 2 busy lanes merging to 1 lane will result in a slowdown, so avoiding slowdowns is not the point. Without the zipper one lane is exponentially punished while the more aggressive drivers are rewarded for their aggressiveness.
No matter what, 2 busy lanes merging to 1 lane will result in a slowdown, so avoiding slowdowns is not the point. Without the zipper one lane is exponentially punished while the more aggressive drivers are rewarded for their aggressiveness.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 7:42 pm to DustyDinkleman
This is America, baw. We don't share and we don't take turns.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 7:50 pm to DustyDinkleman
If dumbasses didnt slow down to 15mph it wouldnt be an issue. OMG THERES SOMETHING IN THE OTHER LANE!!! ITS ALMOST AS BAD AS A 2 LANE ROAD NOW I HAVE TO GO SLOW!!!!
Posted on 8/11/25 at 8:20 pm to LSUScores
quote:LADOTD has issued several PSAs which plainly state that the officially safest method is zipper with diagrams.
Where are you seeing this merge info from state, parish and local governments? I’ve never seen or received anything from them.
St Tammany and EBR SOs (and others which I did not try to re-find) have issued PSAs via several platforms that endorse zipper. Also that they regarded zipper as the required method and would write accidents that way.
Several cities/towns have mentioned zipper on varied platforms.
I know several troopers, officers and deputies who have advised that they write accidents based upon zipper being the default requirement. They advise to not be in a position where it looks like you failed to zipper.
But do a few searches and prove me wrong.
One example:
LADOT Zipper PSA
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:13 pm to DustyDinkleman
The correct way to merge when traffic is backed up is to ride along withe the vehicles in the traffic lane and the gradually merge in ahead or behind. This keeps the traffic moving for both lanes instead of the start stop because people wait to the end of the merge lane or stop and wait for an opening.
Just ride along at a reduced speed and slide in the other lane. Easy!!!
Just ride along at a reduced speed and slide in the other lane. Easy!!!
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:20 pm to DustyDinkleman
1) It was never taught in drivers Ed.
2) I conceptually disagree with it hardcore. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always gotten in the lane I knew I had to be in WAY ahead of time. No way I’m letting assbags who pull up at the last minute in. No way. Whoever invented the zipper merge should be stretched to death (like Braveheart) for being an idiot.
2) I conceptually disagree with it hardcore. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always gotten in the lane I knew I had to be in WAY ahead of time. No way I’m letting assbags who pull up at the last minute in. No way. Whoever invented the zipper merge should be stretched to death (like Braveheart) for being an idiot.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:27 pm to DustyDinkleman
No entity such as the DOTD or State Police or DMV or Drivers Ed has ever spent a lot of effort explaining how the zipper method is supposed to be correctly implemented. Or why 18-wheelers have the right to police the roadways themselves
Posted on 8/12/25 at 12:06 am to Rabby
When is there going to be a Why Can’t People Use A Roundabout thread yet? We get zipper merge threads every week!
Posted on 8/12/25 at 12:14 am to Gerry Laval
quote:
No way I’m letting assbags who pull up at the last minute in. No way.
Why are they “assbags” because they are using the concept correctly?
When people merge early, it opens the lane up for people to zoom down to the merge point and get in. When that happens it pisses off people like you who merge early and then have to wait in the slower lane.
Whereas if people would not merge early, everyone in the lane that’s about to end would back up like the other lanes, and then the concept could be implemented correctly with less anger from the people in the lane being merged into.
Instead, pissed off drivers like you ride the arse of the driver in front of them to not let the merge car in, and that further complicates/slows down traffic.
This post was edited on 8/12/25 at 12:17 am
Posted on 8/12/25 at 12:20 am to WMTigerFAN
ChatGPT weighs in:
quote:
Zipper merge doesn't take human nature into account
ChatGPT said:
Right — the “zipper merge” (where two lanes merge into one by alternating cars at the merge point) works beautifully in traffic models and polite Scandinavian driving cultures, but in real-world U.S. traffic, human nature tends to make it messy.
The problem isn’t the physics — it’s the psychology:
Perceived fairness – People who merge early often resent “late mergers,” interpreting it as cutting in, even though the system works better when everyone uses both lanes fully.
Trust issues – Drivers worry that others won’t let them in at the end, so they merge too soon or block the lane to “teach them a lesson.”
Competitive instinct – Some drivers accelerate just to “beat” the other lane instead of alternating smoothly.
Uneven participation – For zipper merging to work, a majority need to follow the rule; even a few aggressive or hesitant drivers can break the flow.
In other words, the zipper merge is an engineering solution to a psychology problem. You can design a perfect traffic pattern on paper, but it crashes into human instincts about territory, fairness, and trust the moment rubber meets road.
If you want, I can explain why traffic engineers still push for zipper merges even knowing human nature often sabotages them.
.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 12:28 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
ChatGPT weighs in:
This AI overlord gets it.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 1:13 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
If you want, I can explain why traffic engineers still push for zipper merges even knowing human nature often sabotages them.
I'd like to know more.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 5:48 am to DustyDinkleman
I've been implementing zipper merge when the lines at Costco back up all the way to the bread isle.
People behind me who don't understand zipper merging are not a fan. This I can tell you.
People behind me who don't understand zipper merging are not a fan. This I can tell you.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 6:21 am to DustyDinkleman
This thread is not what I thought it was about.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 7:37 am to DustyDinkleman
quote:
if you are in the merge lane and don’t let the merge car in
This is the bigger problem. Its hard to merge when nobody will let you.
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