Proper Merging in Heavy Traffic (rental car, 2013, rental)

[iNviNciBL3]

In Minnesota in construction zones before a lane ends i notice signs that say "Use both lanes during backups".

However. . .
Lets say the right lane is gonna end in this imaginary situation on a 2 lane in each direction highway

I always notice a very long line of cars in the Left lane going between 0-10mph . . . . and a few cars in the right lane going 40-60mph which is a really scary situation

I drive all over the country and i notice situations like this happening in alot of places (Alot in the Mid-West however)

However i notice on the West or East coast people actually use both lanes during backups which is how its suppose to be done because id rather have 2 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic going 25 - 40 mph which lets say its a 6 mile long back up . . . . But if all the cars in the left merge WAYYY before than it could cause double the traffic that would be a 12 mile line long

I drive in MN and notice this alot but i dont understand why they dont use BOTH lanes during backups

Also what do you do if you see this situation happening???

Do you use right lane and risk having some person with anger problems over-reacting at you ? ? ? ?

Or do you just wait in the long line wasting about 20 minutes of your time
? ? ? ?

[Cleverbeetle98]

Minnesotans follow directions too well. They move over early because they think it's the *right* thing to do.

Personally I take the open lane as far as I can. You might get some looks and some honks, but really it's their own fault for being dumb enough to just sit there waiting. I think that's the extent of the overreacting you'll get - and it's totally worth it.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by swmrbird

Minnesotans follow directions too well. They move over early because they think it's the *right* thing to do.

Personally I take the open lane as far as I can. You might get some looks and some honks, but really it's their own fault for being dumb enough to just sit there waiting. I think that's the extent of the overreacting you'll get - and it's totally worth it.

Yea see that's exactly what i do. It just doesn't feel right for some reason. However i always run into someone who tries to block me from going in front of him which has to cause me to be aggressive and move towards his car to try and scare him away (Works alot actually) better than sitting there looking all stupid i guess

[Cleverbeetle98]

Gotta love all that passive agressive midwestern charm :/

[StilltheSame]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

Yea see that's exactly what i do. It just doesn't feel right for some reason. However i always run into someone who tries to block me from going in front of him which has to cause me to be aggressive and move towards his car to try and scare him away (Works alot actually) better than sitting there looking all stupid i guess

East coaster here - I am in the short lane merging - not waiting in line in the other lane. As for the person who tries to block my merging. I can pretty much merge in any situation if I really want to. Sometimes I feel bad - but rarely.

[ozzie679]

Minnesota Department of Transportation Zipper Merge
Drivers are not supposed to merge until the last minute.




‪Zipper Merge‬‏ - YouTube

[Ghengis]

I think it's polite to yell "Look Out!" as I'm barging in.

[Oildog]

Lots of folks wont let you merge at the last minute...its like cutting in line.

My father had a good idea, he wanted to take all the people off the road at the borders and make them pass a driving test about proper speeds/merging on and off the freeways.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Or we could force every midwesterner to spend a week on the east coast or in Southern California with a rental car and ask them to drive for a week in order to take a full immersion driving course and understand how nice and stress-free zipper merging works. If we weren't currently leeching billions from our poor schools I'd say LET IT BE DONE!

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by Oildog

Lots of folks wont let you merge at the last minute...its like cutting in line.

My father had a good idea, he wanted to take all the people off the road at the borders and make them pass a driving test about proper speeds/merging on and off the freeways.

Your fathers smart. I cant stand being behind someone whose going 50 mph on a freeway entrance ramp when traffic on the freeway is moving at 70 mph