40 West Closed - Multiple Car Fires at Davis Drive
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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Actually more and more states are encouraging drivers to ride until the end of the lane drop and zipper merge - from a capacity standpoint it makes sense because you have all that wasted capacity if you merge in too early. I saw a sign in Durham on 85 I believe that encourages people to zipper merge (can't recall where it was)
That contains elements of what I described in my post, however, it rests on two faulty assumptions.
1. Drivers in the adjacent lane where the mergers occur will allow for the cars to move over
2. That the lane containing the drop isn't already at a near standstill
Quote:
Originally Posted by cchampagne232000
This. Its actually more efficient if people can manage to not act like kindergartners throwing tantrums because one car may wait less than them.
Don't see how everyone driving to as far as they can along the lane drop demonstrably helps... they key phrase used in the video was early merger is "not always" the best way.
I think the YouTube responses, based on the commenters' experiential knowledge, sum it up.
Darth Chau 2 weeks ago
Unfortunately, idiot drivers make the zipper merge a daily source of frustration.
Tomek G2 weeks ago
... So the truth is, that you zipper merge like in video when there is already congestion, but merge in earlier when opportunity appears to prevent slowdowns.
Elle2 weeks ago
The zipper merge would work better if people let others merge into the other lane. I'm afraid to use the lane that is closing because I don't think anyone will let me merge and/or I will cause a crash. Usually people are bumper to bumper in the open lane because they don't want anyone to cut in front of them.
Ken Lee2 months ago
Zipper merge works well in certain situations and I'm sure that in theory, it's the safest way for traffic to move. The problem with the zipper merge is that inevitably, you get one person in the through lane who stops and won't go and 3-4 cars jump in, then cars pull into the other lane, and then fight their way back in. Meanwhile, two cars back, the guy who was patience before the hijinks kicked in, is now furious and won't allow cars to merge. It turns into a dangerous mess. In time, when autonomous vehicles are common, the zipper merge will be effective. In the mean time, human emotions are going to make it dangerous. What is aggravating is when you see a sign that says, "Merge Now" and idiots blow by it and force their way in at the cones.
Zipper merge does not work around here, and never will.
Sure it'll never work around here but the fact is that I'm not an "*******" if I do try and zipper merge haha
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