When to merge with traffic on a highway?
For example, if a lane is closing on a highway and there is a sign indicating this, many people will immediately try to move over. But this slows traffic significantly. It is better for the flow of traffic for drivers to wait and use both lanes right until the lane is about to close and then merge.
When to merge when your lane is about to close?
Wait to merge until your lane is about to close. When cars make use of all available lanes, this avoids congesting a single lane and will help traffic move smoothly. For example, if a lane is closing on a highway and there is a sign indicating this, many people will immediately try to move over.
Why is it dangerous to slow down for a merge?
Since merging is dangerous, a common inclination is to slow down to try to merge cautiously. But this has the opposite effect. Instead of making a merge safer, it actually makes it more dangerous. Maintain the speed of traffic at all times.
Which is better merging lanes or zipper merge?
The second is the so-called zipper merge (or the late merge) in which lanes are filled in equal measure up until the closure point, then cars alternate filling open lane ahead (see video below). The idea is pretty simple. The less braking, the smoother the traffic flows.
What’s the best way to merge in traffic?
“When traffic is really backed up, the best thing to do is not merge early. If all drivers would just slow down and drive in both lanes, then take turns merging into the through lane, like teeth on a zipper, everyone would be better off.”
Wait to merge until your lane is about to close. When cars make use of all available lanes, this avoids congesting a single lane and will help traffic move smoothly. For example, if a lane is closing on a highway and there is a sign indicating this, many people will immediately try to move over.
Since merging is dangerous, a common inclination is to slow down to try to merge cautiously. But this has the opposite effect. Instead of making a merge safer, it actually makes it more dangerous. Maintain the speed of traffic at all times.
Is it against the law to merge on a highway?
There’s nothing in the law that prevents highway motorists from safely switching lanes or moderately adjusting speeds to make room for merging traffic, but such behavior should be considered a courtesy rather an obligation. The same thing could be said about merging prior to a highway lane closure.