Are You The Person That Knows The Left Lane Will End but Still Stay on It on Purpose to Jump The Queue?

chengjianer on 26/03/2021 - 19:17
Last edited 29/03/2021 - 19:20 by 1 other user

Are you the person that knows the left lane will end but still stay on it on purpose to jump the queue in the traffic? Especially at the traffic light with those left lane ends in 100 metres?

added ↓↓↓

i had a browse of the comments, it's quite interesting.

let me explain a bit more in details, and give my opinion on this:

in heavy bumper to bumper traffic, cars are basically crawling, the middle lane and soon to be left lane traffic is doing 10km/h, that is good, because at least the traffic is moving, but because of the left lane cars keep merging right, the middle lane needs to slow down to maybe 5km/h, again, that's ok because the traffic is still flowing. i believe that's called zipper merge which i just learned today, that happens in a very ideal world = no traffic lights + all drivers on the road are fantastic, e.g. no tailgaters, 3 seconds or more gaps between cars which means every car does not even need to brake when the other lane traffic merge etc..

my scenario is more like this:

most of time heavy traffic occurs because of traffic lights, take that above example again, i am in the middle lane, doing 10km/h, and at that speed, i could pass 3 traffic lights, but because of the merging traffic, i could only pass 1 or 2 definitely less than 3, while the other drivers that using the left lane could pass all 3 or 2 lights, more than me, so is that queue jumping?

edit
wow, so many comments here haha! ok i am wrong about this queue jumping thought based on the poll, but i don't know it just gives me this impression, and i guess i am not alone. but please let's do this "zipper merge" properly guys. and everyone goes to the left lane from tomorrow so i could use the right lane :)

the forum editor please close this poll

Poll Options

  • 419
    yes
  • 297
    no
Automotive

Comments

  • SF3 on 26/03/2021 - 19:18
    +23

    No, because it is poor etiquette.

    If I can be bothered, I try to stay close to the car front so they can’t get back in. Make them go back the queue where they belong.

    Same with cars already parked on the street and someone decides to intentionally goto the left lane to over take, I would imagine one day someone blocks them and they rear end the parked car…

    OP, which one was you? The left lane queue jumper or the one stayed in middle or right lane?

    • chengjianer on 26/03/2021 - 19:27
      +3

      lately because of my shift changes, and i drive home during very peak hour in sydney, and i see too many of those people, it's just bad.
      you could do that, but risking hitting the car in front.

      • SF3 on 26/03/2021 - 19:32
        +8

        Usually it’s already slow and bumper to bumper, so people jumping queue are selfish pricks.

        Won’t try blocking, whilst driving at the speed limit.

      • SF3 on 26/03/2021 - 21:18
        +1

        drive home during very peak hour in Sydney

        This is an important point in your post (not mentioned). Rather than the road is empty.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 27/03/2021 - 16:19
        +2

        Are you the person who can't maintain an efficient gap behind the car in front and so compounds traffic congestion?

        • Click_It on 30/03/2021 - 18:53

          Yep that's him, we found him!

    • TheBooleanOne on 26/03/2021 - 22:48
      +115

      Contrary to popular belief, late merging actually helps reduce congestion

      Luckily it confirms my behaviour. I do admit that I don't speed past everyone, but I do wait until near the end before merging. It's there, I may as well use it

      • Waltervp on 27/03/2021 - 08:50
        +27

        Exactly, I don't use it to queue jump and always give very polite way to traffic at the end, but especially in rush hour we need to use all the lanes available. But like any traffic behaviour, no place for aggressive behaviour, and that includes 'WRX' style fast manoeuvres to jump lane every second to overtake, left or right lane, ending or not.

        • Munki on 29/03/2021 - 01:58
          +1

          More like Golfs nowadays.

      • cashews on 27/03/2021 - 19:27
        +23

        It annoys me how people don't go to the end of the lane to merge. Even if someone is leaving a gap for me to merge in earlier, I match the speed of the lane next to me if it is moving, and then merge at the end of the lane.

      • MrFrugalSpend on 28/03/2021 - 01:53
        +33

        Yes - thank you. Everyone - please use both lanes. if everybody uses both lanes, not only will you not have people 'queue jumping' because every second person will use each other lane, but everyone will get through the intersection or merge quicker etc.

        I know a traffic engineer well, who tells me that everyone queuing single file at dual lane traffic signals with a merge shortly after actually undermines the traffic volume the intersection is designed to handle. The traffic design volumes assume both lanes are used - and it is proven by studies that more people get through with each light change and when both are used (then sort out the merges on the other side when they have more time / space and reaction times don't come into it). Same with merging in roadworks.

        I experience it in an intersection in my city. It is two straight ahead lanes that merge 100-200m later, and a right turn lane (the centre lane is also a right turn option / double right turn). Everyone just 'courteously' (apparently) forms one single line and I have been caught many times for at least 3 light changes without being able to get through for several minutes. Traffic backs up and this is because only a few cars get through each signal change, whereas more are supposed to based on the statistical analysis for the intersection and signal timing they designed it for. People being 'courteous' is undermining the traffic design. All things considered, more cars get through if we do it in two lanes then sort out merges later. So, you are actually not being polite by forming a single line. Especially if your reaction times suck and only 2-3 cars get through before a change. Every second car should go into the other lane.

        More awareness is needed of this in driver training so people don't just assume you are a being a d!ck and everyone does it in sequential order.

      • Blitzfx on 28/03/2021 - 20:57
        +15

        Thank god someone posted this early in the comments section before it got out of control.
        Multiple studies across the world have indicated that during heavy traffic, at worst, late merge has no impact. It can only improve flow of traffic at that point.

        • bmerigan on 28/03/2021 - 22:26

          If everybody does it.

        • ThithLord on 29/03/2021 - 09:05
          +9

          I don't think OP cares about the actual flow of traffic - it just annoys them that someone's jumped ahead of them!

          • Mokr on 29/03/2021 - 22:38

            @ThithLord: The issue is that it causes stress on the road.

            Last thing I want to do is jockey for a space cause

      • supersabroso on 29/03/2021 - 09:15
        +8

        Exactly, how do people not understand this? We pay road engineers 6 figure salaries to come up with the most efficient design to speed up traffic and it gets made dangerous and congested by uneducated polite people lol. At least they have a good heart even if they aren't very cluely, god bless them. Hopefully we can reeducate the smaller half of ozbargain to understand you need to merge as per the designed merge point right at the end to stop being selfish to everyone else.

        When there are two lines at a checkout do you keep lining up on the one with the longer line because you don't want to be selfish or do you go to the one with the shorter line? Pretty basic hey.

        • lonewolf on 29/03/2021 - 15:04
          +1

          I am glad this has been brought up, I was going to say the same thing. Truth be told it hadnt dawned on me till another driver explained it to me a few years after i started driving. Funny thing is i get so much agro not just from some other cars but also Trucks who intentionally try to block the merge after the traffic lights or purposely take up both lanes so no-one can merge till much earlier. The whole point of the late merge at least on the road i am talking about (homebush bay drive / victoria road (overpass)). There is a 3 lanes that becomes 2 under the bridge, but the 3rd lane merges after the traffic light to get as many people across the traffic lights. Sadly people dont understand this.

    • rendezvous on 27/03/2021 - 17:17
      +25

      Why is it poor etiquette? and why would you purposely block someone from merging? That is veangeful and dangerous behaviour that is bordering on road rage. Lanes are there to be used and merging where the lane ends does not mean that someone is attempting to jump the queue. There is no point every car jumping onto the same lane which can cause more congestion. If you are on the right lane and see left lane merging you should be giving way to merging traffic or change to another lane.

      • SF3 on 27/03/2021 - 17:23
        +3

        why would you purposely block someone from merging?

        In heavy bumper to bumper traffic, if I see them in my mirrors also in my lane, jumps to the left lane knowingly where left lane will end.

        • rendezvous on 27/03/2021 - 17:26
          +5

          so are you saying that person behind you is not allowed to move to the left lane? how do you know if that person is aware that the left lane will end if he/she does not see it?

          • caitsith01 on 30/03/2021 - 14:54
            +1

            @rendezvous: Seem like you are deliberately missing the point. When everyone has seen the 'lane ends - merge' sign and got into an orderly queue, and then someone decides to jump into the left lane and overtake all the 'suckers' patiently waiting to get through, then their only motivation is selfishness and it's entirely reasonable to feel frustrated at their behaviour.

            • rendezvous on 01/04/2021 - 14:19
              +1

              @caitsith01: How would you know that everyone has seen the lane ends merge sign? Can you see through their eyes? I know for a fact that if there is a truck or large vehicle infront and you are following closely it is not easy to see road signs on the left or right. I don't think it is a good idea to jump to conclusions about other drivers motivations without any facts. There are so many ways of looking at the same situation. It is only easy to understand it from our perspectives and the way we see the world. It is very difficult for us to understand what is going on in other peoples minds and why they are doing what they are doing.

      • Nickels n Dimes on 27/03/2021 - 19:05
        +1

        The common scenario i see several times every morning is two lanes of traffic, one with rightturning cars, all the cars going straight patiently queue in the left lane until they can move through the intersection , inevitably a few late arriving cars will try to zip past the route of left cars and force their way in as the others start to move. This leads to the drivers behind them having to stop and wait even longer yet as the stop, go, stop, go process is much more inefficient than a continuous and constant slow-moving line of traffic. It also sometimes results in minor bingle, or overuse of horns.
        Albeit, this is probably not the scenario for which zipper merging is intended, but there are similar issues that unfold on multilane highways where a left merging lane ends, and drivers routinely overspeed to overtake on the left, which causes frayed tempers, and likely a few accidents or speeding tickets. Neither example seems to be a justified argument for zipper merging, except if we were all driving autonomous vehicles.

        • downbythecreek on 28/03/2021 - 11:43
          +4

          Using a turning lane to jump ahead of traffic is hardly the same scenario as using a zipper merge as intended though.

      • cosmos on 27/03/2021 - 22:41
        +2

        I agree, I at times will go in the left lane, why do we need all to queue in the same right lane? Adds to congestion, it’s better to move as many vehicles as possible safely across. I think it’s foolishness for all to queue up in the same lane. If I am in the right lane, I still give way to anyone in front of me in left lane.

        Life is too short to take it too seriously to not let others get ahead safely, how much do I lose? Few seconds maybe. It’s different if it’s not safe or not legal.

    • rendezvous on 27/03/2021 - 19:04
      +5

      Do you feel a deep sense of loss if you give way to merging traffic?

      • SF3 on 27/03/2021 - 19:39

        Yes 🎻 to all the first world problems.

      • djmm on 28/03/2021 - 11:45
        +1

        I feel like there's so much I could have done in this life being taken away from me

      • ensanguined on 29/03/2021 - 20:11
        -1

        Do you like people taking advantage of you or something? And are you cool if people jump in a queue ahead of you?

        • rendezvous on 01/04/2021 - 14:58
          +1

          I'm sorry if you feel that way that when someone merges into traffic, your perception is that they are taking advantage of you or are jumping the queue.

      • caitsith01 on 30/03/2021 - 14:56
        +1

        "Merging" or pushing from one lane (which is ending) into another.

        There's a world of difference between correctly using a zip merge and deliberately using a lane that is about to end to overtake others who are waiting patiently to get through.

    • BanannaMan on 27/03/2021 - 21:52
      -2

      I'm the driver that pretends not to see you in my blindspot and merges into you slowly acting dumb so you give way to my selfishness.

      I usually get honks but I fain surprised for the extra 5min I gained.

      /s

    • siresteelhell on 28/03/2021 - 01:55
      +3

      I just pull over on people like SF3… the law requires on a zip merge that the car behind.. ie if my car is half a length in front of the nose of your car that is intentionally up the tail of the car in front to block the merge. That you must yield.. it is dangerous to stop in the middle of a lane.. Good luck explaining to the cops that you thought you would make me "go back to the queue" when I have right of way….So you would be comfortable doing this to a cop?… I don`t think so

      I must qualify this by saying I live in Victoria… not sure where SF3 lives

    • darkmoss on 28/03/2021 - 14:32
      +3

      What you're doing is dangerous and illegal.

      • SF3 on 28/03/2021 - 14:45
        -1

        Yes, I can see that mud slinging isn’t illegal either. Thanks for playing ;)

    • Harold Halfprice on 28/03/2021 - 16:25
      +9

      It's not poor etiquette. There's a reason why the merging almost always happens after going through the intersection - it increases the volume of cars that can get through the intersection.

      There are two lanes for a reason, and if it's not being used it's slowing things down and just wasting space.

      There's a small intersection just outside my house that temporarily adds an extra lane going straight, which then ends straight after the lights. If people only queue in 1 lane (which happens a lot) the left lane becomes blocked off/inaccessible after the 5th car and only those 5 cars will make it through the intersection. Traffic also starts to bank up which ends up congesting a small roundabout before the intersection. If cars use both lanes to cross the intersection like it's intended, you'll get at least 9-10 cars easily getting through and relieve the congestion at the roundabout.

    • cameldownunder on 29/03/2021 - 13:11
      -2

      What I occasionally do, is to slip out of the middle lane, in to the left lane, then move at the same speed the middle lane goes, and then at the end merge back into my original position.

    • ATTS on 06/04/2021 - 16:59

      "Same with cars already parked on the street and someone decides to intentionally goto the left lane to over take, I would imagine one day someone blocks them and they rear end the parked car…"

      or sometimes they foolishly and forcefully try to jump back infront of you in your lane when there is little space and hit into your car if you dont allow them through

  • kerfuffle on 26/03/2021 - 19:28
    +10

    Depends on the circumstances. If the person in front of me was driving slower than they should, I'd use the left lane that's ending soon to overtake them.

    For jumping the queue, no. One of my pet hates is people who jump the queue to the M4 eastbound on-ramp from the Cumberland Highway northbound because they couldn't be arsed waiting 10 minutes like everyone else …

    • John Kimble on 26/03/2021 - 19:41
      +1

      Happens heaps along Hume Hwy between the city and Bankstown area, usually the fully sik bros overtaking dangerously in the left lane for the thrill or if they're racing each other…

      And also at High St roundabout North Sydney coming off the freeway to go left towards Kirribilli during peak hour, people always jumping the queue in the left and right lanes!

    • hybridex on 27/03/2021 - 16:15
      +2

      Used to take this on-ramp a lot, I've seen some shit, including people turning right onto the ramp from a non-turning lane.

  • oscargamer on 26/03/2021 - 19:37
    +16

    Depends.

    The sign means nothing

    The road markings mean everything

    If the left lane truly ends (has broken lines to the right) then I move across when I can do so and then i don't let others in, as they have to give way to me

    If neither lane ends, but merge into one lane, without lane markings, then zipper rules apply, and I'll go in whichever line is moving better

    • siresteelhell on 28/03/2021 - 01:59
      +1

      yup right you are,,,at least in Victoria…. stupid how the rules change state to state
      Vic states…
      Zip merging
      When you are zip merging, you must give way to a vehicle which has any part of its vehicle ahead of yours.

      Zip merging is when two rows of vehicles merge into one, and there are no lines marked on the road.

      You are not zip merging if you cross any lines marked on the road. If you do cross lines marked on the road you must follow the give way rules for changing lanes.

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 28/03/2021 - 12:21

      Replied to wrong comment - mod pls delete

  • John Kimble on 26/03/2021 - 19:38
    +5

    Death, taxes and queue jumpers. 😡

  • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 19:48
    +46

    No, not rude, but yes I do and will. because the road was built to be driven on not admired and its actually more efficient for everyone.

    But for people switching lanes 1km up the road, both lanes would be crawling for only 500m if people stayed in lane until the merge point.

    • SF3 on 26/03/2021 - 19:51
      -2

      left lane ends in 100 metres.

      • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 19:53
        +40

        Yeah at an intersection. In which case it's even more efficient.
        ~60 cars clear the intersection before the lights change instead of only ~20.

        Would you voluntarily switch to the longer queue at the supermarket cause the person in front of you did?
        Or would you look at them like they're an idiot then step forward and take their space?
        Exactly the same logic applies here, except for some reason people think it's rude in a car.
        The only queue jumpers are the early mergers who push everyone else in the right hand lane further back. The people who remain in the left were merely gifted that arsehole's place in the queue.

        • CocaKoala on 28/03/2021 - 12:45
          +4

          Wish I could upvote you twice!

      • AustriaBargain on 28/03/2021 - 19:06
        +1

        You’re allowed to change lanes before an intersection.

    • jjjaar on 26/03/2021 - 20:00
      +39

      This. The lane was designed to merge where the lane ends, not 100m, not 50m back. Where. It. Ends.

      Otherwise they’d have put parking there or built out the footpath or added a nature strip.

      So not only have we taken space away from others (pedestrians/parking/nature), we’re not even using it? Seems ridiculous.

      Also, if everyone did it, you wouldn’t see it as queue jumping, everyone would end up back in the same spot they were. But they’d clear the intersection quicker. So don’t be mad at those who use the lanes as they were built.

      • cameldownunder on 29/03/2021 - 13:18

        I think the issue is more when you have 2 lanes, then a third one splits off so people can turn left a bit earlier, but still it continues for another 100m.
        If everyone stays in the 2 lane and leave the left lane for left turner, all is good and fair.
        But you have the smug one who overtake the middle lane in the left and then push in again after 100m. Now you get to the situation where right lane has 8 cars passing the red light, middle lane 3, and left lane 10, Yes, because of Push-Merging, the middle lane barely moves.
        But my left light has a crack and the fender needs a bit of a touch up, so If you please be so kind and push in from the right, over a dotted lane. Rest assured we will come to a full stop, because we have to exchange details, and take pictures of our cars.

  • ozbargainsam on 26/03/2021 - 19:49
    +30

    Hang on. Is it really queue jumping if the lane exists? Is the lane meant to not be used at all? If an outside lane is empty, I'll use it because, well, why else does the lane exist? But I never run to the end of the merge and force my way in, I'll always move in if I don't see a clean merge into a gap further ahead.

    And I'm not talking about jumping a queue by using a lane meant for turning another way.

    • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 20:16
      +8

      Watch the video link below…

    • Ryanek on 26/03/2021 - 21:21
      +17

      This is a pretty bad attitude (and illegal). You are free to use the left lane yourself but you chose not to.

      A zipper merge is the best way to funnel traffic into a single lane. The fact that you refuse to let people that are ahead of you in, you're part of the problem.
      If everyone did the right thing, there would be faster flowing traffic.

      • jackary on 27/03/2021 - 09:01
        -1

        It’s not illegal lol

        • ESEMCE on 27/03/2021 - 09:40
          -2

          You don't think it's illegal to straddle two lanes?
          Interesting world you live in.

        • Ryanek on 27/03/2021 - 10:39
          +2

          You generally give way to the car ahead of you when they are merging. Insurance companies will see it that way too.

          • hybridex on 27/03/2021 - 16:25
            +7

            @Ryanek: This only applies if there are no lane markings. If the lane is ending you have to give way to the cars that are already in the lane that you are merging into (at least in NSW).

            • crazyboy on 29/03/2021 - 11:54

              @hybridex: Yes but in reality this is not followed especially when during peak hours and slow moving traffic. If people follow this, then cars in the third lane will pretty much take forever to merge during peak hours.
              People still use zipper merge during this scenario.

        • Dsquall on 28/03/2021 - 23:46

          If you rear end someone trying to block them from merging, you're the one that will be paying the excess.

      • cameldownunder on 29/03/2021 - 13:23

        would be faster flowing traffic.

        No it would not. If 3 lanes merge in to two, it's not how you merge, that is the bottleneck, it's just the 2 lanes that is the bottleneck.

        If 2 lanes can let 10 cars through, if you have 3 lanes before the merge, still does not matter.
        Only thing that changes is that instead of having 10 from middle lane and 10 from right lane you have 8 from right lane, because 2 from middle lane change lane, the you have 8 ( 6 + 2 that switched ) from middle lane, and 4 from left lane.

        But you also have 2 + 4 cars that change lane / merge. Causing useless stress.

    • onetwothreefour on 27/03/2021 - 07:32
      +2

      At what point should they have merged to the right lane? As soon as they know the left lane is closing so leaving 500m of empty left lane?

      • R-Man on 28/03/2021 - 18:53

        Yes please, your highness of traffic, O great enforcer, tell us?

  • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 20:14
    +39

    For those who vote "No" watch and learn, then change your driving
    https://youtu.be/cX0I8OdK7Tk

      • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 21:06
        +21

        Get on the same page then.
        Early mergers are the ones in the wrong here, not the other way around.

        And how is there any difference? Whether the lane ends "naturally" or not? It's still a merge point.
        I guess you can lead a horse to water…

          • ESEMCE on 26/03/2021 - 21:54
            +14

            @Quantumcat: You can't be serious with that "excuse".
            If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

            I zipper merge at every opportunity.
            I don't race past, but I also don't crawl past.
            Never had an issue merging.
            Always give a courtesy wave.

            And best of all, I'm reducing the problem for everyone else.

          • jacross on 27/03/2021 - 12:51
            +7

            @Quantumcat: I actually think significant education needs to be instituted in terms of driving skills like this. Everything people do because they think it is nice but is actually counterproductive.

            • downbythecreek on 28/03/2021 - 12:06
              +1

              @jacross: Any education in driving skills…
              Kids are being taught solely by parents who have zero idea how to drive properly themselves.

              Crap lane discipline displayed by probably 50% of drivers is such a big contributor to congestion on motorways that I am surprised our governments haven't implemented some sort of control/enforcement system.

              • jacross on 29/03/2021 - 21:25

                @downbythecreek: HA yeah true.

                To be honest I don't think it will happen. I think driverless cars/AI safety will take over soon enough and I'm very much the optimist regarding the safety of that tech.

      • ozbargainsam on 26/03/2021 - 22:19
        +1

        I think there's a really obvious solution I've never seen done: have both lanes merge into a middle lane (half of each lane), then the lane actually diverts to the lane they want to keep open a little bit further up.

        Psychologically no one is 'giving up' their spot anymore. So there's no selfish lane hogging because technically both lanes are ending equally. So everyone zippers.

        • SerialExperience on 27/03/2021 - 20:58
          +4

          That's done all over. If the line markings stop appearing whoever is ahead has right of way.

    • Jugganautx on 26/03/2021 - 21:01
      -1

      every time i encounter a situation like in the video every car at the blocked lane is doing 10km/hr anyway so it wouldn't change anything.

      • Save 50 Cent on 26/03/2021 - 22:28
        +5

        It makes a difference because if everyone merges early, the traffic would get backed up all the way to the previous intersection!
        It is really simple, use the lane that part of your tax money was spent on or at least don’t get mad at other when they do.

        • cameldownunder on 29/03/2021 - 13:28

          It here is a third left lane that is about 200m long, don't use it unless you turn left. then all the traffic moves ahead at same speed. Simple as that. and we dont need to worry about what merge is to be done.

    • outlander on 27/03/2021 - 00:26
      -8

      I've seen that tauted before, as an example of 'you-may-certain-you-know-what-your-talking-about-but-the-science-says-otherwise'
      I see a lot of people accept it as gospel.

      I think it's wrong. Here's why

      Driving is more than x number of vehicles through an intersection. It's also things like energy efficiency, safety, driveability. Late merging may indeed maximize vehicles through the traffic bottleneck, but it comes at a cost. Its stressful. You use more petrol, as you're constantly accelerating and breaking to adjust to other people's driving styles. There's a higher risk of accidents because everyones jumpy.

      That's why I personally I only do it when the traffic is heavy. When it's light, I keep to the regular lanes, so that traffic can flow at a comfortable pace.

    • This Guy on 27/03/2021 - 01:35
      +2

      Upto 40% more efficient doesn't mean 40% better, it means in one obscure simulation they made they found 40% improvement. Most results were unremarkable.

      If zipper merging was the bees knees, you would hear statements like it is at a minimum 20% more efficient. But you don't, because it is not. It just moves the merge further down the road which can open up an earlier intersection if a road is designed particularly poorly which is where you would see the efficiency.

      That demonstration also shows a zipper merge into an open road. In my experience most backed up zippers have a further choke point ahead like an intersection. Opening up that intersection would just dump that congestion onto local roads. These zipper mergers are literally waiting lines to access local roads. If the majority of users want to single file queue, the zipper mergers aren't making it more efficient, they are pushing in. It is really upto the local road authority to understand our local customs and design roads to suit how we will use them to reduce stress and friction.

    • Zondor on 27/03/2021 - 16:51
      +1

      Thank you for posting this, I will alter my driving now.

    • Nickels n Dimes on 27/03/2021 - 19:17
      +1

      That works when every driver follows the system, and if both lane are moving at the same speed and similar traffic volume prior to the merge, but if one lane is flowing significantly faster than the other, both must slow and stop, go slow, stop, go slow, in order to allow merging, which creates a slow flow back up along the road for hundreds of cars behind.

    • No ONE on 27/03/2021 - 22:48

      You forget the part where:
      Theory ≠ Practical
      Always.

    • CookieJacker31 on 28/03/2021 - 14:27

      Interesting example, the traffic was flowing very well until the late mergers showed up.

    • kaleidoscope on 28/03/2021 - 15:00

      This only works in theory and if everyone is in same page. In my experience cars in non blocking lane does not give way to cars in blocking lane closer it gets to end of road. so it’s about every 2-3 cars on non blocking lane to 1 car in blocking lane.

  • Nugs on 26/03/2021 - 20:38
    +14

    "left lane ends in 100 metres"
    Race lane
    .

  • Soulsearcher on 26/03/2021 - 21:13
    +6

    In your example of a 2 x lanes merging 100m after a traffic light, I have no hesitation in being in the left hand lane as I'll be accelerating faster than the person in the right hand lane the majority of the time, and won't be causing a traffic bottleneck.

    If it's a peak hour traffic and everyone is moving, generally I'd go into the right hand lane earlier as I'm not really that bothered.

  • BertieBrown on 26/03/2021 - 22:05
    +1

    I’m definitely guilty of this, but it was never intentional. As in I couldn’t see that the lane was ending, and didn’t have a choice.

    But I’ve definitely seen people drive outside the road, like where it’s a highway and there’s a strip on one side of the road that’s got painted lines, so I’ve seen people speed through them on the left to overtake me. That’s extreme though, most of the time people just cut me off on the highway when I’m trying to keep a safe distance.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/03/2021 - 22:07
    +17

    If it's a red traffic light then maybe. Because the traffic light is green for a limited time and the purpose of the extra lane is to allow as many cars through a short period of green time.

    By packing the left lane full at a red you're doing cars way behind a favour by helping clear the intersection before the next red.

    • Mike88 on 27/03/2021 - 00:57
      +2

      Wish more people understood this.

  • Zeph101 on 26/03/2021 - 22:22
    +2

    If i can merge right before the lane actually ends I just merge over. Otherwise I'll just stay over until the end.

    I have no problems letting one car in, but can't stand those idiots that try and bully themselves as a second car.

    • cameldownunder on 29/03/2021 - 13:31

      You dont have a problem letting the car, that was behind you in the left lane, in, once you are in the middle lane ?

      • Zeph101 on 29/03/2021 - 13:50
        +1

        Its a bit annoying, but i generally make my merge over earlier if there is a large gap to make it safer for those behind.

        End of the day its only going to make my commute a minute or two longer.

  • nrodg11 on 26/03/2021 - 22:25

    did this happen to you today, is that how this came to be a thread? Just curious on whether it did.

    • SF3 on 26/03/2021 - 22:35

      "Could be the straw that broke the camel's back" - answer here.

  • macfudd on 26/03/2021 - 22:52

    I live near this horrid merging lane after an onramp where the dotted line is nearly a km long. In heavy traffic you have people merging about 100m after the dotted line starts - which is about how long the 'lane ending' markings normally go for. Then another bunch merge around the painted arrows. Few people stick it out to the end.

    Google Maps Link

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