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

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 29/03/2021 - 15:29
    +1

    I think it's one of those situations that relies on a bit of situational awareness and initiative (hence why so many drivers seem to get it wrong).

    (Specifically for the traffic light scenario) If it's quiet, I might jump into the soon-to-be-merged lane early and stay in the 'queue', just because it really doesn't make much difference and can just make the flow of traffic a bit smoother. If someone jumps in the merging lane, I say go for it, but I expect you to know exactly what you're doing. If you want to get ahead, then make sure you do that. Don't crawl along and brake when you get to the merge . I know they're technically not doing anything wrong, but again, situational awareness. If there's 5 cars queued up in a lane that's about to merge and the other lane is empty, then it's pretty clear that everyone else has effectively already merged. If it's busy then using both lanes make sense, otherwise it's just wasted space. People not knowing how to merge in this scenario is a whole other discussion.

    I do take exception to the people that decide half way through a merge is the perfect time to overtake.

  • echelon6 on 29/03/2021 - 15:32

    Generally yes. The way I see it, it's more work and a bit of a risk, so I deserve it. Sometimes I'm tired and not in a hurry so I stay in the correct lane to avoid hassle. But it's not because of any 'etiquette' reasons - that's all bullshit. No rules were broken.

  • Nuggets on 29/03/2021 - 16:03
    +1

    Dornoch Terrace outbound in the afternoons is a prime example of this. There are two lanes turning right through the intersection but almost no one uses the left lane as it ends immediately after the intersection.

    However Dornoch Terrace is always terribly backed up all the way down the hill. The whole point of this extra lane is to get a higher volume of cars through the intersection in each cycle of the traffic light. But no one seems to get it and are content to just sit there and wait and wait and wait.

  • field1985 on 29/03/2021 - 16:22
    +2

    Yes. Intersections are about flow. If you don't use the left lane the line of traffic gets 200% longer and blocks cars trying to cross the intersection on a green.

    Using both lanes allows more cars to pass the intersection during the green light cycle, then merge after then intersection to continue on. More cars, more flow, better for everyone.

    By not using the left lane, you are creating the traffic you are complaining about.

  • skittlebrau on 29/03/2021 - 16:37

    Using the left lane and doing a zip merge is what you get taught by driving instructors. There is no 'queue jumping'.

  • jaimex2 on 29/03/2021 - 21:23

    Yes because everyone else is asleep at the wheel and accelerates so slowly it leaves 10 metre gaps for me to merge into.

  • TigerWoops on 29/03/2021 - 22:55

    I want to call someone idiot when THE SOMEONE blocked the lane to join early into the right lane. In front of THE SOMEONE there is a big gap to the end of left lane. The SOMEONE should be an idiot.

  • mshanann on 29/03/2021 - 23:29
    +1

    You can imagine this being discussed on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'.

    Distance threshold and vehicle intended use needs to form part of the discussion.

    If the left-lane is present for a reasonable distance and clearly intended to improve traffic flow, then there is no reason why one should not use it.

    If on the other hand, the lane is say a couple of hundred meters in length on a steep hill and clearly intended for trucks and heavy mass vehicles that would otherwise struggle to proceed up the hill, then such a lane shouldn't be used to 'queue' jump. I have no problem letting a truck/bus in in such a scenario, but some idiot in his sports car or ute that is clearly taking the pi## and doing it just to queue jump - that is not too dissimilar to a new supermarket checkout opening up immediately next to an existing one with a long line and the person at the back of the line racing over to the new register. It shows a lack of class and selfishness.

    Someone should create an app for this. Where you verbally input the license plate of a car and see how frequently they are selfish. If its infrequent, then you may feel better about letting them in.

  • 2025 on 30/03/2021 - 01:08
    +2

    Our local maccas has two lanes at the speaker boxes. But the left one merges into the right lane and it continues single file past the windows….

    You know where I’m heading with this?

    A lot of people are saying we should line up single file and forget about the other speaker box. Wtf.

  • dogboy on 30/03/2021 - 11:49
    +1

    Please don't take polls as an indicator of right or wrong. There are an inordinate number of complete morons on this site that I wouldn't trust to sit the right way on a toilet seat. Unfortunately common sense isn't very common and the majority of the public are just plain stupid.

  • caitsith01 on 30/03/2021 - 15:00
    +1

    There are different scenarios.

    Any permanent situation where two lanes merge into one it's appropriate to stay in the merging lane until it is about to end. With a proper zip merge sign/marking this is how it is intended to be used.

    But where one lane is ending due to an accident or roadworks, most cars have prudently moved pre-emptively into the right lane and some arse decides to shoot up the empty lane and then push in (without any right of way and with the goal of 'overtaking' people) then this is IMHO very poor etiquette and you are very justified in not letting this person in.

  • Harby7 on 30/03/2021 - 15:04
    +2

    William Street on-ramp (southbound) in the Eastern Distributor, amiryt? everyone tries to merge instantly when there is a good 50m still in the lane for them to speed up and seamlessly merge

  • bobolo on 30/03/2021 - 15:14
    +1

    Depends what car I'm driving. If it's my daily beater I'll zip merge at the end and if someone won't give way I'll happily give em a nudge. Happy to get a free new panel at the insurance payout - because it is LEGAL and LEGALLY you have to give way. It's not about how you feel or think is morally right

  • CBrads4 on 30/03/2021 - 15:14

    People that don't know how to merge properly and zip merge when a lane is ending cause traffic jams.

  • whatgift on 30/03/2021 - 16:28
    +1

    Wouldn’t it be better if all states used zip lanes instead of “left lane ends”? That way it becomes an equal sharing of responsibility for merging. While it took me a little while to adjust to zip lanes in the ACT, I realise how much better it works when all drivers use and understand it.

    • austrij on 30/03/2021 - 18:12
      +3

      This.

      I dont know about elsewhere but in Sydney people have no idea.

      People force their way in when crossing broken lines, expecting to have right of way. Then there are others who give way to cars on the right behind them when they should zipper merge.

      We need more 'form one lane'

    • realJuliusCaesar on 30/03/2021 - 19:14
      +4

      Yes, I agree. We rarely have these 'left lane ends' signs over here in Perth, instead it is 'form one lane'.

      I think governments should encourage drivers to use the left lane. Making only the left lane end discourages people from using it.

      • rendezvous on 30/03/2021 - 20:43
        +3

        Thats a great point actually. Drivers on the right lane do not usually pay attention to the "Left lane ends" sign. Instead they think they have right of way and the responsibility to merge falls on the drivers on the left lane. However, for "Form one lane" signs, the interpretation is that drivers on both lanes have equal responsibility to merge.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2021 - 19:12

    Fortunately the people of Ozbargain don't represent mainstream society, otherwise that 1/50 anti-social drivers on the road would be greater than 50%, most of them would have just smoked a joint and most of them would have had little sleep from playing computer games all night…

  • Mister Popo on 30/03/2021 - 22:20
    +1

    If zipper merge, yes. If there are parked cars in the left lane (and everyone knows it + stays in right lane to avoid them), then no.

  • SmashedMango on 31/03/2021 - 08:42
    +1

    For NSW (not sure about other states) zipper merges only apply when road marking ends. I tend to find lanes ending have markings until the end which means it's a lane change scenario which requires the left lane to give way, not zipper merging.

    https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/overtaking-mer…

    • kator on 31/03/2021 - 11:28

      Correct.

      The zipper merge with no linemarking is the old standard and the new is the give way type with the dashed lines.
      Mainroads won’t install the old zipper merge anymore where I live.

  • Foxtail on 31/03/2021 - 13:15

    Nope don't do it, but I do enjoy passing boy racers who do and get stuck at next set lights or behind a car as I sail by.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2021 - 18:32

    Yes. Otherwise, queue on the right lane will be even longer.

  • mubd1234 on 08/04/2021 - 22:44

    Yes. I always use the lane with the shortest queue. If everyone uses all the available road space, the traffic queue is shorter and more people can get through the traffic light phase. Same thing with merging in congestion - everyone should merge as late as possible to allow the queue to progress rather than jumping into the main lanes at the first opportunity.

    It's like how back in the day when you had to stop at toll booths they'd fan out from 2 or 3 lanes to 7 or 8 lanes to allow more people to be processed at once and then everyone merges back at the end.

    More people get through the intersection on one light if we all zip merge at the lights and forget about this idea that it's like cutting in line at the bank.

    Of course there are big caveats. People who go straight from a turning lane for example - you are a (profanity) who should have their licence shredded.

    Once autonomous cars become common the ideal there won't be this idea of 'queue jumping' and it should just be a seamless zip diverge and then merge again.

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