Why Do You Merge Early?

CommuterPolluter on 24/01/2025 - 20:05

My commute involves a lane which is temporarily closed for roadworks (the left lane on a 4-lane freeway). This lane is consistently faster, even in heavy traffic (< 40 km/h). I believe it’s because many drivers merge early, when they initially see a sign suggesting that the lane will close (“LANE CLOSURE AHEAD”). Are you one of these drivers? Why do you do it?

It seems to me that merging early causes a traffic hazard, as the traffic in the leftmost lane can now travel significantly faster than the rest of traffic (and inevitably some drivers will recklessly do so). Additionally, it’s my understanding that merging early increases the overall level of congestion.

To pre-empt some comments I would like to note that in some circumstances when a lane is temporarily closed by electronic signage only, some drivers will ignore the signs and not merge back onto the open lanes. This is not what I’m referring to, I’m referring specifically to drivers merging several hundred meters ahead of a normally enforced lane merge point.

Automotive

Comments

    • BobLim on 25/01/2025 - 21:13
      +2

      And there's some, like myself on occasion, who roughly keep track of the vehicles around them and will therefore help someone who's been travelling in parallel to easily merge in front if they encounter an obstruction which neither could see or predict (say roadworks over a crest), while making it less appealing for people who come from way further back, ripping past suitable merging opportunities and then require "letting in" at the furthest possible point before the obstruction (i.e. fastest for them, slower for everyone else).

      End of the day, these merges are "lane ends" not "zipper" or "form one lane" etc - the driver crossing the line must give way, therefore it shouldn't be expected that anyone would routinely do anything different. If "zipper" merging was so great, there wouldn't be any "left lane ends" signs, and slip lanes would simply join the left lane without any dashed lines to cross.

      The most efficient / highest throughput for a road is whenever the speed through the choke-point is maximised. Having everyone slow to a crawl/stop just at the start of the choke0point doesn't sound like the way to achieve that, which is generally what happens when people using the closing lane get too "pushy" and cause hard braking instead of giving way.

      • Euphemistic on 26/01/2025 - 06:31

        If "zipper" merging was so great, there wouldn't be any "left lane ends" signs, and slip lanes would simply join the left lane without any dashed lines to cross.

        Thats how all new merge areas are designed. The only reason there are give way lines at most merges is becahse they were designed that way long ago and havent been changed.

        • BobLim on 26/01/2025 - 23:59
          -1

          Interesting. Any source to back that up? Most road authorities refer to the Austroads manuals for guidance.

  • RiseAndRuin on 25/01/2025 - 19:50

    Why do they put up a sign suggesting that the lane will close (“LANE CLOSURE AHEAD”) when they can put it up right where it does close (“LANE CLOSURE HERE!!!!!”) so nobody can merge early?

    /s

  • Nickels n Dimes on 25/01/2025 - 21:19

    I do the zipper merge as much as possible, but i see a lot of people who seem nervous trying to merge as soon as they see the sign and panic, i don't think there's a real solution until autonomous driving takes over. The best option would be if road authorities designed roads not to have merge lanes after an intersection, and Italy not at all, because they cause congestion and road rage.

    • BobLim on 25/01/2025 - 22:03
      -2

      Extra lanes at intersections increase the technical maximum capacity of the intersection though. According to many commenters here, every intersection should have a couple of additional lanes open up then merge back in, because that would be "best for traffic flow".

      This road design theory is probably a relic of the past where traffic lights were few and far between, cars accelerated slower, and you could generally expect a clear run up to the (probably higher than today) speed limit. Same bucket as the idealised fantasy world of the perfectly-optimised zipper merge smoothly shepherding vehicles around an obstruction of any size at the highest possible rate

      • Euphemistic on 26/01/2025 - 06:32
        +1

        This road design theory is probably a relic of the past where traffic lights were few and far between

        No its not. Its current practice.

  • outlander on 25/01/2025 - 23:35

    Additionally, it’s my understanding that merging early increases the overall level of congestion.

    Driving isn't all about the absolute timing. I'd choose an easy drive over a tense merge that saves an extra second or two.

    • CommuterPolluter on 25/01/2025 - 23:44

      Easy drive is staying left and getting a minute reprieve from the stop-start traffic.

  • Grunntt on 26/01/2025 - 00:48
    -1

    I’m referring specifically to drivers merging several hundred meters ahead of a normally enforced lane merge point.

    No you aren't.

    My commute involves a lane which is temporarily closed for roadworks (the left lane on a 4-lane freeway)

    This is your example given that clearly requires a lane change.

    These are two different situations which have different road rules that apply to them.

    • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 10:42

      Exactly, groundhog day syndrome. Safety risk to all other drivers.

    • R-Man on 26/01/2025 - 21:00

      Could you elaborate how they are different?

      Sounds like the road starts as a 4-lane freeway then has a merge pooint that makes it a 3-lane freeway for a stretch. Drivers have the option to merge at the point of closure, or several hundred metres before it. So, the 2nd quotation sounds like the same quotation as the first but i might be missing something?

      • Grunntt on 26/01/2025 - 22:04

        but i might be missing something?

        Please read the road rules applicable in your state where it clearly defines the difference between changing lanes and merging.
        The rules apply differently for each of those situations.

        • R-Man on 26/01/2025 - 23:50
          -1

          So you cant elaborate hey? probs cos you're talking out your arse.

          In Victoria, there is no distinction between merging and changing lanes. Both say give way to cars ahead of you.

          https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-rules-and-safety/merging-l…

          • Grunntt on 27/01/2025 - 09:46

            @R-Man:

            Zip merging is when two rows of vehicles merge into one, and there are no lines marked on the road.
            You must give way to a vehicle which has any part of its vehicle ahead of yours.
            You are not zip merging if you cross any lines marked on the road. If you cross lines on the road, you must follow the ‘give way’ rules for changing lanes.

            Seems to be a pretty clear distinction between merging and changing lanes from the link you provided.

            So you cant elaborate hey? probs cos you're talking out your arse.

            Why the agro when someone points out that you may be incorrectly interpreting something?
            Maybe try to read the article and understand the nuances of the language used.

            Give these two links a quick read for a more definitive answer for you so you may be able to understand it's not out of my orifice -
            Vic Reg 148 Defines changing lanes.
            Vic Reg 149 Defines merging.

            Both say give way to cars ahead of you.

            Only one of these specifies giving way to the vehicle ahead.

  • idonotknowwhy on 26/01/2025 - 01:11

    Why Do You Merge Early?

    To avoid having to deal with merge conflicts. This way it's someone else's problem and I can go home on time.

    • R-Man on 26/01/2025 - 21:01

      Best answer. Never submit a PR at the end of the day.

  • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 10:36

    The logical extension of you thinking that proactive driving is a problem, indicates you are the real problem.
    If you are an adult driver, have to ask a forum about what's normal on the road, hand your license in. Now.

    • 2025 on 26/01/2025 - 13:43
      +1

      The zipper method, in which drivers merge late, is based on the idea of a zipper's "teeth." Just as a zipper smoothly comes together, a zipper merge can keep traffic flowing in both lanes by bringing some organization to the merging process, AAA says.
      …
      The Colorado Department of Transportation encourages drivers to use the zipper merge tactic. And it can reduce delays up to 40%, it said.

      https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/07/23/zipper-…

      • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 16:40
        +1

        The problem is the way ppl drive on freeways in Straya is nothing like a graphic representation. We can wish all we want, but ppl tailgate,speed,lane hop,day dream bully and drive like it's their freeway.It would take a national lobotomy to get the zipper to work on our roads.

        • 2025 on 26/01/2025 - 17:25

          You’re right

          It would take a national lobotomy

          It’s on its way with self driving vehicles and AI. People have started to lobotomise themselves by relying on the tech too much, and it will take over soon enough. Blind spot monitoring is a perfect example at the moment, it’s not 100% in every vehicle, I see more close calls with idiots changing lanes than I did 15 years ago. Many drivers fail to realise it’s an “assistance”, which is a car industry word for a feature that their own board own members wouldn’t stake their lives on, yet many people do.

          • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 19:04

            @2025: I guess an artificial form of "I" in place of a 'non' "I" human version could be seen as a temporary step fwd in some ways?
            I easily can imagine some serious law suits when accident rates via AI rise and AI auto feature failures begin to kick in.

    • R-Man on 26/01/2025 - 21:04
      +1

      Interesting angle, Protractor. I would say merging late is more proactive than merging early, which I see as reactive.

      e.g. A sign tells me Left Lane Ends 400m. I react by slowing down to get behind the driver in the next lane and merge asap. The car behind me brakes. Instead of proactively thinking hmm I have 400m and I see a gap ahead, I'll get in there, so that other cars can continue flowing.

  • 2025 on 26/01/2025 - 13:48

    I guess it might have something to do with the fact people in the packed lane think you’re doing it to cut in line so won’t leave a gap like they should, and people merging late are doing it to aid traffic flow.

    I’ve said this before, but it kind of reminds me of drive throughs with two lanes. Often you will see people lining up in one lane, with the other empty. Why?

    • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 16:46
      +1

      Ppl can't,won't and don't even leave a gap at 110kph, so are less likely to donate real estate at a crawl.It's a mindset.

    • CommuterPolluter on 26/01/2025 - 19:53

      Yeah when somebody drives past 50 odd cars and then gets in a pissing contest with the 51st car about merging in front of them… it’s just stupid. You’ve had a big win already. The other bloke’s seen 30 other cars fly past him. Just let him have this one.

      Sometimes it’s the layout of the drive-through, which can make a certain entrance harder to see or access from certain directions. Sometimes if you’re the second car you probably think “oh what’s the matter” then suddenly 3 more cars show up and you’re 4th or 5th to be served. Other than that I can’t explain it.

  • opt on 26/01/2025 - 17:48

    I always merge late because, as noted by some others, merging late is the most efficient and the correct way to drive; there is enough research to back this up (just google, you'll see plenty of actual research studies). If everyone merged late, it would be fair for everyone. Those who merge early are the ones who create a queue and the opportunity for "queue jumping". I don’t understand why people don’t see that. Anyhow, I really don’t mind what ignorant people, who don’t know how to drive efficiently and create problems for themselves by their own accord, think of me.

    • Protractor on 26/01/2025 - 20:28
      -1

      As in life, those who merged early have thought ahead,picked a lane, and aren't the problem. The reason merge late is being thrust on the table, is because people today live the 'I want it all and now' paradigm. Or 'get out of the way, i'm coming through. Me,me,me.

    • Eeples on 26/01/2025 - 23:31

      Perhaps you aren’t considering that someone might choose to merge on their own terms when safe and they are quite happy waiting in line a bit longer. And they are happy to let one car in too. (And they don’t have to be concerned about someone else letting them in). This is not about zip merging.

  • kevkay on 26/01/2025 - 18:10

    I merge when I feel comfortable, and not to appease other drivers on the road.

  • tomlikesbeetroot on 26/01/2025 - 20:13

    If you come to Perth you will find that some drivers are so bad at merging they will come to a complete stop several hundred metres before the end of the lane, then try and merge into moving traffic in the next lane creating a serious road hazard.
    This seems to be a regular behaviour in Perth that I have not seen anywhere else in Australia, or any of the 8 other countries that I have driven in. It just seems to be unique to Perth.

  • Eeples on 26/01/2025 - 23:21
    -1

    Some ppl see the lane is closed early and then decide to merge when it’s clear to do so as soon as they can. They gain position and control. They can then later easily let a car merge in front of them providing themselves with a less risky and stressful experience. (As they decided when to merge and they decided when to let someone in).

    Other ppl who either don’t see the merge until late or decide to tear down the soon to be closed lane have to negotiate their merge. This requires more attentiveness, perhaps more stress as they are at the whim of the cars that have position.

    • opt on 27/01/2025 - 01:18

      What you fail to understand is that merging early is not sustainable. What exactly is ‘early merging’? Does it mean starting to merge as soon as you see the first sign? If everyone starts merging at the first sign, it won’t take long for traffic to back up beyond that point. Then what? People who haven’t reached or seen the sign yet will first see a queue in one lane with a free, open lane next to it. How are they supposed to react? Should they queue behind everyone without knowing why? Or drive on the free lane? If they drive on the free lane (as any sensible person would) until they see the first merge sign, there is already a queue at the first sign. This is no different from merging at the last point.

      Do you see why it’s unsustainable? The only way to ensure fair merging for everyone is to zip merge at the last point, because everyone knows when and how to merge. The earlier signs should only be considered as a warning for what's coming up, and merge only when the lane is actually closed. If everyone understood this simple fact and drove accordingly, there wouldn’t be extra stress for anyone. This is why research shows merging late is the best strategy for everyone. Unfortunately lot of people don't understand this…

      • Eeples on 27/01/2025 - 15:32

        fail to understand is that merging early is not sustainable

        Not sustainable ? The traffic will get thru eventually, you know; with perhaps less chance of idiots having dingles because of all the forced merging at the end of the closed lane rather than careful merging by drivers done early.

        The situation as described in this thread is not a zip merge.

        As I said some drivers want to merge when they consider it safe to do so. (early ie. when they see the sign or other ppl merging) and also so they don’t have to worry about getting back in later.

  • nobro25 on 27/01/2025 - 10:33
    -1

    Let me make it easy for you.

    1. Merge earlier if traffic is moving at a fast pace >40km/hr because once you get to the end of the closed lane you'll be waiting for a big gap.

    2. Merge near the end of the other lanes are at a crawl <20-40km/hr make a sound judgement. Generally it's a start stop situation when traffic is not moving much. By merging later your using as much of the road as possible and slowly edging back into traffic.

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