Rules of the Road

[quagmire]

Here is a trick I used to see in Toronto years ago on the Don Valley Parkway; Driver cuts over to the shoulder and heads for the exit ramp, then at the last second cuts back into traffic!!

Yep see that all the time here when in rush hour traffic. I don't know where people get their self-appointed sense of importance where they need to get home sooner than others in the exact same situation and cause traffic to further back up cause now we have to stop to let you in.....

 

[0388631]

Saw that not long ago. Had to break to avoid an accident. It was a Prius driver, too.

 

[Tomorrow]

"Merge," at least to me, means to form one line from two - think of the teeth of a zipper. It should be done while the two lines of cars are moving at roughly the same speed. If you pass a line of cars going 5 mph while you're going much faster, then at the end of your lane you're not "merging," you're "cutting in front of people."

 

[BarracksSi]

Was I right or wrong, or is there no wrong answer?
Here is my reasoning, when a lane is closed, from a traffic congestion standpoint, it makes more sense to fill both lanes equally until the merge point than to have one lane backed up twice as far. You keep your proper place in line, and no one passes you up because you were extra orderly and formed a single line early, which is also a valid choice, but not required.

You were right, and there IS a right answer.

Your reasoning is partially correct, too, but I think there's a more meta reason it works. As long as people try to choose their own individual merge points, there will always be differences of opinion -- that's just how opinions work, after all. But if the DOT construction signage directs traffic to do something specific, then all those individual -- and conflicting -- opinions don't matter anymore, and everyone implicitly agrees to what the DOT (who serves as a neutral arbitrating third party) says to do.

[edit]
To apply this to your poll options:

- "ASAP" is unclear, and it's different for everyone. Some people would move over when they eventually see the flashing arrows, and some will move at the "Lane Closes 5 Miles Ahead" sign. You'll never see a consensus.
- "merge point". There's just one merge point, and that's where the lane closes. That's where nobody can choose to go straight anymore. Pretty impossible to say otherwise, so I'd say that this is most likely to achieve a consensus. (and if they put up a big sign that says "MERGE HERE" like in the video below, then there's no doubt about where it is, right?)
- "... as long as it is safe and orderly." Different people have different ideas of how safely they can move into the other lane. Some try to go ahead of the car next to them (easier to see), some try to go behind instead (more polite). You won't see a consensus here, either.

See what I mean? It's not about removal of choice, it's about removal of conflicting choices. Less conflict = more cooperation = less stress.
[/edit]

Hopefully I'm not the only one to post this vid. Same stretch of road, SAME construction project, but different instructions being given to the drivers on different days. The "zipper method" works smoother, and more safely, than letting everyone do their own thing:

 

[Gregg2]

While on vacation in Canada, many years ago, I encountered this exact situation. The first warning sign said "Fill All Lanes" and then at the merge point, another sign: "Take Your Turn". It worked like a charm. Maybe Canadians are just smarter, more polite, etc.

Actually, in the U.S., the sign usually says "Right Lane Closed Ahead". It does not say that the lane is closed where you are when you first are able to read the sign.

Yes, use all the open pavement. That's the most efficient. But, too many dummies out there driving...

 

[eljanitor]

I tend to be more careful in construction zones because I know that sometimes someone can step out on to the road and you might hit them, or something like a front end loader may pull out unexpectedly into that open area, and because you are zipping around trying to get ahead of everyone else they clip you and eventually you end up being the one at fault because you failed to observe the posted signs. It's not about being right or wrong it's about being safe.

 

[BarracksSi]

Actually, in the U.S., the sign usually says "Right Lane Closed Ahead". It does not say that the lane is closed where you are when you first are able to read the sign.

Right, and it can be even more vague, too, like "Road Construction Ahead". Maybe there's no lane closures, maybe it's going from four lanes down to just one and then crosses over the median.

 

[jkcerda]

The Situation:
In my neighborhood on a dual lane road (two lanes each way separated by a medium), speed limit 45mph, about a mile before , a sign says Road Work Ahead. About a half mile before, a sign says Right Lane Closed, and traffic starts moving towards the left lane. However the right lane is still open, but in the left traffic has slowed down to 5mph or less. What should you do?

1. Move to the left lane merging safely ASAP.
2. Stay in your lane (if you are in the right lane, wait until the merge point (angled cones that direct the right lane traffic into the left), and then merge into a single lane in an orderly fashion.
3. Merge whenever you want as long as it safe and orderly.

The reason I ask, I was in this situation, in the right lane, and about 200’ prior to the merge point a car was straddling both lanes as if to say, I’m not going to lose my spot by letting you passing me on the right. Fortunately he did not straddle enough and I eased by him, and proceeded up to merge point about 15 cars ahead of him where I merged. No cursing or shots were fired. Maybe I was lucky.

Was I right or wrong, or is there no wrong answer?
Here is my reasoning, when a lane is closed, from a traffic congestion standpoint, it makes more sense to fill both lanes equally until the merge point than to have one lane backed up twice as far. You keep your proper place in line, and no one passes you up because you were extra orderly and formed a single line early, which is also a valid choice, but not required.

no one shot you?................ and HOW do you know there were no cursing words?????

whatever is safe, I have seen people try to block as you point out.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Here, by law, you are first supposed to merge by the merge point. Unfortunately not many knows about it. But I would assume it is like this in most other countries too.

 

[Septembersrain]

I'd turn on my signal and merge over as soon as I saw an opening (Or let in). Not jump around everyone, waiting until the last minute. The notice of the road closed ahead is enough to prompt me to move over as soon as safely possible.

Not sure if this is the law but it's both safe and courteous to me.

 

[Huntn]

You were right, and there IS a right answer.

Your reasoning is partially correct, too, but I think there's a more meta reason it works. As long as people try to choose their own individual merge points, there will always be differences of opinion -- that's just how opinions work, after all. But if the DOT construction signage directs traffic to do something specific, then all those individual -- and conflicting -- opinions don't matter anymore, and everyone implicitly agrees to what the DOT (who serves as a neutral arbitrating third party) says to do.

[edit]
To apply this to your poll options:

- "ASAP" is unclear, and it's different for everyone. Some people would move over when they eventually see the flashing arrows, and some will move at the "Lane Closes 5 Miles Ahead" sign. You'll never see a consensus.
- "merge point". There's just one merge point, and that's where the lane closes. That's where nobody can choose to go straight anymore. Pretty impossible to say otherwise, so I'd say that this is most likely to achieve a consensus. (and if they put up a big sign that says "MERGE HERE" like in the video below, then there's no doubt about where it is, right?)
- "... as long as it is safe and orderly." Different people have different ideas of how safely they can move into the other lane. Some try to go ahead of the car next to them (easier to see), some try to go behind instead (more polite). You won't see a consensus here, either.

See what I mean? It's not about removal of choice, it's about removal of conflicting choices. Less conflict = more cooperation = less stress.
[/edit]

Hopefully I'm not the only one to post this vid. Same stretch of road, SAME construction project, but different instructions being given to the drivers on different days. The "zipper method" works smoother, and more safely, than letting everyone do their own thing:

Thanks for the help, I agree, the Zipper! The problem with some of these people is that they don't want to worry about merging so they merge early, but then they don't want you to pass them either. If there is a lot of traffic, it just makes no sense to merge a mile or two before the merge point, pushing the point to where the traffic is backed up to twice as long. For example if there are 100 cars trying to merge. If they do it early the backed up area would be 100 cars deep. But if they zipper at the merge point, it would only be 50 cars deep.
[doublepost=1521148954][/doublepost]

no one shot you?................ and HOW do you know there were no cursing words?????

whatever is safe, I have seen people try to block as you point out.

Our windows were open as I drove by.

 

[BarracksSi]

I'd turn on my signal and merge over as soon as I saw an opening (Or let in). Not jump around everyone, waiting until the last minute. The notice of the road closed ahead is enough to prompt me to move over as soon as safely possible.

Not sure if this is the law but it's both safe and courteous to me.

The way you wrote this sounds calm, but there’s an irritation about the people who go up past you, isn’t there?

Go back to my longer post, read through it (not just the video clip), and see if it makes some sense.

(I also don’t think either of the poll options needs to be codified into law, because... well, who knows all the laws about driving anyway?)

 

[Gutwrench]

If I’m in the right lane I zoom up then dart in at the last moment.

If I’m in the #1 lane and see cars trying to pass in the #2, I start weaving across both lanes like I’m CHP running a traffic break.

 

[Septembersrain]

The way you wrote this sounds calm, but there’s an irritation about the people who go up past you, isn’t there?

Go back to my longer post, read through it (not just the video clip), and see if it makes some sense.

(I also don’t think either of the poll options needs to be codified into law, because... well, who knows all the laws about driving anyway?)

I let people in. I think if the ones who are in the left lane let people in and the ones on the right merge in properly, it would be better.

However, I do have a small car amongst a city full of huge vehicles.

So I do have to be more aggressive at times. It's really stressful to have to be on the offensive when other people are not paying attention or are being recklessly aggressive.

You really have to drive thinking of other people first. Too many don't.

 

[Gutwrench]

You really have to drive thinking of other people first. Too many don't.

Really well said. People need to realize we are all trying to get to our destination, it’s just I’m in a bigger hurry. So be courteous and let me by.

 

[0388631]

I've seen people try to get past the CHP units when they're zig zagging to slow traffic down due to an accident or large debris on the road. Always hilarious when they get on the blower and have to ask people to stop riding their rear.

 

[BarracksSi]

I let people in. I think if the ones who are in the left lane let people in and the ones on the right merge in properly, it would be better.

However, I do have a small car amongst a city full of huge vehicles.

So I do have to be more aggressive at times. It's really stressful to have to be on the offensive when other people are not paying attention or are being recklessly aggressive.

You really have to drive thinking of other people first. Too many don't.

What I’m getting at is, you have one opinion (shared by many, too), while others have different opinions — and that clash is why you see people behaving inconsistently and getting frustrated with each other.

By “don’t bother codifying it into law”, I mean that not enough people know all the driving laws anyway — and that it’d be more effective to make better signage (like “Use Both Lanes” and “Merge Here”) standard procedure.

 

[MC6800]

If there is a lot of traffic, it just makes no sense to merge a mile or two before the merge point, pushing the point to where the traffic is backed up to twice as long.

I'd say go ahead and fill the other lane, but don't expect the already-merged drivers you passed to let you in until they've passed you again. That's both fair and space-efficient.

 

[Gutwrench]

I've seen people try to get past the CHP units when they're zig zagging...

Clearly those Taillight Chasers needed to practice their crazy eyes. That would not happen on Van Ness.

 

[0388631]

Clearly those Taillight Chasers needed to practice their crazy eyes. That would not happen on Van Ness.

Had to look that up. Big wide street. What's the posted limit on that street? IIRC, in my post, the CHP would have their lights on but no sound. I think some drivers tend to forget that the lights should be enough to get your attention.

 

[Gutwrench]

I was just being goofy & outrageous. Nan Ness is a surface street. We didn’t run breaks we’d just shut it down.

CHP are mostly flattops so lower profile. A single unit trying to run a break on say, US101 or I80, would be a heck of a challenge not to mention in low visibility. But once you get the first group slowed down traffic bunches up and takes care of itself.

 

[bruinsrme]

Speed up the right hand lane and at the very last minute cut off the a hole in the left lane, flip them the finger for not letting you in.

 

[D.T.]

Speed up the right hand lane and at the very last minute cut off the a hole in the left lane, flip them the finger for not letting you in.

Was that you?

 

[bruinsrme]

Was that you?

Yeah, like leaning on your horn was going to stop me from cutting you off

 

[Huntn]

Yep see that all the time here when in rush hour traffic. I don't know where people get their self-appointed sense of importance where they need to get home sooner than others in the exact same situation and cause traffic to further back up cause now we have to stop to let you in.....

I frequently see aggressive drivers in the neighborhood weaving in and out dangerously, clawing for that one car advantage to save a second of their time. However, I’ll clarify this is different than discussing the best way to merge as a result of road construction.