Driving etiquette. Am I missing something?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

No law, and it’s been proven that filling both lanes and alternatiing into the single lane is the fastest way to get through.

Exactly.

The morons who cannot be made to understand that using both lanes as long as possible is the most efficient use of those lanes should have their licenses yanked and be sent back to drivers' ed.

Post a few cops where the one lane ends. Any stupid ass hole that will not allow another driver to merge at that point because of their childish perception of "fair" gets pulled out of line and made to wait while their "failure to yield" ticket is written. Very slowly.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Exactly.

The morons who cannot be made to understand that using both lanes as long as possible is the most efficient use of those lanes should have their licenses yanked and be sent back to drivers' ed.

.....

Well...there seem to be a LOT of folks here who think everyone should be packed into the rightmost lane unless they are passing (on that other thread)...Pelican maroons

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by seafeye

We've all been in this situation and of course it's no fun.

There are reasoned arguments on both sides of the issue re: the pinch, but anyone should be able to look at this picture and see that the only reason people in the open lane want to be able to use it is to get ahead of the people in the stacked lane.

It's natural to want to cut your wait time.

Think of attempting to use the zipper method if you found yourself in a line to buy concert tickets. I know it's not directly applicable, but if there was a single line and someone thought it would be a good idea to make it a double line, move themselves to the front, and 'zipper in,' you can imagine how well it would go over.

That's all this is. Sure, our OP needed to go to the bathroom, but if it's really an emergency, you need to stop your car, get out, and head for the woods.

Using both lanes is invariably going to take longer with the zipper method because of how dysfunctional drivers can be at 'the zippper' ...some will try to let more than one car in ahead of them, and there will be a lot of 'directing traffic' from inside cars.

When you consider the cars furthest back... 1, 2, or more miles back, it would be better if people moved over early and just moved along as quickly as the line could move.

The only reason to be indignant that you can't use the open lane is to be 'that guy.'

And if you have a medical emergency, you can put the flashers on, lean on the horn, and use the emergency lane... if a cop lights you up, just stop and let him know... and you'll get a quick escort to the hospital.

[ckelly78z]

As long as someone can get an undeserved advantage in a situation like this, they will. There is no moral compass for most drivers. I see this impatience in all aspects of driving.

[dheinz]

Pennsylvania interstate hiway constuction areas use signs that say "Use both lanes to merge point", " Merge point, take your turn".
It seems to work.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by dheinz

Pennsylvania interstate hiway constuction areas use signs that say "Use both lanes to merge point", " Merge point, take your turn".
It seems to work.

Every construction site should have those signs!
It is much more fair than people stacking up the one through lane and having people shoot by and merge at the end.

[AFC-911]

Zipper does not work.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It's weird, they'll stack up 10, 20 cars deep in one of the turn lanes while the other lane is completely empty then get pissed when you use the empty lane like you are "'cutting in line".

Absolutely, they do that even when the lanes don't merge after the turn and I don't get that either. It also doesn't stop me from using the empty lane.

[mreid]

Beer muscles and keyboard muscles are only exceeded by steering wheel muscles.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

In TX trying to zipper at the end will get you shot.

They actually teach in drivers ed that you get over as soon as you see the merge, even if it's a mile away.

People here get real pissed off when you try it.

I've been run off the road more than once when making a left from the outside lane of a two lane turn lane that feeds into one lane.

It's weird, they'll stack up 10, 20 cars deep in one of the turn lanes while the other lane is completely empty then get pissed when you use the empty lane like you are "'cutting in line".

Around here, there are similar situations where traffic always stacks at certain points.

Just putting a blinker on that you will be turning tends to alleviate tension.

Those trucks are actually saving every one time, people normally drive in such a short sighted way they clog up a situation that should flow much easier.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Back in the 70’s, I was taught that a light that was green for a long time was a “stale green light” and be prepared to stop.

BUT DON’T STOP WHEN IT’S GREEN!😡

This makes more sense.

Lights where I know the pattern, if I see it green in the distance, it will be red when I get there.

I back off to arrive when it is green again.

(Or..maybe...really gun it.)

[T77911S]

people get tired of merging early and trying to keep traffic moving only to have the Ahole that's too good to get in line go all the way up to the front just to make traffic STOP and let him in.

its better to merge early and keep a steady speed than to have to keep stopping.

this girl was too good to get in the back of the line one time. she came up to the front and tried to cut me off. I kept my speed and did move. needless to say her nice car got a nice dent from my old beater.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Normally I'd agree and to some degree it's a valid point.

I got a huge rude awakening when my daughter took driving lessons here.

All those behaviours that baffle me are actually taught in Drivers Ed.

When we first moved here I nearly rear ended a dozen people the first 6 months.

We'd be driving along, traffic light in the distance, green, and out of no where the person in front of me would actually come to a full stop at a green light.

It happened agin one day during the time she was in Drivers Ed, I as usual, lost my ****.

She pipes up from the back seat, "they teach us that in drivers ed, if the lights been green for a long time we should stop, even if it's still green"

What ****ing moron thought that was a good idea.

Weird, definitely not in Houston. Green means pedal to the metal. Yellow means no stopping now and red means if you can squeak through, go for it. It's crazy.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Back in the 70’s, I was taught that a light that was green for a long time was a “stale green light” and be prepared to stop.

BUT DON’T STOP WHEN IT’S GREEN!😡

Yeah, I suspect the daughter didn't quite understand and the other wankers weren't completely paying attention.

I don't think I've probably seen it more than a handful of times in the 24-ish years that I've been here.

[jwasbury]

Around these parts you can have stop ‘n go bumper to bumper stack ups going back a mile or 2 at multiple lane interstate exits and interchanges. Drones who are not actively engaged in operating their vehicles will queue up 2 miles out and participate in the “automotive slinky”. Those of us who are actively participating in the process of getting to our destination as quickly as possible will use all the lanes, maintain speed, and merge in late. Typically there is plenty of space available to merge in because the drones are watching youtube videos on their phones and not paying attention.

Elsewhere this may be considered @zzhole behavior, but around here we call it “efficient”

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Self-importance. That’s all it is. One from the left, then one from the right. Repeat. It ain’t hard.

This is one reason I do not at all miss driving on the mainland and in particular, in the northeast US. There are the worst, most unskilled, self-absorbed aggro jackasses I’ve ever observed anywhere - possibly on earth. I don’t miss having to share roads with them one bit. Drivers on the US west coast are all seem to be super aggro but at least seem to have some basic level of driving skill and situational awareness comparatively speaking. I just leave earlier if I need to and don’t care too much about what anyone else does. There are always going to be jerks - why indulge them or let them drag you down to their level of road rage + no situational awareness + general douchiness? No thanks!

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

In TX trying to zipper at the end will get you shot.

They actually teach in drivers ed that you get over as soon as you see the merge, even if it's a mile away.

People here get real pissed off when you try it.

I've been run off the road more than once when making a left from the outside lane of a two lane turn lane that feeds into one lane.

It's weird, they'll stack up 10, 20 cars deep in one of the turn lanes while the other lane is completely empty then get pissed when you use the empty lane like you are "'cutting in line".

That’s stupid.
Here, please read this from the TEXAS DOT blog

Go Ahead!: Is the "zipper merge" rude?

And please look at this picture they used (admittedly borrowed from the MN DOT)
Which coincidentally describes situations from this very thread!!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Around these parts you can have stop ‘n go bumper to bumper stack ups going back a mile or 2 at multiple lane interstate exits and interchanges. Drones who are not actively engaged in operating their vehicles will queue up 2 miles out and participate in the “automotive slinky”. Those of us who are actively participating in the process of getting to our destination as quickly as possible will use all the lanes, maintain speed, and merge in late. Typically there is plenty of space available to merge in because the drones are watching youtube videos on their phones and not paying attention.

Elsewhere this may be considered @zzhole behavior, but around here we call it “efficient”

I have been known to be efficient.

Also, if I am trying to be efficient, but for whatever reason, I don't find a spot where I had room to merge, I will pass my turn and go around. I figure it is the price that I paid for planning to cut in line, even if I cut in a big space because some other moron wasn't paying attention which I feel no guilt or remorse for.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by T77911S

people get tired of merging early and trying to keep traffic moving only to have the Ahole that's too good to get in line go all the way up to the front just to make traffic STOP and let him in.

its better to merge early and keep a steady speed than to have to keep stopping.

I'm with you comrade.
Everyone gets in line, equally, so everyone get there faster and society functions more efficiently.

A group of ten aggressive drivers pushing their way to the end of the merge point affects the entire flow of hundreds behind them in chaotic ripples. The synchronized system stops. And when people are late and trapped and stressed, adding new chaos is usually not a good thing at the beginning of a good productive day.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Gogar

That’s stupid.
Here, please read this from the TEXAS DOT blog

Go Ahead!: Is the "zipper merge" rude?

And please look at this picture they used (admittedly borrowed from the MN DOT)
Which coincidentally describes situations from this very thread!!

Drivers in TX, at least the Dallas are, don't zipper merge.

Austin is the only place I know where the zipper merge is common but Austin probably has more foreigners residing there than the rest of the state combined.

There have been numerous awareness campaigns launched recently trying to get people to get on board.

Not zippering is a thing they used to and still do teach in drivers ed even though the state admits that's not the best way and is trying to change attitudes about it.

http://kut.org/post/stay-your-lane-why-zipper-merge-texas-best-chance-reduce-traffic