Is this queue jumping on dual carriageways & motorways? Should you merge in turn for lane closures?

Should you use both lanes to queue when there is a lane closure? Is it queue jumping?
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One of the most controversial things on the UK roads is how to deal with lane closures on dual carriageways and motorways, as well as talking about the weather, the British love a good queue, so most drivers like to move to the open lane as soon as possible and queue up there, but do you need to?

Is it queue jumping if you merge in turn immediately before the lane closure?

Well this is what rule 134 of The Highway Code states:

"You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed."

In this video I give examples on how to successfully merge when there is a lane closure, including how to merge in heavy traffic and light traffic.

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[UKDrivingTest]

Forgot to add this to the video, but rule 134 of The Highway Code states:

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed.

[rebeccasandom]

Exactly !! Its not pushing in its using all the available road space to help traffic flow better. Known as zip merging.

[BigALBoomer]

90% of British drivers deffo agree this is queue jumping but you are correct. I’ve got so much road rage from this over the years

[tony_w]

for the best flow of all traffic; there was a Canadian study that showed if traffic is flowing with no queue then move into the open lane early, if traffic is queueing at the lane closure then use both lanes and merge in turn, if drivers leave space and do not tailgate then the traffic can merge smoothly.
this confirms your video at 9:16, excellent explanation.

[annabelholland]

I used to thought that if most people were in one lane, the people in the quiet lane are doing it wrong by cutting in line until I read an article from the RAC. I now use all available space in heavy or slow traffic and move over ASAP if I am on a fast road with light traffic. If on a two lane road, one lane is closed, or I am closest to the cones, then I travel at a speed around 60 mph if no one is working nearby or less than 50 mph if someone is working nearby (i.e., within 10ft) on a motorway or dual carriageway with a speed limit of 50 or more, unless that speed limit has been reduced due to roadworks. I also try to give at least a full lane between me and the highway maintenance or emergency vehicle, or to slow down to 50 mph or less if possible.

Please note that I passed my test in september 2021

[benyaminewanganyahu]

Okay, here's the thing... Despite you being correct according to Highway Code, drivers who prefer to queue will not *willingly* allow you to merge when the lane closes. Therefore, it is logical to merge earlier so that you can do so easily with little stress (and also because it might result in the same outcome anyway if many drivers don't let you merge.) This process then continues since everyone thinks "I had to merge earlier why do they get to do otherwise".

I'm sure that you always try to merge in turn but for most drivers would prefer to queue (to an extent) then have less hassle because most people are not going to let them in easily. It's basically a vicious circle.

Ultimately, in layman's terms, you are in a sense queue jumping because that's literally what is happening, it just isn't your fault that everyone else decided to queue up. I.e. this is the definition of queue jumping even if it has implications that you do not like. Or you may be talking about a driving instructor definition.

In another comment you argue that it's about British politeness which I agree with is a big factor. But that's the point: social etiquette is by consensus - if 90% of people think you're being rude, you essentially are even if you're following the rules and they aren't because you're kind of saying 'to hell' with you idiots. Whereas most people prefer to humour even people's idiocy simply to be polite. I understand that you're a driving instructor so it's bit different.

I think merge in turn signs would solve this like you mentioned.

Also, FWIW, I believe 90% of drivers who merge in turn, have no idea that they are doing the 'correct' thing and totally believe they are simply queue-jumping to save time and don't care about the Highway Code.

Thanks for reading.

[williamfriar]

One good thing about getting into the closing lane is that you can avoid the slow vehicles in the through lane. I’ll never understand why the through lane is traveling so slowly . . .

[WayneTulip-zmgw]

2 shorter queues are better than 1 long queue, it amazes me that some drivers don’t understand merging in turn, it’s not queue jumping, it’s using all of the available road space right up until the actual point of lane closure which improves traffic flow by getting twice as many vehicles through the same point and it also minimises disruption further back down the road at junctions, people who think it’s queue jumping and change lanes to block drivers from queue jumping need to be educated on merging in turn.

[jacknewton]

I've had people pull out on me multiple times to stop me from zipper merging on a lane closure

[andyclark]

You merge and turn, merge and turn. So many people don’t understand that. Merge and turn, best way to keep traffic flowing.

[yeomancam]

Beautifully done. Could a learner on test just choose to queue in through lane though? (I guess this could prove more difficult if they then cause an obstruction)

[truckerlee]

It might help the idiots if the workman put the use both lanes and merge signs out but most only ever put lane closed in 300 yards ect out.

[captainoates]

The thing is if everybody used both lanes and merged in turn at the end then no-one would have a percieved advantage as both lanes would be of equal length.

[albinoboy]

Is this queue jumping on dual carriageways & motorways? No. Should you merge in turn for lane closures? Yes. I disagree it is controversial. You should always use the road space and changing lanes early causes more delays, more frustration for those already in that longer lane and longer waits. I completely agree with you. I notice the silver estate in front straddled the line to block it.

[dandp]

Why mirror, signal and thank the driver behind? It is equal priority.

[World_an_adventure]

If you shouldn’t use that lane it would be shut at the start and not the point of the works

[MrSychnant]

The whole problem could be reduced if ALL the roadworks included the sign that shows the two cars merging..

[becker]

Why is this such a big thing in the UK? Every video ive seen where people stand in stupidly long lines with an empty line next to it where from the UK. Usually videos of bad driving are either from the US or russia. Recently i saw a video where a van risked a crash just to stop somebody from being smart. And another video where someone was activley blocked from entering. Im not from the UK but whats the reason people dont do it, it would benefit everyone

[iangraham]

Are you queue jumping? Or are you flying past an already moving line of traffic which then has to slow to accept you at the point of the merge?

[J_S]

This section around Horsham is a nightmare. I always use the lane with the least traffic, and merge at the merge point. Society in general is full of sheep, waiting to be lead and desperate to copy the sheep in front. Free-thinkers aren’t usually welcome with them 😂…look at the idiot in the Silver Mercedes estate at the merge point…guardian of the highways, apparently.