MnDOT | How to zipper merge (animation)

[captainobvious]

That's fine. What baffles me is when there is no traffic and the exit is literally right there, but the car behind me just cannot wait 2 more seconds so goes around me and cuts in front, barely making the exit... only for me to drive up right beside him at the light.
CONGRATS! You made it a WHOLE care length ahead! I am sure your parents will be proud!

[knnygar]

The best way to see this is two lanes merging into one, not one merging with the other. If the signs would have indicated a zipper, more people would have understood it I think.

[johnwick-iiil]

There is one caveat to keep in mind. In many states the DOT or Highway Dept. will place signs that ask you to zipper merge. So drivers think they are entitled to a merge at the merge point.
But when an accident happens they discover that the ending lane is still legally considered as the one that merges, NOT the thru lane. So therefore the ending lanes drivers are automatically liable for a safe and proper merge and usually found to be at fault.
Some States are revising their laws to reflect a shared liability. But it is not nearly Nationwide yet.
Until then, the thru lane drivers do not usually owe you a merge as the zipper implies, so dont get cocky.

[JSpin]

Quickest way to get into a fast wreck. 👍🏼

[kaitzi]

Holy cow, so many people need to see this video. I don't understand why people think it's "rude" to zipper merge. Because it's not EXACTLY "first come first through"? Oh boo hoo. Yes, let's all extend our wait at a merge for an hour to be "polite". It's absolutely polite to get places late!

Ug, just spent two hours in bumper to bumper traffic on I-80 which could have been partially alleviated if a UPS freight wasn't forcing an early merge for everyone by squatting in the closing lane.

[Technodreamer]

Also: KEEP SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU.

It's astonishing how many people don't do this at highway speeds. Leaving a healthy space between cars reduces traffic density, allows for easier adjustment to changing conditions and helps prevent traffic jams from occurring in the first place, especially "phantom" jams.

[chemmerling]

People don't always think this way, which is sad. I'm guilty of being an early merger, but that's because when you're at the merge point drivers won't let you in, at least here in oregon. If we all thought about this courteous way of merging, we wouldn't have issues with merging.

[johnwick-iiil]

The zipper merge just turns one long line into two short ones. But it is still the same amount of cars that pass thru the obstruction, so it does not save time. Also drivers hop from one lane to the other back and forth trying to get ahead. They could not do this if the cars were in one long line.
But the long single line can block ramps.

[rickseminole]

I like this type of merge for construction..and I'm sure vehicles will merge courteously when there’s a highway patrol parked at the merging point.
It will also be great if every state in the U.S had the same laws for merging lanes...

[Feelkkari]

LA traffic kinda requires that you do this but...there's always one buttmunch who decides to beat the system.

[matthewheyns]

If the through lane leaves "polite" gaps, and the merging lane "politely" enters the appropriate gap, this works great. As several others have mentioned, the problem becomes the "zoomer" (rushing ahead in the closing lane to try for ONE MORE FREAKING CAR LENGTH AHEAD! Like you're gonna make you destination 8 seconds earlier matters?) and the "close follower" (follows the car ahead too closely for the closing lane to merge).

[CrossCountyTravelers]

Scott and I have been using this for a while; I just wish everyone else would. Unfortunately, people just don't understand it.
Thanks for putting this out there.
Ren

[CeeWitz]

Assuming drivers will actually respect the zipper and take turns in an orderly fashion when they get to the merge point? That's cute. First time driving?

[Kalamain]

Erm...I'm not sure where in the world this was aimed at. But when I passed my test, here in the UK in the 90's, this was taught to me as standard!

Any intelligent driver can watch the road and adjust his speed to reduce the impact of a driver entering from the other lane.

[NicholasMaietta]

This is why my van will be outfitted with heavy duty "car" pushers.

[outtagoodnamesdangit]

Ok, this is great and how it should work... but how do you A) notify people; and B) enforce it when someone doesn't follow the rules?
I'm not naysaying, I'm genuinely interested in the answer.

[byrn]

...I don't get it. I've *always* tried to 'zipper' in to traffic, whether I am the one merging or speeding up/slowing down to let someone else slot in. It's just so much easier than using the danged brakes all the time!

[stevemcgee]

The relative speed of the flow of traffic makes a big difference, which is not mentioned in this video.  Also, the frequency of cars arriving, and their speed, makes a difference.

An on-ramp onto the freeway merging with slow moving traffic is a bit difference than this scenario.

[NotDavidM]

This is common sense, its called the golden rule, also drive like everybody else can't.

[djb]

This video caters to the drivers of Minnesota, who are born (and bred) to be merging-impaired. If you've ever driven in the great state of Minnesota, you know exactly what I mean. If it involves merging into traffic, you can guarantee that MN drivers will screw it up. It probably stems from "Minnesota Nice", which is a form of over-politeness that not only makes merging difficult, but also makes four-way stops daunting, at best.