# An Idiot's Guide to Merging **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406 "2013-05-15T14:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/41 "2013-05-17T00:33:06Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] That is ridiculous, it pisses me off just thinking about assholes trying to force their way in front of me instead of politely merging. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Then stay the hell away from California. Caltrans **ENCOURAGES** people to merge at the end as it’s a waste of road space for everyone to move over early. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/42 "2013-05-17T00:44:03Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Then stay the hell away from California. Caltrans **ENCOURAGES** people to merge at the end as it’s a waste of road space for everyone to move over early. Preach it there is nothing more annoying than idiots who try and merge early. It really slows down the the right lane of traffic. There is a merge spot things work better if people merge at that spot. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/43 "2013-05-17T00:58:19Z")
What is a merge spot? My problem is testosterone poisoned assholes all rushing to get to where there is only one lane in front of everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/44 "2013-05-17T02:57:19Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What is a merge spot? > My problem is testosterone poisoned assholes all rushing to get to where there is only one lane in front of everyone else. A consistent, singular point at which all merging takes place, where traffic can zipper. It’s most efficiently placed at where the lane naturally ends. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/45 "2013-05-17T03:38:46Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > A consistent, singular point at which all merging takes place, where traffic can zipper. It’s most efficiently placed at where the lane naturally ends. While this is absolutely true when people know HOW to merge properly, it is never true in practice based on the arrogance and ‘self important’ assholes that drive. In practice - because people REFUSE to let people merge in front of them - especially if they’ve done the ‘right thing’ and merged early - those that ‘run ahead’ to the proper merge point are denigrated and ‘not allowed in’ - which causes the backups, and the road rage, and its a cycle that gets repeated. That being said - I try to be courteous to others - until I see the asshats on thier phone - I try to allow merges, but draw the line when I know that allowing one (like it should be) somehow makes the guy behind HIM think that its his turn too - thats not teh way it fucking works people. Now - that asshat that tries to run the breakdown lane? If I see you coming- I’m crossing the line enough that you will go into the guardrail or off the road if you don’t pull back in proper - you will not get around me in the breakdown lane if I can do anything about it. AND GET OFF THE FUCKING PHONE ALREADY! ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/46 "2013-05-17T04:07:55Z")
The other thought I just had - and what contributes to the problem above - If the primary lanes are not moving - ‘barreling ahead’ in the open (soon to be closed lane) is not going to help anyone, especially the mergee - it typically pisses people off that have already merged, etc. If there is movment - then the zipper affect and waiting to merge is fine - that being said - if you know your 1/2 mile away from the point - and everythings flowing - and there is a spot available - merging early is NOT a bad thing - ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/47 "2013-05-17T04:57:26Z")
> [@simster](#): > > While this is absolutely true when people know HOW to merge properly, it is never true in practice based on the arrogance and ‘self important’ assholes that drive. > > In practice - because people REFUSE to let people merge in front of them - especially if they’ve done the ‘right thing’ and merged early - those that ‘run ahead’ to the proper merge point are denigrated and ‘not allowed in’ - which causes the backups, and the road rage, and its a cycle that gets repeated. > AND GET OFF THE FUCKING PHONE ALREADY! The time to merge or “proper merge point” IS when everyone else is. The time not to is when you have waited until traffic is so bumper to bumper it makes the whole line slow to brake and let anyone in. It is way more self important to want to jump ahead of the line by waiting till the last second and passing everyone until then. Why in hell would it be smart to wait until the last second to jam your way in? I just can’t see it. It is arrogant to think you know better than 99% of traffic and should get to do something different than everyone else. Period. THAT is the behavior of a special I’m right and everyone else is wrong asshole. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/48 "2013-05-17T05:48:28Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > And when you slow down to keep the 4 second gap, and cause all the cars behind you to brake in a chain reaction, what happens? This is why merge points cause congestion, but for on-ramps it can’t be helped. We have metering lights to space the cars merging which significantly speeds up the flow of traffic on the freeway. > It is fairly easy to see the progress of a merging car, note that he’ll probably be arriving at the merge point, and gradually slow down enough so he can smoothly merge. That seems like the least disruptive strategy to me. See, I think ramp meters are a tool of the devil. On the 101 in LA, they ensure that you have to start accelerating from a dead stop halfway up the entrance ramp, which is then about 100 feet too short to actually attain the speed of traffic in the right lane. Seriously, it is not physically possible to go from 0 to 65 in that amount of space. Which leaves you either having to force your way in so everyone in the right lane has to slow down for you, or else you drive on the shoulder. And it ruins the idea of spacing the traffic, too, because then everyone is slowing down thanks to the ensuing chaos and you’re catching up to the person in front of you anyway. The meters might work if the merge lanes on the 101 were actually long enough. But they just aren’t. Only during times when the meters are off am I actually able to accelerate all the way up the ramp and be at freeway speed while I’m picking my gap. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/49 "2013-05-17T06:43:57Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > See, I think ramp meters are a tool of the devil. On the 101 in LA, they ensure that you have to start accelerating from a dead stop halfway up the entrance ramp, which is then about 100 feet too short to actually attain the speed of traffic in the right lane. Seriously, it is not physically possible to go from 0 to 65 in that amount of space. Which leaves you either having to force your way in so everyone in the right lane has to slow down for you, or else you drive on the shoulder. And it ruins the idea of spacing the traffic, too, because then everyone is slowing down thanks to the ensuing chaos and you’re catching up to the person in front of you anyway. > > The meters might work if the merge lanes on the 101 were actually long enough. But they just aren’t. Only during times when the meters are off am I actually able to accelerate all the way up the ramp and be at freeway speed while I’m picking my gap. You mean traffic moves at 65 when the metering lights are on? You must live in paradise. 😛 Not a problem where I live. We also have decently long ramps. But I see your point. When I’ve driven through LA during rush hour everyone kept a small amount of space in front of them and just moved. Around the Bay Area things are ragged, and people cut in and out of lanes as they space in front of a car. You can also go in and out of our carpool lanes anywhere, which leads to even more chaos. We experiment with metering lights on and off as the copper thieves strike. They are good for the freeway but not so good when you sit on the ramp for 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/50 "2013-05-17T06:48:08Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Now - that asshat that tries to run the breakdown lane? If I see you coming- I’m crossing the line enough that you will go into the guardrail or off the road if you don’t pull back in proper - you will not get around me in the breakdown lane if I can do anything about it. The absolutely worst of the worst. I’m happy to report that on the ramp where I enter the freeway, which was prone to this, CalTrans put up poles at the end of the breakdown lane to prevent it. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/51 "2013-05-17T12:44:12Z")
I don’t mind a zipper merge if two lanes are truly narrowing down to one (or 3 to 2, etc.). But what galls me is when people use the “exit only” lane to race ahead and then cut in at the last moment. This happens a lot on the interstate. The right lane, with plenty of advance notice becomes an Exit Only lane. That means, if you do not plan to exit, get out of the lane. I _know_ the other lanes are crawling and the exit only lane is fairly open. It’s so tempting for you, so self-important, to use that lane to get ahead of everyone else and try to nudge in at the last moment before you really do have to exit. Zipper merge my ass. Same principle for right turn only and left turn only lanes on surface streets. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/52 "2013-05-17T13:07:25Z")
I can buy that a perfectly executed zipper merge is the most efficient. I don’t buy that there won’t be at least one asshole to fuck it up by speeding up so that someone from the other side can’t get in. That’s why a lot of people merge as soon as possible, to avoid that asshole. Fortunately, I’ve never driven where the traffic was bad enough that any real merge technique was needed. The cars just aren’t that close together. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/53 "2013-05-17T18:09:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Fortunately, I’ve never driven where the traffic was bad enough that any real merge technique was needed. The cars just aren’t that close together. Truly you are blessed. Where do you live? I wanna move there. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/54 "2013-05-18T04:16:32Z")
> [@coffeecat](#): > > Boston guide to driving: The most aggressive/craziest driver gets to do everything first. Sounds like Sacramento. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/55 "2013-05-19T17:50:25Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > You do this every single fucking morning, and every single goddam evening! Always the same guy? Try leaving a minute earlier. Or a minute later. > [@hotflungwok](#): > > All that would have done is allowed someone to cut in before we even got to the merging point. Let’s see. You tailgate up to the merge point to make sure no one “cuts in.” At “the merge point” you leave room for one car maybe, but certainly not two. Serious answer: Next time deliberately let 3 or 4 cars merge in front of you. It’ll delay your return by half a minute, but should leave you with a slightly warmish feeling of generosity. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/56 "2013-05-19T20:36:06Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Merging early encourages the jackholes behind you to race up to the front of the line, which slows down the through lane, encouraging more jackholes. Picking out a slot to merge into, staying next to it, and merging as the lane ends makes things move smoother for everyone. Truck drivers are very good at figuring out what you are up to and letting you in when the time comes. Teenagers and drivers of German cars, not so much. Thank God there are “jackholes” like me that are fixing your fuck ups. If we didn’t race \*back[/I] up to the front of the line, there’d be nothing stopping your ilk from their quest to walk the merge point a mile backward and up the ramp, down the other highway, and into my driveway. If it were up to you, we’d start the merging for the Lincoln Tunnel somewhere around San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/57 "2013-05-20T11:30:53Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Merging early encourages the jackholes behind you to race up to the front of the line, which slows down the through lane, encouraging more jackholes. Picking out a slot to merge into, staying next to it, and merging as the lane ends makes things move smoother for everyone. Truck drivers are very good at figuring out what you are up to and letting you in when the time comes. Teenagers and drivers of German cars, not so much. I agree with you about merging as the lane ends, but do not understand what you mean about jackholes racing to the front of the line–isn’t racing to the front of the line basically the same thing as merging at the end? Frustratingly, I find that truck drivers get angry with me for merging at the end. They seem to have a holy anger about this, liking to pull out to intentionally block my way. They think I’m trying to cheat, but I’m trying to do things in the way that is most efficient for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/58 "2013-05-20T11:54:44Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I agree with you about merging as the lane ends, but do not understand what you mean about jackholes racing to the front of the line–isn’t racing to the front of the line basically the same thing as merging at the end? > > Frustratingly, I find that truck drivers get angry with me for merging at the end. They seem to have a holy anger about this, liking to pull out to intentionally block my way. They think I’m trying to cheat, but I’m trying to do things in the way that is most efficient for everyone. It is annoying for drivers to get in front of everyone else instead of merging into the line. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/59 "2013-05-20T12:32:16Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I agree with you about merging as the lane ends, but do not understand what you mean about jackholes racing to the front of the line–isn’t racing to the front of the line basically the same thing as merging at the end? > > Frustratingly, I find that truck drivers get angry with me for merging at the end. They seem to have a holy anger about this, liking to pull out to intentionally block my way. They think I’m trying to cheat, but I’m trying to do things in the way that is most efficient for everyone. If traffic is already stalled - racing to the front of the line is potentially dangerous (other cars may bolt out in front for some reason, etc) as well as its not going to help anything at that point - it’s already bottlenecked - now the person who bolts to the front is going to cause folks that are up there to have to ‘stop’ to let you in - which furhter backs up traffic. The point of the zipper move is to keep traffic that is moving - moving. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406/60 "2013-05-20T13:08:54Z")
When there is an empty lane next to a completely stopped lane, I slow down to around 20 mph, in case people zip out in front of me (either to take advantage of the lane themselves or to try to block me,) plus so that when I am near the theoretical merge point, if the traffic starts to go again, I will be at a good speed to merge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idiots-guide-to-merging/658406.md?page=4)