# Driving etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631 "2011-05-03T22:48:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631/21 "2011-05-06T22:40:02Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I really don’t understand why the zipper merge is not taught in more driving classes. > > Some places put out helpful signs like “zipper merge ahead, use both lanes until merge point” to encourage people to behave rationally. Fortunately I’m sure posters here at SDMB are all rational enough to automatically use the zipper merge approach. > > What? There is a wrong way to zipper merge - that’s speeding the lenght of the closing lane. If you just casually stroll up that lane, nobody really minds. Particularly if you use your damned directional. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631/22 "2011-05-06T22:40:45Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I really don’t understand why the zipper merge is not taught in more driving classes. > > Some places put out helpful signs like “zipper merge ahead, use both lanes until merge point” to encourage people to behave rationally. Fortunately I’m sure posters here at SDMB are all rational enough to automatically use the zipper merge approach. > > What? because in America the signs are usually more descriptive of what happens instead of what you are supposed to do… around here instead of a nice sign that says “Zipper merge ahead” we get “Weaving Traffic” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631/23 "2011-05-07T03:08:40Z")
> [@j66](#): > > There is a wrong way to zipper merge - that’s speeding the lenght of the closing lane. If you just casually stroll up that lane, nobody really minds. > > Particularly if you use your damned directional. Yeah, some people zoom up the closing lane, or the shoulder, and then expect to be let in half a mile ahead of their rightful place. What’s worse is the weaving back and forth when traffic is expected to merge. We have a lot of aggressive drivers, mostly in large vehicles, who think that might makes right. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631/24 "2011-05-07T03:27:36Z")
When the two lanes become one is where the merge should happen. That is when there is no white line seperating the two lanes it is one lane. The car that is the comes to the last of the white line has the right away. If you are in the right lane and the lane ends and you pull over on the shoulder to pass the car in front you then you are in the wrong. An exception would be if there is a white sign stating some thing on the lines of, “Cars in right lane must merge to left lane.” But it still does not have to be done two miles before the lane ends as many drivers do. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631/25 "2011-05-07T12:01:27Z")
Since you’re asking for opinions, I’ll move this to our forum for opinions. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-etiquette/580631.md?page=1)