Traffic Quiz

[Jezebel]

You are driving down a busy 4 lane highway and notice construction signs warning that the right lane will be ending in the next 1 or 2 miles. Which of the following do you do:

A) Merge immediately into the left lane and patiently wait in line for 2 miles. When you get to the merge point you graciously allow drivers that continued down the right lane to merge in ahead of you.

B) Continue down the right lane until it ends and merge left at that point.

C) Merge left immediately and curse the people you see flying by you on the right. When you get to the merge point you refuse to let them in because you had to wait in line so they should too.

[namknils]

I do all three at one time or another, it depends on my mood at the time. Usually I'll just merge right away and patiently wait, I'm pretty laid back while driving.

[Oski]

[ QUOTE ]

B) Continue down the right lane until it ends and merge left at that point.


[/ QUOTE ]

I do this. If everyone did this, the traffic merge would go much smoother and the traffic would flow better. When the lane merges, it should do so on a "one-by-one" basis; one from one lane, one from another. Most people do not observe this either - they crowd the car in front of them and react as if its "their lane" and you have to fight to merge.

Merging before the "merge" is the worst option. Everything slows down because the merger is essentially moving in the lane without warning.

[namknils]

I disagree, if everyone went down to the end of the lane before merging then you have too many cars trying to get into the lane at the same time and people end up stopped and waiting. If more people merged while going with the flow before the lane ended there would be less people stopped at the front.

[Oski]

No way. At the merge point, it is crystal clear. One for one exchange. Any other way creates the real slow-down.

[beerbandit]

I would and recommend (c)

If everyone began merging when they first see the sign there would be a very small backup. The backup is created by the people trying to "squeeze" in up front.

[ThaSaltCracka]

C.
because if they see they sign and then try to cut in line after everyone else has waited then [censored] em, let em wait too.

[Oski]

From the U.K.

[ QUOTE ]
Alternate merging at road works - rule 263

Current advice when approaching road works is to get into the
correct lane for your vehicle in good time. Signs, especially on
motorways often begin 800 yards from the road works, and many
drivers change then. This is thought to allow safer and earlier
merging but can cause additional delays as one lane becomes empty.
It also creates bad feeling if drivers overtake queuing traffic in
the empty lane and then attempt to push in close to the road
works. We suggest the following.

"at lane restrictions/closures traffic, when queuing,
should fill all approach lanes and merge alternately at
the lane restriction."

[/ QUOTE ]

[namknils]

Well...I guess this will shut me up. I'll give it a try tonight, I'm driving down to Bloomington, IN, there's bound to be some construction. But if I get run off the road I'll be letting you know.

[ThaSaltCracka]

From the U.S. [ QUOTE ]
Shut up!

[/ QUOTE ]
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