Zipper Merging has proven to be more efficient and safer than early merging, yet some South Dakotans haven’t got the memo.
Presumed South Dakotan and Redditor /u/27OwlySnow shared dashcam footage from earlier yesterday (June 19, 2024) from Renner, SD on I-29 showing the frustrating moments she was actively blocked from zipper merging despite traffic being backed up for over a mile.
Check out her video below. If the video below is not working (I’ve provided a copy linked here.)
[OC] Is it me? Am I the idiot? Or do people not understand the concept of zipper merges.
byu/27OwlySnow inIdiotsInCars
As /u/27OwlySnow’s video shows, she’s driving down I-29 in Lane #1 (the fast lane) with traffic going at a crawl next to her in Lane #2.
As this screenshot shows, there’s a construction zone ahead and, as such, one lane is ending.
At the start of the video, the line of cars line Lane #2 was already a mile long.
“The merge point was about a mile ahead of where the video started,” she clarifies.
What these South Dakotans did was early merge, where traffic gets into the lane that’s not ending ahead of time.
What’s been lauded and recommended by traffic experts and campaigned by numerous city officials as being superior to the early merge in most cases is the late merge or zipper merge.
By using the zipper merge when traffic is already slowing or congested, the differences in speed between the two lanes are equalized, making it fair for everyone at the merge point, and the full capacity of the truncated lane is used, cutting the length of traffic in half.
However, everyone has to be on the same page for it to work and, as this dashcam video shows, one driver trying to zipper merge (which is totally legal btw) causes some drivers to take so-called “justice” into their own hands to thwart who they feel is a line cutter.
At two points in the video, we see a driver in a Ford Crossover and a Truck block /u/27OwlySnow from getting to the merge point, itself against the vehicle code as you can’t straddle two lanes like that, let alone actively block a driver’s right of way.
“This was a new, and kind of scary, experience for me because of those who were driving down both lanes, trying to impede the people they perceived as “cutting.” Although I was cussing and pissed in the moment, I’m just glad there were no accidents.”
“The problem is largely the signage indicating the lane ending way too soon,” /u/EtOHMartini pointed out.
“Pretty sure driving on the white lines between two lanes is more illegal than passing cars while in the passing lane,” /u/Loose_Gripper69 commented.
“I had a big argument with my brothers about zipper merges and couldn’t convince them that they work. They couldn’t understand that not doing a zipper merge just makes the construction zone longer,” /u/lurker1957 frustratingly replied.
The fact of the matter is, if you merge early, you can’t get upset at other drivers who are legally using the rest of the lane next to you, merge late (zipper merge.)
And, if you decide to merge late (zipper merge) despite everyone else merging early, be prepared for Luddites and contrarians who’ll illegally try to block your right of way, so, driving accordingly.
As mentioned, Zipper merging only works when everyone is on board.
If we don’t educate ourselves on when and how to zipper merge, it’ll be to our own detriment and the detriment of everyone else stuck in traffic with us.
So to you South Dakotans, shall you remain ignorant? Or, will you, at the very least, let those who want to zipper merge do so?
Calling an entire state ignorant is the definition of ignorance. I travel all over the country for work year round. Some places use zipper merge some do not. You read the social ques and respect what the area considers the standard. If traffic was backed up a mile it was quite obvious you were not the one able to follow social ques. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. There are many things in this life that you are able to do legally, that doesn’t mean you have to do them. All you managed to do was get online and basically tell everyone that you believe you are more important then everyone else. I would much rather wait the mile backed up slowly and safely waiting my turn then fly past all thoes people. Good day to you, keep it classy.
People like you cause slow traffic.
Part of the reason to zipper merge is because it doesn’t create incentives for people to “take advantage”. Leaving an open lane just creates the opportunity for people to use it. Why wouldn’t they?
What is up with people and “cultural norms” for traffic? Am I supposed to get an update from the city government on “cultural norms”? Am I supposed to stop at the tourist office when I come to new state? “Pardon me sir, no I’m not interested in seeing your monuments I just wanted to know how early I should merge in your fine state?”
Social cues and traffic shouldn’t/isn’t a thing.
Traffic maneuvers are either in sync with the vehicle code or they aren’t.