Yep. Science says OP is wrong: https://www.acg.aaa.com/connect/blogs/4c/auto/zipper-merge-keeps-traffic-moving

ISTR there being some indication that as speeds increase, merging further away from the "final merge point" can help, but that's for designing roads with permanent lane reductions, not for temporary lane closures due to construction, accident, etc. But, I also couldn't find that science when I looked for it.

In Australia if your front two wheels are ahead of the other person's front two wheels, and you're indicating to move into their lane - they have to let you in. It's the law.

Takes a lot of the rage out.

The problem is these people won't zipper merge most of the time. I always leave 2 car spaces, and the asshats want me to come to a complete stop before they do.

Like most things, a zipper merge works only if EVERYONE is abiding by it. Much like they tested and found out that a plane can have all passengers boarded and seated with luggage in about 15 minutes...if everyone followed the rules. But know, every damn over-entitled Karen, Jaxson, MacKhenzie and the rest of their ilk feel the rules don't apply to them.

The issue is this:

A) Your lane is ending. Drive to the end of the lane and then merge. Simplest reason: why the fuck would they build that much lane if you’re not supposed to drive on it? Alternate reason: you’re just stretching the traffic jam farther back where it could be blocking people from exiting or getting on.

B) Your lane is exit only. Get the fuck out of that lane, you’re blocking people legitimately trying to exit. You’re a cheating cheater and you’re clogging the exit lane.

C) Your lane is not an exit and you want to get into an exit lane. Get into the exit lane as soon as possible. Late merge is just going to clog up a lane and you’re a cheating cheater.

These situations are not the same but people think they are.

Yeah...no, I've been waiting in line for 15 min and the guy that went on the other lane to skip the line can suck on my zipper merge

I've been reading this for years, and the hypothesis always seems to be that zipper merging is good because it maximizes road usage. You know what else maximizes road usage? Bumper to bumper gridlock.

This article falsely assumes the only options are halting traffic to wait for an opening or dash faster than speed of traffic until the end of the lane closure then just expect someone to allow room so kinda a bad explanation of zipper merge and proper driving etiquette

Not sure if you took drivers ed but zipper merging is not zooming past stopped cars to last second dart over in the shoulder, it’s speed matching the lane you are merging into to weave in like a zipper. Crazy how even the name isn’t informative enough for people to understand the concept

Yeah people like this are fucking idiots. Just let the dude over it's not going to slow you down it's not going to stop you shit if it cost you 15 seconds oh my god what the fuck ever. People are fucking retarded when they think that they have the right to own a lane.

If everyone zipper merges correctly. More often, half the drivers try to use the lane that's ending to skip to the front of the line and create a bottleneck that brings traffic to a stop for half a mile...

This! Also, let the motorcycle in front of you if you are at the head of the line at the light! We will be long gone before you pull your thumb out of your ass and take you foot off the brake when the light turns green

Because it's counterintuitive. You would think that getting people over early means traffic can just flow easier.