Late Mergers

I get most irritated on the 401 connector jut before the 400 . Cars will put out of the right lane , speed down an on ramp ,then cut back in . An OPP officer parked at the beginning of the ramp ignores this .

 

I won't even go into Toronto before 9:30am, they're freak'n crazy. I get more courtesy from people in Queens, and Jersey.

 

I disagree with the author - all that happens when drivers stay in the closing lane until the last minute is that the traffic backup doesn't extend as far to the rear. Traffic will flow through the congested area exactly as fast as the slowest vehicles in the open lanes - just as though there were no lane closures.

so.. 100 vehicles a minute (random and arbitrary number) are going to go through the restriction - whether they're all polite and in one lane or too important to wait in line.

 

gotta just love the people that are so concerned about getting there a whole 25 seconds later than they would have

 

I'd like to have a bumper sticker that reads: Not Responsible For Running Your Sorry A-z-z Over Because You Thought You Could Save A Whole 5 Seconds Of Your Time By Cutting Me Off....

 

I merge as soon as I see the signs stating which lane is closed and how far. I dont want to take the chance getting hung out in the closed lane by some inconsiderate 4wheeler or truck driver(yes, some truckers are braindead too which I refer to as a 4wheeler in a big truck). I love when DOT(orwhateverdummy) posts signs stating there is one lane closed, but they fail to mention which one.

As for the authors statement about late mergers helping by staying out in the closing lane...
My theory:
When two or more lanes funnels down to one, what does traffic look like in that one lane? It is ALL bumper to bumper. What happens when one car slows to let in a late merger? That car slows, the car behind them slows, the car behind them slows, ect...
Now, youve got a 10 cars slowing and Ill bet that atleast ONE of those cars will come to a complete stop. Complete stop=traffic jam. Late mergers=Traffic jam=not helping traffic flow like the author states.

Ron, what is your av of? I saw this logo on the back of an owner ops trailer and snapped a pic...

 

If all traffic would flow up to the merge point, and every driver left room for someone to merge in front of them, then the author would be correct in that book.

The problem is that too many people have the "me first" attitude, and they will not allow anyone to merge in front of them. This is what causes the backups. Also the people that will get out of the lane that will be open, to pass the people that are waiting, just to get closer.
I get over early. It is a personnel decision, and I think a safer one.
For the traffic flow to work properly, nobody should be passing anyone. All merge together at the merge point, and thus no real backup.
In the real world this does not happen.

Look at interstate design.
There is no logical reason for the left lane on a 3+ lane highway to ever slow down, unless there is an accident or construction. If people would drive correctly, that lane would never stop, and would never drop below the speed limit. Drivers would be up to speed before they got in it, and would merge from it to exit well in advance, at speed.
But because we are human, this does not occur. Every rush hour all lanes get stopped, weather there are 2 or 5 lanes. All will be at the same speed, because of the American me first attitude.
This type of driving is what gives highway planners fits. They can do every model they want on traffic flow. Showing that x number of cars should be able to move thru that area an hour. But due to how people drive, it will never be close to accurate.

 

After getting blocked out of 'merging left' many years ago, I will merge ASAP!

 

Chromedome - I disagree... the only instance in which he'd be correct is in light traffic. Moderate to heavy traffic, you are trying to put 2 lanes of traffic into one lane.

Try this. Get a bucket. put two holes in teh bottom (so yeah,make it a CHEAP bucket).
Pour water in it just fast enough that it drains out the bottom without backing up, or even a little more slowly.

Plug one hole.

What happens?

 

I agree with the 4 wheelers being horrible drivers. Have seen allot of us truckers cut them off pulling out, so if 5 seconds could save a life it goes 2 ways.