The correct way to merge in a construction zone?

Usually what I do is get in the lane that is disappearing, the one with empty space in front. Then I find another semi (or an RV) in the other lane and drive along side it until the merge point.

I leave tons of room in front of me and give a wave to the other semi to let him know what I’m doing.

This prevents the selfish jerks from constantly using the mostly empty lane to get ahead of everyone.

At the merge point, I find that people are usually thankful for what I have done and let me in no problem.

 

If traffic is already backed up, their idealized description of a zipper merge IS the most efficient way to merge the lanes of traffic.

If I let JB Hunt in now, soccer mom in the Mercedes is just going to fly up to fill the gap, and now JB is going to have to let in three cars, I'm going to have to let in three cars...I'm easily six cars behind where I should have been.

But we all know how VINDICTIVE people get at the end of a lane merge. "Didn't see the signs for the last two miles, huh?" Good luck merging once the guy in the Pete decides he doesn't respect your decision.

So...yes. In a perfect world, a 1:1 ratio of cars zippering in IS the best way. But we unfortunately drive the vehicles that make that paradise impossible.

 

You are part of the problem. Either get over 5miles ahead. Or drive up to the zipper and merge.
You can't have it both ways. Typically what causes backups is people that drive like you.

 

I’ll leave a space for merging traffic,but no,they will continue to drive until the end and stop traffic to get in when the could of merged while moving.

 

Not sure I would be defending the MN DOT.
The lack of foresight, planning and implementation of the engineering department leads me to believe that every decision they come up with is flawed.

 

nope

 

Entitled.

 

The ones who use the ending lane to pass stopped traffic in the through lane are the entitled ones.

 

Even with driverless vehicles this won’t work because we all know that Teslas software will be more entitled then GM’s and so on and on.