Merging for roadworks

[Lakitu]

Here's the scenario, the 2 lane road you are travelling on had been getting dug up, forcing the outside lane to be closed.

Motorists are made aware of the fact that the outside lane will be closed by the "lane closed in 500 yards" sign put up by the roadworks company and again at the 200 yard mark.

You know there's always going to be motorists right at the point where the cones start, trying to squeeze in thus avoiding the majority of the queue.

Do you let the motorist in and let bygones by bygones?

Do you absolutely not let them in, they were made aware of it 500 yards back and if you had to queue, then why should they be allowed to skip it?

[ethandron]

we'd always let them in as we're quite often one of those who use the (usually empty) closing lane. it's called 'zip merging' and if everyone got the hang of it, and every other car let a car in, the queues at these types of roadworks would be halved. we've noticed that more and more there are signs advising motorists to do just this and believe it to be the correct way.

[R1Geezer]

I never let the j arthurs in just close up on the car in front! Get yee behind!

[jake-the-peg]

"proper" use of zip merging does not reduce queues in these circumstances.

Not in terms of times anyway you get the same delays but the length of the queue drops because cars are queuing in both lanes.

You can model this in "queue theory" which is really related to telecommunications but can be equally well applied to post office or motorway queues.

The queue length is related to the speed of arrival of the traffic and the average time that it takes to clear the restriction.

[sigma]

If you don't let them in (out of courtesy) then it just reflects that you have just a poor standard of driving that they have and by leaving enough room and letting them merge it will improve traffic flow as stated.

[Fitboy-slim]

It's usually black BMW's and Range Rovers

[Fitboy-slim]

I sometimes stick my artic across both lanes, but some are so determined they will climb the kerb to squeeze past

[R1Geezer]

sigma, b0llux, they are showing huge disrespect by going to the front of the queue and trying to push in. Would you allow that in any other queueing situation?

[jg96]

Heard a funny story a while back a volvo estate trying to shove in the woman passenger getting quite abusive through the window to the guy who wasn't for letting them in. He shook up the can of Coke he had in his hand and tossed it in through the window. He calmly drove off looking at a scene of devastation inside the Volvo. Made me laugh!!!!!

[chazza]

I quite often don't let them in, simply because what happens is:
Cars from the back of the left hand lane pull out and drive up to the front of the right hand lane
Cars in the left hand lane let them in
Cars in the left hand lane which have been queueing and not cheekily trying to push in (ie me) go nowhere as the cars come from behind and push in in front meaning we have nowhere to go!

[ethandron]

jake, that's exactly what i meant. the volume of traffic remains the same but the queue length halves, potentially freeing up junctions and allowing traffic better traffic flow further back.
geezer, it's not showing disrespect or pushing in, it's doing it correctly to keep traffic flowing. that's why they have more and more signs telling people to zip merge, or merge in turn, because there's a misunderstanding about doing it.

[R1Geezer]

that's brilliant jg96, must try that one!

[Lakitu]

I know what you're saying about easing the flow by having peolple Q to merge, but I'm afraid I'm with R1 and Chazza here. I squidge up and don't let the barstewards in!

[R1Geezer]

so ethandron, if you are in the post office queing I can just come down the outside and you'll let me push front will you? Bloody marvellous! You really haven't thought this through have you?

[Toureman]

Only MDoo98, Ethendron and sigma have answered correctly !

fitboy is acting illegally by blocking both lanes.

I suggest the rest of you read the highway code, rule 134 instead of throwing it away once you pass your driving test !

Morons.

[Lakitu]

LMAO! And that's us told!

Actually, Toureman, you haven't answered the question at all, I ought to spank your bottom. Please read it again, I asked what each individual does in the situation, not for a clarification as to what the highway code states, but thanks for the rundown anyway ;o)

[Toureman]

I think I did Lakitu, you only have to read the Highway code,

:-)

[Toureman]

You can spank my bottom anytime you want.

[tigwig]

I must be a really big moron cos I never let people in and occasionally have forced my way in as well!! Only very occasionally I might add and of course its ok for me to do it just not anyone else!

[Lakitu]

Next Friday at 9pm then Toureman :o)