"Use Both Lanes Until Merge Point"

[d3500ram]

You've seen it. Road construction with a lane closed and traffic needs to merge from two lanes into one.

Construction companies are now posting signs for traffic to "Use Both Lanes" up to the merge point where there is another sign stating "Merge Here" ...

...yet there are still AW's who get glutious maximus hurt when folks pass them in the clear open lane. These AW's are the ones who, by choice, will line up in the thru lane while an open one is clear of any vehicles right up to the "Merge Here" sign. Fine, that is their choice to stage. Don't get PO'd at those who heed the traffic signs.

Such was the case this morning when there was traffic backed up in ONE lane as I passed proceeding up to the merge point when a person did not care for what the traffic signs were instructing. He pulls out diagonally blocking me in my open lane(I almost hit him and the person behind me had to suddenly stop too!) This was at slow speeds... 25 MHP-ish.

Road construction companies are now more often posting these signs for better traffic control to move vehicle more efficiently, especially through intersection that might be before the actual work zone. Why do those who choose to stage in the thru lane feel so BH that they need to play traffic cop?

[dedmiston]

Darklock wrote:

Nope, you don't get it. The lane is open all the the way until it is not.

100% Correct.

And to add: driving a million miles does not mean you know any better. If you do something wrong a million times it is still wrong.

I was thinking the same thing. It's a whole lot of practice at doing it wrong.

[Darklock]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

TurnThePage wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
When people have opportunities to move over and they don’t and speed past to the end THAT is the problem. When I pulled in like most have and are in the thru lane we are bumper to bumper near the end. Why should I hit my brakes to let someone in that clearly does not think they should wait like everyone else???

You are bumper to bumper backed up potentially for miles, blocking offramps behind you. All while a perfectly open lane is sitting there empty.

On edit, sorry, I quoted the wrong post.

You simply don't get it!!! The open lane does NOT go thru. It's open the last bit because most courteous drivers have already formed into the single line that goes thru.

Nope, you don't get it. The lane is open all the the way until it is not.
And to add: driving a million miles does not mean you know any better. If you do something wrong a million times it is still wrong.

[fj12ryder]

prichardson wrote:
Traffic circles can work; however, many of the ones being built today are too small to work properly. I've even seen some so small that to get thru them with a trailer you jump the inner curb.

Very true, like many copied things, the originals work the best.

[JRscooby]

prichardson wrote:
Traffic circles can work; however, many of the ones being built today are too small to work properly. I've even seen some so small that to get thru them with a trailer you jump the inner curb.

First time or dozen I had to use a traffic circle with 53 foot RGN and a long wheelbase 4 axle Pete I was pretty stressed. Then I got involved in building one, talked to the state engineer. The surface is sloped and paved different, but the sub-grade is same as the lane. Swing as wide as you can, but use that if you need to.

[prichardson]

Traffic circles can work; however, many of the ones being built today are too small to work properly. I've even seen some so small that to get thru them with a trailer you jump the inner curb.

[time2roll]

My wait time is much longer at red lights and especially left turn lights as compared to roll in slow to a circle and out and on my way.

I suppose it creates stress for many that would prefer to have some down time at a light vs think about how to blend in and merge properly and keep up without tailgating.

[dedmiston]

fj12ryder wrote:

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
I am not disputing on what you are saying but will any of us live long enough to see anyone learn to zipper?

Now can you explain how the @#$%^ traffic circles are suppose to be so great?

I love traffic circles!! But I got used to them in Europe and Great Britain. No stopping, just yield. And they are super for motorcycles, as long as there's no diesel spilled on them. 🙂

My wife was our navigator when we were in the UK, but she didn't always know where to direct me before I got to the roundabouts, so I'd just enter the circle and do laps until she figured it out and gave me the turn. It didn't take very many of those to convince her to look ahead.

[fj12ryder]

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
I am not disputing on what you are saying but will any of us live long enough to see anyone learn to zipper?

Now can you explain how the @#$%^ traffic circles are suppose to be so great?

I love traffic circles!! But I got used to them in Europe and Great Britain. No stopping, just yield. And they are super for motorcycles, as long as there's no diesel spilled on them. 🙂

[wnjj]

time2roll wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The sign says "lane ends merge", it doesn't say "lane ends merge but wait til the end and force your way over.

At the point of merge I believe the other vehicles should open a space.

Yes unfortunately they did 1/4 mile back and let in 3 vehicles and people keep sliding up the side and then at the end they are tired of all the cutting in and make it hard for the person doing the right thing.

Most people just don't get how this should work.

X2. There should be no “forcing” required since the traffic in the through lane should be properly and courteously making space for every other vehicle. If you choose the longer, slower line early that’s on you.

Lining up early can work when speeds stay near the limit and traffic is light. The situations that cause the most issues are when there is stop and go for 1/2 mile or more.

[Dutch_12078]

RedRollingRoadblock wrote:


Now can you explain how the @#$%^ traffic circles are suppose to be so great?

There have been two traffic circles about 5 miles apart added near our upstate NY cottage in the past 5-6 years. Both are at intersections with a long history of frequent fender benders and even a few fatalities, mostly from folks trying to beat the lights. In the time the circles have been open, there has been just one minor fender bender caused by someone not knowing what "YIELD" means. Even better, the previous the twice daily long traffic backups at the now gone traffic lights have been nearly eliminated. At peak times, it's unusual now to see more than 6-7 cars backed up for brief periods. Even the former public naysayers have come around and admitted they're working well.

[RedRollingRoadb]

valhalla360 wrote:
I'm a traffic engineer who sets up maintenance of traffic plans as part of my work.

It depends.

Under light traffic conditions where traffic is continuing to move smoothly, merge as soon as you get the chance and don't try to fly past everyone. Doing so and then forcing a merge at the last second causes additional congestion, delay and crashes.

Where the signs are used, is typically where traffic is heavy and significant backups are expected. If traffic backs up too far, it can block off up stream ramps causing more problems. In that case, lining up in both lanes reduces the overall queue length and the associated issues.

It's essentially the lessor of two evils.

Playing traffic cop is rarely a good idea but playing speed racer also isn't a good idea.

PS: The contractor (construction companies) are typically not the ones laying out the plan. They implement what is in the contract.

I am not disputing on what you are saying but will any of us live long enough to see anyone learn to zipper?

Now can you explain how the @#$%^ traffic circles are suppose to be so great?

[wa8yxm]

I have always tried to merge early but.. yes. that is what they tell us. When doing a 'zipper merge' (what it is called when 2 lanes become 1) don't merge till you have to.

Of course you can always do what one Ten T did (more than one I'm sure) He drove around the construction barrels and took the closed lane... Till he spotted the state troopers. Well the troopers had spotted him some time before he saw them so he suddenly cut into the open lane, dang near causing a multi-car crash. and then ..... Pulled over and got his ticket. (After he passed the Blue Car that is) .. Oh yes.

Or the idiot who ran the shoulder... Well I like to hang a bit right so I can look through several cars instead of just the back of the head of the person in front of me so he had to edge over a bit more when he passed me. Unbeknownst to both of us a piece of metal stuck in the grass where it abutted the shoulder took out both his right side tires.

I've more.

[time2roll]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The sign says "lane ends merge", it doesn't say "lane ends merge but wait til the end and force your way over.

At the point of merge I believe the other vehicles should open a space.

Yes unfortunately they did 1/4 mile back and let in 3 vehicles and people keep sliding up the side and then at the end they are tired of all the cutting in and make it hard for the person doing the right thing.

Most people just don't get how this should work.

[Walaby]

I've not seen a "Use both lanes" or a "merge here" sign.

I do see lane ends in "x feet"

If Im with my RV and I see that, I merge when it's safe to do so, not wait until the end. I don't have enough faith in fellow drivers to allow this zipper effect to actually happen towing a 40 ft trailer.

Mike

[Cummins12V98]

The sign says "lane ends merge", it doesn't say "lane ends merge but wait til the end and force your way over.