To say this sign does NOT mean move over now

[DappledThings]

Roadworks going on near me, a section of dual carriageway is temporarily reduced to one lane. As you join that section from a roundabout there is this sign (except with only one black arrow for the one lane staying open not two).

The second lane closes in 800 yards. At the closure point there is a standard circular blue sign with a white arrow to the left indicating the lane closes there and to merge into the left lane.

So every day I do that, merrily overtaking 50 or so cars sitting in the left lane for the entire 800 yards.

AIBU to consider that this sign means lane closing in 800 yards and merge where the arrow tells you to and not please pointlessly queue from this point leaving the lane empty for the full 800 yards.

Nobody ever looks pissed off at the merge point and I wouldn't think they had the right to be. I don't understand why everyone queues from so far back. It's so inefficient.

Can you show me the highway code which tells you to do that?

When did they remove merge in turn and zippering? Because you're saying that the people who follow the rules are wankers?

Can you explain that because I'm so confused. How are they the wankers when they're driving correctly?

Ok, you’re right there, it’s not necessarily quicker but it is smoother.
Just Googled and it’s comprehensively discussed here:
blog.greenflag.com/2019/the-zip-merging-debate/

Difficult, if not impossible, to zip if you're stationary.

Yeh and I’m saying the problem you describe would be resolved if everyone understood and practised zip merging.

If you are travelling at 60mph you are not queuing so that is not relevant to the OP. The OP is talking about a situation where there is an 800yd queue.

I remember one set of roadworks near me where there were big signs saying "Use both lanes" and "Merge in turn" and people were still queueing in one lane. That meant that the queue extended round the roundabout where people were joining the road. That caused queues down onto the dual carriageway perpendicular to the one with road works and big traffic jams there bringing the ring road to a grinding halt. All because people insisted on queueing in one lane, not two.

The key thing for me in that link is “With two full lanes of traffic, the speed differential between lanes is reduced. With all traffic travelling at roughly the same speed, making the move from closing to open lanes is easier and safer”. Roughly the same speed - merge in turn - traffic keeps flowing smoothly. Different speeds because some drivers ignore the speed limit and drive too fast up the outside - can’t merge in turn so have to brake and force in causing cars behind them to brake - traffic doesn’t keep flowing smoothly.

Merge in turn.

If everyone does it, instead of getting offended and annoyed that someone is ahead of you then wants to come in, it works.

The people making it NOT work are the 'merge early, get my nose up the arse of the car in front, dont let any fucker in' folks. You are the problem folks!

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/zip-merging/

www.theorytestpro.co.uk/posts/zip-merging-need-learn/

If thats not clear... there are plenty of zip merge animations and simulations on youtube for those still convinced they're right/unable to achieve this clearly extremely difficult move.

Merging sooner makes the length of road reduced to a single lane 800yds longer.

You are so not being unreasonable!
Pisses me off that so many people don’t understand something so simple.
The amount of times I see a queue so long it goes all the way back to the next junction and clogging up that one too, so much unnecessary traffic being created.

YANBU - this winds me up so much!

Yesterday I used the emptier lane near roadworks, slow moving traffic, so when I reached the sign I indicated, checked my blind spot and waved the driver behind thanks to make it super clear I was merging in when it was my turn. She got the huff and aggressively inched forward and wouldn’t let me in to the point of nearly bumping into me.

Stupid motorcyclist behind us shouted that both of us were idiots ( I tried to go ahead and merge despite her being an aggressive weirdo). Both of them need to read the Highway Code!

it’s an issue of lane capacity and safety too, not just the etiquette of taking turns - in lots of scenarios you end up with one lane backing up to the point where they’re blocking a junction or yellow grid which then causes worse congestion, or backing up on a dual carriageway (dangerous as people then have to break suddenly for stationary traffic) and yet people still refuse to use both lanes. Madness.

OMG - OP, you shouldn’t have got me started! 😂

Probably a bit on the British mentality to queueing as well as I know the OP is totally correct but yet I also merge left earlier as I don't want to be seen to be the "pusher in" even though that's not really the case in this instance. Maybe its people using it regularly but heading north of York on the A64 it goes from double to single quite quick but most people do the zipper thing very well, probably as most are heading towards the coast and are in a chilled holiday mode!

I'm 75% in the continuing lane, blocking 25% of the closing lane next to the armco to discourage late heroics.

I'm only getting ahead of the queue because loads of people are choosing to stay in a lane that is near stationary when there is an empty one available. An empty, open lane that no signs indicate should not be used at that point but only further down the road.

What is it about using a legal and empty lane that makes me a chancer or cheeky fucker or any of the other descriptions?

Well you've misunderstood what you are supposed to do.

At the point of merging each car is supposed to let one car merge in. At the merge point. You are supposed to make full use of all lanes until this point.

People doing this aren't chancers barging in. They are doing it correctly.

@swimlyn huh?? How does anyone ever get home if you’re stationary and not ever going to move anywhere?

OMG - OP, you shouldn’t have got me started! 😂
Sorry! Maybe use the image of car ballet that a PP described when everyone merges correctly as a calming thought!

You have to merge way back because if you drive right up to where the lane closes, no bugger will let you in!

I overtake to the front, then merge in turn, as you are supposed to.
Why people queue from miles back is beyond me.

Ridiculous and unsafe behaviour

I push in, I'm the one using the road properly..I always give a cheery thanks and a lights flash though😀

How about I drive the way I was taught over 10 years ago and drive to the safe standard that I passed at? I'm not listening to anyone on the internet with regards to driving, especially not here. Thanks.

@SarahShorty you're wrong on this.

I can understand not taking anything you read on the internet as gospel, but please, look it up and learn the correct method. It could avoid an accident.

And those of you straddling both lanes - you're even worse, you're preventing others using the road properly, whilst not using it properly yourself. Not only do you stop car traffic from merging in turn, you're creating a hazard for, and slowing filtering motorcycles (yes! they're allowed to do that! Unfair isn't it - then learn to ride a motorbike and you can do it too!)

Oh wow so many people on this thread need to learn to drive.
It’s not pushing in ffs. People who block others from merging when they should need to grow up and take some more driving lessons.

@WeAreBob 🙌

I'm pretty sure deliberately straddling 2 lanes to stop people zip merging properly is as daft as 'late heroics' tbh