To think if you don't let people join stationary traffic you're a dick.

[WhyBeADick]

I hate drivers who do this, I don't get why you'd be a dick for the sake of saving yourself 1 second.

Sat in stationary or slow moving traffic, if there is someone waiting on a side road to join I would always let them in, I can't go anywhere and I need to leave a gap for people in the opposite direction wanting to go up that road anyway so why not? After they'd gone, id move up and I imagine the person behind me would then let the next person in if anymore were waiting and so on...

Yet I see so many drivers speeding up on purpose if they see someone trying to join or not letting cars in when they can't go anywhere anyway. What's the point of being a cunt? It saves about 1 second of your journey!

@Rayn22 Merging in turn is exactly how you should behave when 2 lanes merge into one. Whether or not everyone else queues in the lane that will remain open I will definitely go down the other lane until the end.

@Purplepeople12 and others, this attitude is why we have fucking awful tailbacks…

No, merging in the long line of teeth which slot on between each other as you approach the final end point of the zipper closure.

Don’t be daft, the SUVs I’m talking about have bugger all to do with farming.

They close (merge) from one end, not by pushing the two lengths together

But people living in cities tend not to be towing/farm/horse people. Yet there seems to be a lot of SUV's there.

Yes - the zipper moves the teeth together in sequence from one end right along the length of the zip and up to the other end where it stops.

Yes, with the two sides of the zip next to each other, so two lanes next to each other of equal length, not one long one and one empty one!

Ironic! The Highway Code doesn’t stipulate you let other drivers out of a side road, but it does say you should merge in turn

i was going to say this to the people who won’t let others merge in turn!

With side roads, yes, you’re right. However it’s also not good form when loads try to come streaming out after the car you’ve let in, by which time the traffic is moving!

@SleeplessInEngland that's fine but we aren't all the same driving them
Like I said my car is a small old polo but I might well be in a Range Rover for work. It's not my car so I don't appreciate people judging me for it when I have to drive it for work

i Just..

you’re really not getting this are you? I can’t explain any simpler, and others have tried too.

last try

why do you think the merge point moves away from where it is in the road (I’m guessing this is the end of your zip) it’s just keep moving!

the zip bit isn’t moving. Imagine it’s fixed.

then pull the two sides with teeth through it, like traffic flowing through a point where lanes merge. The teeth (cars) move towards the zip (merge pint) both sides at the same pace and take it in turns to pass through it.

that’s the literal definition of zip merging.

Yes - and I’ve already said this several times. Merge in turn as everyone is moving and you’re approaching the lane close, not immediately at the stop point.

Anyway, I’m aware merging isn’t what the OP asked. Velcro and buttons all the way!

I just…too @FloydPepper

giphy.com/gifs/highway-lane-merge-D0WOL0ogZIoG4

This helps.

Yes that’s it. Perfect.
stationary merging point, both sides coming in and joining at that point. That’s exactly what it mexna. Thank you 😀

There is no stop point. There's a slow moving zip point and it's at the end of the closing lane. Not halfway down it, or near the end, AT the end. Anything earlier than that and it isn't zipping because you've got teeth/cars moving across unevenly. Wait till the actual end of the lane and it becomes one from each side taking turns to join into one lane. Like, I dunno, a zip?

Missed the bit I was meant to quote:
Yes - and I’ve already said this several times. Merge in turn as everyone is moving and you’re approaching the lane close, not immediately at the stop point.

Yes and no. Yes in principle but not if there's the jam from hell behind me, and the cars at the side road have only just started waiting.

It happens a lot leaving work - huge queue up the main road, and a side junction near the top constantly trickles out much faster as they're let out almost straightaway by people who feel obliged. But for every side road car let out quickly, all the rest waiting further down the main jam made no progress.

So I know what you mean and I'm not someone who blocks out of pettiness, but I don't automatically let side cars straight out.

Merge in turn/zipper is legit and drivers who insist on clogging up one lane for miles while bitching about others using the mostly empty other lane need to get off the road!

Merge in turn/zipper is legit and drivers who insist on clogging up one lane for miles while bitching about others using the mostly empty other lane need to get off the road

yes but if everyone got in early you wouldn't be clogging up one lane for miles because the lane would be moving. We've had a million threads on this before (which isn't actually what the OP was talking about, it was side roads) and the issue is that people have to choose either/or, but some get in early and others decide to "push in" and that causes conflict. The Highway Code isn't as clear on the point as people would have you believe.

I am in the get in early tribe. However, not always. For example where there are two lanes going up to traffic lights, but there's a car park I want to get into on the left before the lights. I don't queue, I go up the outside and then "push in" to get into the car park. Probably cheeky but I don't see why I should wait behind everyone wanting to go to somewhere I don't and all they need to do is leave a small space at the car park entrance.

If only that was the worst thing many drivers do. Not that it makes it any better.

Oh god not this crap again...

If everyone got in early you'd be clogging up the lane twice as soon as needed and possibly causing issues on other roads. It's very un-British I know but when done properly it works like a dream.

And the poor people at the back on the main road get the queue doubling in front of them.

It's especially annoying if you know the cars being let in have used a sneaky back route known to locals to join at the front knowing someone will let them in and saving themselves a 40 minute queue by doing so.

@DappledThings The best quote I remember from your thread on this issue a few weeks ago:

Don't be a dick
Merge like a zip

(Australian road sign).

Quite frightening the number of people who, having been told they're driving wrong, say they'll persist in driving wrong.

The government should run awareness video adverts to teach the correct way.

I'd forgotten that quote! That is good. Got to love the Australians for a memorable tagline.