Merge lanes and self righteous drivers

[Ohlawll]

Ok so this was on my route home this evening. On the dual carriageway I usually take there is currently some roadworks which in turn require the road to merge from two lanes to one.

I am then greeted by a nice FedEx lorry driver who decides he is going to straddle both lanes for a good mile prior to the actual merge blocking both the left and right lanes (self righteous so and so) causing a tailback in both lanes.

As far as I am aware the highway code says to use both lanes until the merge point. Why do people go out of their way to enforce their own rules of the road? Why not become a traffic cop instead

Rant over.

Thoughts?

I got some footage with my dashcam below showing this, its only a small snippet but should give an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxCDRWPBgCw

 

[Cookeh]

You're in the right; though in slow moving traffic you wont get far anyway and what difference does being 1 vehicle behind make for the short duration you'll all be moving at the same pace through roadworks make?

 

[Ohlawll]

Yes I understand that I would not get anywhere necessarily quicker but blocking a mile of potential queuing space is adding a mile to the traffic tailback. Seems silly.

 

[paradigm]

You're in the right; though in slow moving traffic you wont get far anyway and what difference does being 1 vehicle behind make for the short duration you'll all be moving at the same pace through roadworks make?

It doesn't work like that though:

vs

Merge in turn when used properly (i.e. by people who don't see letting someone in as a reduction in their manhood) increases flow through a bottleneck.

 

[Will Gill]

The bane of every intelligent road users day, merge in lanes.

So simple to use yet there are always numpties who think they know better

FYI the above gif explains everything perfectly

 

[SpeedFreak]

Portway, Bristol every day. There is always someone who straddles and another who pushes back up the inside where the lanes merge and has a go at you for "cutting them up".

 

[asim18]

Imma let you finish but FedEx are the greatest couriers ever. Parcels to USA within 24 hours is just incredible. Lets face it that trailer getting to the airport on time is more important than a few people arriving home from work 5 minutes later than usual.

I'm so sorry If it was ANY other vehicle I'd be on your side.

 

[mccarf]

I've never ever seen it used properly in heavy traffic, it seems quite redundant to me. In that scenario of the dashcam it was either you + others behind you hold him up by shooting past him then merging ahead of him and slowing the traffic in front of him, or he holds you up. I know which one I'd choose if I had to make a delivery by a certain time.

 

[Ohlawll]

If it was ANY other vehicle I'd be on your side. The fact that it's FexEx, sorry

Ok, maybe there should be a clause on the highway code? *FedEx exempt. lol

 

[blun]

blocking a mile of potential queuing space is adding a mile to the traffic tailback. Seems silly.

This is a key point. I've seen many situations like this where the extra queue length caused by idiots like this causes the tailback to cross a roundabout / junction causing unnecessary congestion.

 

[Minstadave]

Always happens, people like to queue and then object when others legitimately drive down to the merge point so take on a self appointed road warrior stance. Morons going to moron.

 

[Skillmister]

This is a key point. I've seen many situations like this where the extra queue length caused by idiots like this causes the tailback to cross a roundabout / junction causing unnecessary congestion.

This is a particular problem on the a55 where there are both frequent roadworks knocking it down to 1 lane each way and 2 roundabouts that get blocked and make it impossible to enter/exit the respective villages. Absolute nightmare, very glad I don't travel it often at peak times

 

[Jamauk]

I was always taught to merge in turn in these situations, the whole process should work like a zip. People that sit in between the lanes to stop anyone going past seem to have the belief that it is down to them to police the roads.

 

[adolf hamster]

Its the ones who'll put the hammer down and go right up the backside of the car in front the moment you indicate get me, its stupid, inconsiderate and downright dangerous.

Should be legal to ram these people off the roads and claim your repairs off their insurance

 

[Conscript]

People who don't understand merge in turn should be fired into the sun.

Lets face it that trailer getting to the airport on time is more important than a few people arriving home from work 5 minutes later than usual.

Both could still be achieved without the FedEx driver acting like a dick though.

 

[Flack88]

This drives me nuts, there should be a fine for people doing it just like 'lane hogging' and causing congestion (impeding progress). Someone did this around where I live and in doing so blocked off about 5 turn off's further down the road causing a huge tailback, I had to undercut them and they then proceeded to chase me until I turned off and they realised what a moron they were (I hope), at least it freed up the road for the people behind. Also I have had people try and block me on my bike whist filtering which makes me want to take their mirror off as I go past.

 

[Akagi]

Just another professional driver who thinks he knows everything, but actually lacks basic intelligence.

We had this thread quite recently I think. Your video is rather infuriating though!

Its the ones who'll put the hammer down and go right up the backside of the car in front the moment you indicate get me, its stupid, inconsiderate and downright dangerous.

People used to do this to me all the time on one of the M25/M23 sliproads. I just used to maintain my position, comfortable in the knowledge that they wouldn't keep trying to force me out of the line, because it would mean crashing their expensive BMW into my worthless Skoda. It worked every time without fail.

 

[Rroff]

People who don't understand merge in turn should be fired into the sun.

Problem is I don't think even the people in road planning understand it - so often the road layouts/signage doesn't support it very well and the reality is until a larger majority know how and do carry it out properly then those that do actually just cause more problems than the concept solves when used properly by every one.

We need much better signage/layout and education campaign before anyone using zip merging accomplishes anything but effectively pushes to the front of the queue and then causes further congestion merging in.

 

[Minstadave]

NZ have giant signs everywhere saying "merge like a zip" at merge in turns which we should have if we don't already.

 

[Rroff]

NZ have giant signs everywhere saying "merge like a zip" at merge in turns which we should have if we don't already.

Throughout my town there is literally one place with signs for it - and they are pointless in that instance as the double lane lasts the entirety of about 3 car lengths.