Question: I read your last article about road construction and work zones. Can you talk about the zipper merge? It seems like a lot of people don’t know what it is or can’t figure it out. Thank you.
Answer: The “Late Merge - Zipper Merge” is a driving strategy that requires drivers to change their mindset about merging. Traditionally, drivers have been taught to merge early when a lane is ending. Early merging leads to longer backups, more crashes and road rage incidents.
Zipper Merge Procedure
• When you see the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic is backing up, stay in your current lane until the point of merge.
• Take turns with other drivers to safely and smoothly merge into the remaining lane.
• When traffic is heavy and slow, it is safer to remain in your current lane until the point where traffic can take turns merging orderly.
Benefits of the Zipper Merge
• Reduces the difference in speeds between two lanes, making lane changes easier and safer.
• Reduces the overall length of traffic backups by up to 40 percent.
• Reduces congestion at freeway interchanges, especially in metropolitan areas.
• Creates a sense of fairness when all lanes are moving at the same speed.
• Reduces incidents of road rage.
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.
