ORLANDO, Fla. – Many Florida drivers have probably encountered this issue at some point: construction or a crash causes a lane to close, meaning some vehicles have to merge in with traffic.
But that begs the question: when are these merging drivers supposed to get over?
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Well, according to the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), merging traffic should use the “Zipper Merge” method. This involves a couple of tips:
- USE BOTH LANES
To start out with, merging drivers should use both lanes, waiting until they hit the merge point to get over. And no, this doesn’t involve “cutting in line.”
“Using both lanes means the highway has more ‘capacity’ to keep traffic moving along,” the CFX guide reads. “Everybody wins.”
- TAKE TURNS
The CFX guide also urges drivers in the flow lane to yield to merging vehicles, though not all at once.
By taking turns — allowing one vehicle to go at a time — drivers can minimize traffic jams and keep their wheels going.
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That’s not the only benefit here, though.
“It feels good to give someone a break, and get a break in return,” the guide continues. “That’s one reason why the Zipper merge has been shown to reduce road rage.”
Below are some other useful tips CFX provides for merging at highway speeds:
- Drive Ahead — Merging onto the highway? Changing lanes to exit? Put down the phone (you already did that, right?) and look ahead to find an open spot.
- Who’s on First? — The through-lane has the right-of-way. If you are merging into traffic, it’s your job to find the right place to fit in.
- Match the Pace — Increase your speed to match the flow of traffic. Use the length of the onramp; that’s what it’s there for. If you’re in a travel lane, you might need to slow down a little to fall in place behind a fast-moving car. No one likes to be cut off.
- That thing. You know. Your turn signal? — There’s a time for mystery. Merging is not one of them. Use your turn signal so the cars around you know what you’re planning to do.
For more information on the Zipper Merge, click here.
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