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“Merge in turn” or “zipper merge”. Regardless of what you call it, the one thing that unites all drivers is debating the correct way to do it.
For those who aren’t familiar, merging in turn is a traffic flow measure that makes cars from two or more lanes merge into one. Basically, all it does is allow two lanes of traffic to join together, with road users taking turns to merge into the new singular lane. Seems simple, right? Think again.
The correct way to merge in turn sparks debate wherever you go, and the Dick Lovett motoring team decided to survey* drivers to see exactly which methods Brits are using most.
Our research shows the majority of drivers (68%) tend to move out of a closing lane immediately - or as soon as possible - after seeing a lane closure warning sign for road works or an accident. Why? Their main reason is to be ‘polite’ to other drivers.
If there’s something Brits are good at, it’s queuing. And a resounding 7 in 10 (69%) drivers told us they think it's rude when other drivers don’t queue to get in from a closing lane early on.
What’s more, a third (33%) of drivers even told us that they actively try to stop other drivers from merging in turn when they do so at the ‘last minute’. Controlling other driver’s manoeuvres on the road is something we explored with a psychologist in our bad driving habits blog.
So, should you queue early for the sake of politeness or merge in turn? What exactly is the correct thing to do?
While it can feel a little frustrating when you’re waiting to queue after a lane closure sign and another driver whizzes past further up the road, they’re not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law. And, actually, you could be whizzing on up too.
It seems the Highway Code kind of agrees with the third (32%) of drivers who merge in turn without queueing right away.
Rule 134 of the Highway Code states:
“You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed.
"In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily.
"Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching roadworks or a road traffic incident.
“It is not recommended at high speed.”
In essence, this means that drivers should wait to merge in turn at the point at which the two lanes merge into one unless it’s not busy.
However, as our survey shows, British queuing etiquette says the opposite, despite the fact that queuing early is likely to cause even more congestion because drivers aren’t utilising all of the available road.
If the 68% of drivers moving lanes too early out of politeness decided to use the available lanes, up until the merge in turn sign, it would result in less congestion during a lane closure as it allows the traffic to have more of a consistent flow.
