Experts say if you are like most drivers in the Pacific Northwest you will be quick to jump out of a soon to be closed lane and join the long backup in the other lane. Traffic engineers say that reaction causes long traffic backups.
The correct way to react to a lane closure sign is to fill both lanes equally when approaching a point of closure. Then, within a few car lengths of the lane ending, drivers in the closed lane alternate, in “zipper” fashion, merging into the open lane.
This keeps traffic in both lanes moving at roughly the same speed experts say and congestion drops dramatically.
Washington State Department of Transportation has been urging PNW drivers to adopt the “zipper merge” strategy as far back as 2014. “The zipper merge works to help keep traffic moving BUT – and it’s a big but – it only works if everyone buys into it and works together,” WSDOT said in a social media post.
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From the WSDOT website
Merging doesn’t have to be aggravating – if we can all be courteous. Merging areas tend to be where backups start, whether or not it is part of a work zone lane closure. Safe and efficient movement of traffic through the merging area approaching a lane closure depends on the ability of drivers to plan ahead, adjust their speed, and merge smoothly into a safe gap between vehicles in the open lane. When drivers merge more like a zipper, where vehicles in both lanes come together smoothly – even if not at full posted speed – everyone can get through the merge much quicker.
From a legal standpoint, it is the merging driver’s responsibility to merge in a safe manner. However, it is illegal for drivers in the open lane to actively block merging traffic, including blocking part of the merging lane to prevent perceived cutting in line.
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