Late Merge- Zipper Merge

The Zipper Merge is a new driving strategy that requires a change in the mindset of motorists who traditionally have been taught to merge early when recognizing that a lane will end. The results of early merging are longer backups, an increase in crashes and road rage incidents.

The new driving procedure to follow is when you see the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic is backing up, stay in your current lane up to the point of merge. Then take turns with other drivers to safely and smoothly ease into the remaining lane. When traffic is heavy and slow, it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current traffic lane until the point where traffic can orderly take turns merging.

The Zipper Merge benefits drivers by:

• Reducing the difference in speeds between two lanes. Changing lanes when traffic is traveling at approximately the same speed is easier and safer.
• Reducing the overall length of traffic backup by as much as 40%.
• Reducing congestion on freeway interchanges, especially in metropolitan areas.
• Creating a sense of fairness and equity that all lanes are moving at the same rate.
• Reducing incidents of road rage.