Stuart Dalby, East Lancashire Advanced
Motorists, November 2001
Zip Merging is the term used to describe a method of
merging a number of vehicles travelling in the same
direction in multiple lanes into few lanes. The basic
principal is that all lanes are used by vehicles up until
just before the lane restriction at which point vehicles
merge alternatively one after the other. There are many
advantages in it's use:
Vehicles merge better when there is some kind of
order and when drivers are not in competition to
take advantage or be defensive against other
drivers. This results in less road rage, not only
whilst merging but also whilst queuing.
It removes the opportunity for a driver to make
progress at the expense of others. How often have
we seen vehicles deliberately obstruct traffic in
the lane with the obstruction? By zip merging
there is no totally empty lane which admittedly
is a big magnet for drivers to use.
The road's capacity is maximised since all lanes
up to the obstruction are used. All the traffic
in a single & therefore much longer queue can
cause further problems behind. For example if the
queue interferes with a junction or traffic
lights.
So how do you zip merge? When you realise that the
lane you are travelling in is obstructed, do not switch
lanes immediately but continue towards the obstruction.
If a vehicle ahead is waiting to pull into another lane,
wait for them to move out of the way and then continue.
If you find that you are the first vehicle in your lane
before the obstruction but it still some way away,
continue in your lane but do not race ahead. Be prepared
for a vehicle to pull out into your path. When you are
within, say 200 yards of the obstruction, slow to a speed
which matches the speed of traffic in the lane to which
you wish to merge and indicate your intention to merge.
Try to keep your vehicle moving but be prepared to stop
if necessary. Wait for a suitable opportunity, be patient
and when a suitable space appears, merge into that lane.
That's it.
Merging is sometimes difficult no matter which method
is used because of many driver’s impatience and lack
of courtesy. The following points may help:
Try to use a single merging point where traffic
from one lane merges alternatively with traffic
in the other. This enables all drivers to better
adjust their speed and spacing to support merging
at this one point. Do not be tempted to merge
sooner thereby creating multiple merging points.
Do not attempt to follow a vehicle merging into
the same gap ahead of a vehicle already
travelling in that lane unless absolutely sure
that there is enough room. Drivers are more
willing to allow vehicles to merge ahead of them
if they feel their courtesy is not going to be
taken advantage of by several other vehicle
drivers trying to fill the same gap.
When merging onto a main carriageway from an
entry slip-road, make full use of the length of
the entry lane.
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