DRIVERS OF DTF. DO YOU AGREE? DISAGREE?

[JayOctavarium]

Does this make you an asshole?

[Adami]

ARe those shopping carts in a corral? And you’re asking if we disapprove of just leaving one out?














Also, yes.

[Implode]

This is truly a difficult question. In many situations, people prefer to stay in the same lane, thereby making the few people driving in the extra lane to "cut ahead" of others look like assholes. It feels like a dick move. However, ideally, if everyone did this, and merged every other car (zipper method), it'd be more efficient for everyone.

So idk. I don't get as angry about it as I used to, but I'm still convinced there's something inherent about driving that makes you think everyone else around you is basically an asshole regardless of what they do.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

That's actually the correct way to do it. It's a merge, not a yield or exit only lane. You zipper merge at the end.

[Anguyen92]

Sadly, since it looks to be a merge, it is up to the cars to the left to either speed a little so that the merging car can get behind you or slow down and let the merging car merge.  Also, if there's a lot of cars on the right lane attempting to merge...... gg, because that lane will be slowed down to a halt for about a minute before speeding things back up.

[bout to crash]

Nope, it means you're the only person who knows how to merge properly and you're not a sheep and the other drivers can kiss your ass if it bothers them that they suck.

...not that I've ever been in this situation

[TheCountOfNYC]

I put yes. Of course, I’m a bad judge of if someone is a good or bad driver because if I decide someone is driving like a dick, I will always be spiteful and out-dick them. I call it offensive driving.

[OpenYourEyes311]

Nope, it means you're the only person who knows how to merge properly and you're not a sheep and the other drivers can kiss your ass if it bothers them that they suck.

...not that I've ever been in this situation

Ding ding ding! Lines and signs are there for a reason. If you don't know what it all means when you're out there driving, go take a class. If there's open space, I take it, because that's the correct way to drive.

[PowerSlave]

There's one of those in a nearby town that I used to live in. It's in a fairly busy section by a lot of heavy shopping areas, and there used to be a GM plant right there. It would be ok if people used it as it's intended to be used, but they usually use to try to blow by the traffic in the main lane. I'll watch my rearview every time I'm there, and if someone gets in the right lane and speeds up, I'll wait until they're next to me then I'll match their speed. They've got no choice but to slow down and slide in behind me.

Yes, I'm an asshole.

[ReaperKK]

This is truly a difficult question. In many situations, people prefer to stay in the same lane, thereby making the few people driving in the extra lane to "cut ahead" of others look like assholes. It feels like a dick move. However, ideally, if everyone did this, and merged every other car (zipper method), it'd be more efficient for everyone.

So idk. I don't get as angry about it as I used to, but I'm still convinced there's something inherent about driving that makes you think everyone else around you is basically an asshole regardless of what they do.

Exactly my thoughts

[cramx3]

No, I don't understand why people choose to create traffic.

[wolfking]

Hard one.  Most of the time, yes, but I'm guilty of it quite a bit.  If there is no openings I'll go right up and merge properly like this, but if there is a space sometimes I'll go in early, but then the people behind that then go ahead and end up in front of me piss me off.

[jingle.boy]

The correct answer is no - zipper lane merging is the most efficient way to do it.  Now, if someone pulled out of the line to zip to the front and merge in, then yes, they are an asshole.

[KevShmev]

The correct answer is no - zipper lane merging is the most efficient way to do it.  Now, if someone pulled out of the line to zip to the front and merge in, then yes, they are an asshole.

That's why if it is an area that you drive through frequently, you strategically stay in the lane where you'll be able to dart to the front and then merge in, so you do not become the asshole.

Note: I do not actually do this.

[ich bin besser]

That's actually the correct way to do it. It's a merge, not a yield or exit only lane. You zipper merge at the end.

Nothing to add here. 

[El Barto]

Zipper merging is actually the law in a couple of states and several countries in Europe. The way I see it, if the Germans mandate it for its efficiency and Oklahomans bitch and moan about it, we should probably be following the Kraut's lead on this one.

Sadly, since it looks to be a merge, it is up to the cars to the left to either speed a little so that the merging car can get behind you or slow down and let the merging car merge.  Also, if there's a lot of cars on the right lane attempting to merge...... gg, because that lane will be slowed down to a halt for about a minute before speeding things back up.

It doesn't directly increase or decrease the amount of traffic. What it does is greatly decrease the size of the backup because you're using two lanes instead of one. It's also safer, at least it should be, because it's more organized and everybody's driving the same speed. The alternative, early merging, just has everybody try to slip in whenever they see an opportunity, which results in lots of braking, butthurt, and accidents.

[lonestar]

Zipper merging is actually the law in a couple of states and several countries in Europe. The way I see it, if the Germans mandate it for its efficiency and Oklahomans bitch and moan about it, we should probably be following the Kraut's lead on this one.

/thread

[ZKX-2099]

I thought we agreed on changing the Kevin Moore poll option to Mike Portnoy back in 2013...

[Anguyen92]

The correct answer is no - zipper lane merging is the most efficient way to do it.  Now, if someone pulled out of the line to zip to the front and merge in, then yes, they are an asshole.

Oh yeah, absolutely, I think someone attempted to do this to my lane a few days back, but I made sure he did not cut in front of me.

[JayOctavarium]

I thought we agreed on changing the Kevin Moore poll option to Mike Portnoy back in 2013...

Mike who?

[lordxizor]

That's actually the correct way to do it. It's a merge, not a yield or exit only lane. You zipper merge at the end.

This is correct.

[Ninjabait]

I don't think doing that makes you Moore or less of a jerk. As far as I'm aware, that's the correct and most common way of doing it. It's not like they're blocking half of the other lane, or holding up a huge line of cars, or just merging anyways and cutting in front of everyone. Nothing particularly awful about it.

[bout to crash]

Moore or less of a jerk.

Those lanes will never be open again 

[Nick]

Nope, it means you're the only person who knows how to merge properly and you're not a sheep and the other drivers can kiss your ass if it bothers them that they suck.

...not that I've ever been in this situation

Exactly. You are supposed to maintain your lane until the merge point.

[Implode]

I think a more controversial question would be those situations where an extra lane is added just for a single intersection. For example, on your side of the road, your one lane becomes two (the right lane is NOT a turn only lane). Then right after the intersection, it merges back over into one lane.

This was in one of my past commutes, and it enraged people to no end.

[Nick]

I think a more controversial question would be those situations where an extra lane is added just for a single intersection. For example, on your side of the road, your one lane becomes two (the right lane is NOT a turn only lane). Then right after the intersection, it merges back over into one lane.

This was in one of my past commutes, and it enraged people to no end.

Ask yourself this, why did that lane get added?

Because if people are lined up in two lanes of 10 cars each, as opposed to one lane of 20 cars, and the light allows for 10 cars from each lane to go through you've now doubled the number of cars that can proceed through during each green light on peak. Yes, there is just enough room on the other side to work things out and get back in order, but that's better than being backlogged for 20 minutes during rush times.

[Implode]

I'm not sure it always works out as perfectly as you describe, but I think you're right! I never thought of it like that before. Thank you.

[Stadler]

Nope, it means you're the only person who knows how to merge properly and you're not a sheep and the other drivers can kiss your ass if it bothers them that they suck.

...not that I've ever been in this situation

I don't think I would have phrased it that way, but this is the right answer.  Personal feelings and competitiveness aside, this is the best way to get the most cars through the merge the quickest (which is good for all, since it reduces traffic and makes the driving safer).

[jasc15]

I used to loathe people who did that, but I read something a while back stating that its the most effective use of the available road space, so it actually alleviates traffic severity.  I still find myself getting annoyed when someone tries to pass me like that because I know they are doing it just to get ahead, not because they are trying to make the best use of available road space.

It triggers a fundamental idea many of us have, that "I paid my dues by waiting in line, and now some asshole is going to get ahead for free".  Lots of social implications there.

[Tick]

Absolute first class asshole. Yes!

[Skeever]

That's actually the correct way to do it. It's a merge, not a yield or exit only lane. You zipper merge at the end.

Yup, but of course, we're both philly people so I guess it's our expectation that people know how to merge.

[Stadler]

That's actually the correct way to do it. It's a merge, not a yield or exit only lane. You zipper merge at the end.

Yup, but of course, we're both philly people so I guess it's our expectation that people know how to merge.

Philly people in the HOUSE!   I lived near the corner of 2nd and Christian, and on the corner of Broad and Pine for several years.

[Snow Dog]

Absolute first class asshole. Yes!

Call me Anus McRectum then since I generally do it this way and, as stated before, studies show this is this best way to do things.

Now, as others have alluded, if someone pulls into the lane merging just to get ahead, then I agree fully.

[bout to crash]

It triggers a fundamental idea many of us have, that "I paid my dues by waiting in line, and now some asshole is going to get ahead for free".  Lots of social implications there.

Yeah, like the implications of getting in line just because everybody else did, even though you're doing it wrong!

[TioJorge]

To me this is no different than someone waiting in a long line at a grocery store because of some weird phenomenon that happens in which people group up together because it seems right (or something) when there is another lane open. Then someone walks up to the open lane and people bitch and moan despite it being totally fine and the fastest way to do things.

Also has been mentioned, there's without a single fucking doubt an inherent "I have to be first/I was first/I deserve to be there faster/etc. ad infinitum" thought process that always goes into this for anyone that has to let someone else in regardless of the situation or legality/rules.

So many people will say yes.

Many people are also mindless dullards. So y'know. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Welcome to humanity and the road. MAD MAX PART 2: THE MERGE, COMING SOON.