The Fine Art of "Merging"

Most people do NOT know how to merge. It's as simple as that. And it's one of my biggest pet peeves. Especially here in Indiana. I never had this problem when I lived in Atlanta, and the traffic volumes were far greater, road rage was much more abundant, yet, merging seemed to happen with ease.

I'm one of the lucky suburbanites that gets to deal with I-69 day-in and day-out. The first merge problem... SR 37 merging into one lane before getting onto I-69. People have it in their head that as soon as they get south of 126th street, they need to be in the right lane because the "Left Lane Merges Ahead." The keyword there is "Merges" and people don't know how. The left lane is there for another 3/4 mile for a reason, otherwise, they'd only have one lane after 126th street to begin with. So the people who don't know how to merge do one of two things... straddle the line so no one can get by (unless you have a truck) or ride the person's bumper in front of them really hard and don't let you in.

Now me, I admit... I can be a VERY aggressive driver. That comes from learning to drive in Florida. Plus, my vehicle is bigger than a lot of the cars out there, plus, older. So though this is never a good way to start the day, my aggressive instincts kick in and if they try to block, I go around, using the shoulder and/or grass is necessary. If they don't let me in, I cruise right along next to them, ultimately on the shoulder, but I have the advantage being on the left because that's where the decel lane from 69 starts... so I can jump over with plenty of pavement left and there's nothing those idiots can do. But it pisses me off.

The second key point that annoys me on this side of town...

Anyone knows the NE side knows they recently added a 4th lane on I-69 heading north. They added that lane for a reason, people... think about it. And it HAS helped, though it's a long way from being completely fixed. But I've noticed people starting to treat it just like the merge on 37. Not as much shoulder to play with on this road, but you can still get by. Though it's not a fun way to end the day!

Anyway... the art of merging? The article below actually sums things up pretty well. And this is based on people (MN-DOT) who build the roads and set up lanes the way they do for a reason! The big point... under light traffic, sure, merge a half mile back. But otherwise, use that merge lane to the full length - it's there the EASE traffic congestion! You only make the congestion worse by getting 'in line' too soon or blocking people from using the lane.


New Traffic System May Improve Driver Behavior in Merge Situations

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Fifteen percent of drivers admitted to straddling lanes in order to block late merges in construction zones, according to a recent study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

To address the more than 2,700 crashes and 18 fatalities occurring in highway construction zones last year, Mn/DOT commissioned a study to better understand the behaviors and attitudes that trigger driving decisions in merging situations as drivers enter a work zone.

"Our goal is to increase safety in work zones by reducing the confusion and frustration drivers often experience when merging," said William Servatius, Mn/DOT's Office of Construction.

"Many times crashes occur due to aggressive driving, abrupt lane changes or sudden stops, so we want to help drivers make good choices while traveling through our work zones."

In an attempt to minimize the problems discovered in the research, Mn/DOT also conducted a month-long field study on Highway 10 in Anoka to assess a new Dynamic Late Merge System, a traffic control strategy to improve merging at lane closures.

"The fully automated system using remote traffic microwave sensors and a Doppler radar provides instructions to drivers via changeable message signs on when to merge and how to merge according to the current state of traffic," said Craig Mittelstadt, Mn/DOT's workzone safety specialist. "For example, if traffic is heavy, the system will instruct motorists to use both lanes and take turns once they've reached the defined merge point just before the lane closure."

This strategy often referred to as the "zipper" improves traffic flow, reduces conflicts and hopefully will decrease the number of crashes when traffic demand exceeds the capacity of a single lane closure.

"Basically, we want drivers to know that under normal traffic speeds, they should try to merge early to avoid unsafe merging maneuvers; however, when traffic is congested, drivers should use both lanes all the way to the definite merge point," said Servatius.

"We can't completely rid the roads from congestion in a workzone, but data from the study revealed this method shortened queue lengths by 35 percent and reduced lane changing conflicts," said Mittelstadt. "We also hope for a decline in crashes and aggressive driving behavior."

Minnesota is one of the first states to use the Dynamic Late Merge System and plans are to continue this research in the upcoming construction season.

"People have been trying for years to research the proper way to merge, but there are so many factors to consider," said Servatius. "It's difficult to say what's the 'right' way - instead we're looking for the best way."