Adopt the zipper merge: ODOT says cars zooming to orange barrels before merging are right

Picture it: You're driving on the interstate when traffic slows because a lane is closed ahead. You merge over right away and patiently wait, and watch (perhaps with increasing annoyance) while a dozen or so other cars zoom past, right up to the orange barrels before merging.

Well, guess what? The Ohio Department of Transportation says those drivers are doing it right.

Ohio Department of Transportation encourages the zipper merge

In a recent Facebook post , ODOT says the zipper merge eases congestion and shortens backups by 40%, delaying congestion and shortening the line of cars by one-third of a mile. According to ODOT, the zipper merge benefits all drivers.

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What is the zipper merge that ODOT recommends?

The zipper merge got its name because it brings to mind the mechanics of a zipper -- two lines smoothly coming together to form one, according to AAA Living . To perform a zipper merge, drivers should stay in their lane until the final merge point, then take turns with drivers in the other lane to safely ease over.

The zipper merge can be seen as cutting in line, according to AAA. However, research shows it's more efficient because it uses more available road space for as long as possible to keep traffic moving.

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Facebook users react to post

Naturally, Facebook users sounded off about ODOT's post. Here's a sampling of the comments:

Dan Volvo writes: "This will never ever work because of all the inconsiderate people who think they're more important than everybody else. Look at how many intersections get clogged up because god forbid somebody has to wait for the next light. Also all the left lane campers who refuse to move over would ruin this as well. Those people single-handedly cause traffic jams, so that's not surprising."

Joni Herriott Gauthier: "Maybe they should teach this in drivers ed so we can get the word out already. Or at least start posting signs to use this method? I used to be that guy that didn't want to let anyone over, but you can teach an old dog new tricks! This makes it so much faster for everyone."

Ron Gayheart: "If people wouldn't wait until the last minute to merge, it would go a lot more smoothly"

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Kevin Eberts: "Oh, but that requires motorists to set their 'me first' mentality aside and allow other motorists to merge ahead of them."

Gus Lippolis: "Yep, this can work if uniform vehicle length, comparable speed, single lane in construction area maintains speed, no work vehicles enter or exit the flow."

Abby Goudy: "I wish everyone could grasp this obviously simple technique, but nope. People can’t even merge on the freeway correctly. They cross all the way over when the lanes aren’t even touching yet. The number of times people have literally tried to run me off the road and flip me off over merging correctly is dumb.

"Common sense isn’t common."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Adopt the zipper merge: ODOT says cars zooming to orange barrels before merging are right