The Right Way to Merge to Avoid Construction Induced Road Rage [VIDEO]

Drivers handle construction bottlenecks in many different ways. Many times, it's filled with anger and potential road rage. If you drive on I-90 or deal with any road construction during your commute to and from work, you know what I'm talking about.

I too drive in construction on my way to and from the radio station and I have seen drivers get overly angry at others. What for?

There are two ways that you can handle merging when you are losing a lane, whether it's construction, an accident or something else.

1. You can be a "liner-upper".

A "liner-upper" is the person whom the minute they see a construction zone or the notice that there is construction ahead will immediately get into the lane that they need to be in when they drive through said construction.

Or...

2. You can be a "zipper-merger."

A "zipper-merger" is someone who continues to drive in their lane until they reach a point of no return and then merge. In a perfect world, a "zipper-merger" should be able to go one car after another in a zipper like fashion. Hence the "zipper-merger."

What I see most of the time in construction are "liner-uppers" who then take it upon themselves to make sure they take up two lanes to prevent "zipper-mergers" who they think are just trying to shove themselves to the front of the line.

Which is the right way to handle this during construction?

According to the Federal Highway Administration, which outlines 3 different principles for merging:

"Take turns, or “zipper” merge at the front of the line. The fairness – and simple visualization – of this principle speaks for itself. And there is already precedence that we have been schooled in this; witness the “Yield” condition and many recurring locations where this is the unwritten rule; newcomers quickly adapt! Advocates of zipper merging are proponents of “late” merges; i.e., staying in your lane until the last possible moment and taking turns to get through the chokepoint nozzle. One enterprising fellow in California has gone so far as to adorn his car with a zipper graphic and messages promoting this method."

 

So next time you reach that construction bottle-neck and you want to scream or flip off the guy next to you, remember...

1. Stay Calm

2. Slow down

3. Be a "zipper-merger"