h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"It would be so much more efficient if everyone would use all the available road, and merge cleanly into the remaining open lanes in "zipper" fashion at the last available moment."

Yeah, it would, except that people are, you know, Stupid with a capital 's'. It simply doesn't work that way. People in the lanes remaining open don't let people over, cause they are stupid/proud, and the people in the closing lanes wait until the *very* last instant to get over, so they can get "in front" of everyone. Traffic is then caused by people being forced to slam on their brakes either to let people in or to avoid hitting the person cutting them off.

Because all these people are so stupid, it would flow much more smoothly if everyone would get over as soon as they could. Not 5 miles back, but when the signs pop up that say "Lane closed 1 mile" or somewhere around there.

The way to make merges lanes work is to get into the disappearing lane and match the speed of the other lane - this way everyone travels at the same speed and has plenty of time to merge and noone gets resentful of people barging to the front...it annoys the bargers a bit though so don't try it if you can't hack a couple of angry waves

I've seen lorry drivers doing this more than once and it works.

I do this kind of thing to annoy the bargers on my motorbike... Also when people decide they don't like the traffic and can come down the buslane which is reserved for buses, taxis and two wheeled appliances like myself. I generally ride at about 10 mph until they give up and get back in the queue...

"No, the queue may be shorter in length, but it also moves slower."

Slower than stationary?

"If people would get over themselves and just get out of the lane that's closing, then people wouldn't have to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting the people forcing their way into the still-open lane."

But, surely the drivers in the lane that's closing aren't driving slower than the still-open lane Usually they drive c70 mph faster.

Who was it who said that communication between drivers was on the level of insects? An overestimate in my view...

You sound like a very careful driver. Do you use the radio in your car, ch'k your review mirror or even your instrument panel?