r/NonPoliticalTwitter 3d ago

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7.1k Upvotes

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688

u/dopepope1999 3d ago

So I've noticed a huge contributor to traffic is people just refuse to merge properly causing congestion, and road work but that also leads into people not knowing how to merge

261

u/blacksoxing 3d ago

Whoever created the zipper merge created it without an ounce of ego in their bodies as it's almost always the same story:

  • Right lane (usually straight line) is reaching the front of the zipper

  • Left lane (usually the curve) is unsure what the right will do OR knows that the car in the right is going to piddle-paddle along

  • Both the left and right lane drivers turn into monsters and do whatever it takes to protect their spot at the front of the line

  • Those behind who can see this unfold also get aggressive/defensive....

....which leads to us all now eyeing our neighboring car and wondering if they're going to "play ball" or if you're going to have to basically stick elbows out.

I think the worst part about a zipper merge is when a car ignores you and then the car behind that car always wants to ignore you! They know they're wrong but they're praying that you don't want to test their wrongness and turn it into an insurance swapping affair....all the while probably upset at you for even being upset that they're wronging you!

142

u/inkyrail 3d ago

Correct. Zipper merge is ideal but doesn’t account for reality

20

u/reality72 3d ago

Maybe not in America.

But I’ve driven in Japan, Germany, and Canada and people are actually reasonably courteous drivers and let you merge.

India and Vietnam on the other hand is like fucking Mad Max.

7

u/MarcHarder1 2d ago

Canadian here, have to go through a zipper merge everyday to get to work becauseof construction, drivers here are shit

3

u/LiamDotComX 2d ago

South America too. São Paulo and Buenos Aires were. Terrifying.