Minnesota Drivers Still Can’t Agree On This Road Construction Rule

It happened again. I had an angry motorist try to block me out when I was trying to do a late merge. It's the passive-aggressive Minnesota driving habit that causes problems and road rage every summer. How do we reverse generations of drivers doing the wrong thing? What will it take to convert all drivers to the "late merge"

Merging Right Away During Road Construction

When you're driving down the road, and you see a lane closed ahead sign, your first instinct is to change lanes and merge right away. The thought is that if everyone would just change lanes ahead of time, traffic wouldn't back up. That's true when you're in a low-traffic area. But when traffic backups happen, you're actually making the situation worse.

Resist The Urge To Merge Early

MNDOT says when traffic is slowed due to lane closures in road construction, drivers should stay in their lane until they reach the merge sign. They've developed a new electronic detection system and placed it in larger construction projects. It detects when traffic is slow or congested and then activates electronic messaging signs that say "Use Both Lanes," and "Take Turns At Merge."

Benefits Of The Zipper Merge

Late merging, also known as the Zipper Merge, helps by forming two lanes of traffic that are traveling at a similar speed. That makes merging safer.

It can also shorten the overall length of the backup by 40-50%. That helps prevent traffic backups from affecting other interchanges.

When both lanes are moving slowly, drivers are less likely to be upset with other drivers. It's a "we're all in the same boat" mentality.

Will We Ever Learn?

Some people have been driving for years with the wrong idea about merging. Spread the message, be kind on the roads, and drive safely this summer. Watch for workers!