zipper merge
Late lane interleaving
A zipper merge is a traffic pattern where vehicles from two lanes take turns merging into one, alternating like the teeth of a zipper.
Traffic engineers advocate for it because it uses available road space efficiently and reduces backup, though many drivers consider it rude to stay in the closing lane until the merge point: Just zipper merge—it's what you're supposed to do.
- interleaveInsert alternately between others
- take turnsAlternate in sequence
- motoristsPeople operating cars
- traffic flowMovement of vehicles
- alternateOccur in succession
one at a time · vehicles · highway · construction zones · right-of-way · defensive driving · queue management · lane closure · traffic management · traffic cones · lane discipline · pavement markings · yielding · situational awareness · road signage · parallel parking · fork in the road · turning point
- drivingdrive, steering, driver, acceleration, motorist
- driving etiquetteparking etiquette, signaling, turn signals, tailgating, yielding
- driving hazardspotholes, black ice, debris, road debris, icy roads
- merge zonesacceleration lane, taper
- operator psychologydriver fatigue, pilot fatigue, mental workload, cognitive load, human error
- traffictraffic jam, congestion, traffic, gridlock, traffic congestion