You Will NOT Inconvenience Me!

[blas]

So last week when it was in the 90s and the heat index at almost 100 degrees, there was a part of the freeway where the pavement buckled.

And for some odd reason, no matter what they do to patch it, it just won't stay patched.

So, pretty much every morning, it's cut down to one lane while construction crews try time and time again to patch it back down.

This morning, as usual, I got into the other lane and got behind the ever growing line of vehicles, as traffic was down to a crawl.

Some random skidmark on the thong of society in his giant blue SUV decided that he was NOT going to be inconvenienced by this giant clog of traffic, and that he WAS going to proceed through without waiting.

I looked to the side as I was waiting, and saw him roaring up in the lane that was just 1/4 mile away from being closed off.

"Is he really going to......oh of course he is!" I thought aloud as he riproared all the way to the end of that lane with only feet to spare, finding that precious gap to let him in so that he would not have to wait like everyone else.

Oh well. Guess I should be thankful that today, only ONE person tried that, instead of the usual yutz parade pulling that stunt.

[Red_Dazes]

...I'm very passive aggressive with a mean streak hidden underneath... It will get me in trouble one day I am sure... but I am the guy who stays parallel with the idiot and won't let him in. I just kinda look at him and smile as he turns that wonderful shade of red knowing that he will at the very least have to get in line behind me... and of course when he does... I am the worlds BEST driver. Sticking to the speed limit, keeping 2 car lengths behind the person in front of me etc.

...*sighs* ... I'm gonna get shot some day...

[mikoyan29]

Somewhere there is a study of traffic patterns, and it's actually better for everyone in the long run if they just behave and get in line at first notice of a problem.

[JLRodgers]

I frequently do a similar thing as Red_Dazes. Someone thinks they'll go into the "soon to be closed" lane to save time, I'll intentionally make sure (and hope that others do the same) that they get put further back in line than they were originally. It's people who do things like that to "save time" that end up causing the wait to be longer because things don't run smoothly.

Now if I see a car in the lane that's not driving crazy, or just seems to not realize that it's going to be closing I'll let them in (these people are normally slowed/stopped with a turn signal on before the actual end of the road -- not the ones flying past to save time). But if someone flies past in the lane to save time -- too bad.

[trunks2k]

Somewhere there is a study of traffic patterns, and it's actually better for everyone in the long run if they just behave and get in line at first notice of a problem.

Actually that's not true. When the closing of a lane is causing traffic to back up, it is more efficient to use the closed lane up to the merge point, especially in very heavy traffic, 3 to 1 lane closures, and traffic with a lot of trucks.

Traffic should merge together like a zipper. Merge at one point and everybody takes a turn. Note that this does not really apply when traffic does not exceed the capacity of the open lane(s). Not doing so results in two problems:

1. Loss of road capacity. Not fully using the closing lane means the traffic is being forced into a smaller space resulting in the traffic to be backed up a longer distance.

2. Multiple merge points. It's merging that causes the biggest slow down and full stops. When people are merging willy nilly, it creates multiple merge point much further back than necessary resulting in the backup occurring further back.

I suggest reading the book "Traffic: Why we drive the way we do and what it says about us" by Tom Vanderbilt. IIRC late merging strategies can increase traffic throughput of upwards of 15%

[mikoyan29]

Actually that's not true. When the closing of a lane is causing traffic to back up, it is more efficient to use the closed lane up to the merge point, especially in very heavy traffic, 3 to 1 lane closures, and traffic with a lot of trucks.

Traffic should merge together like a zipper. Merge at one point and everybody takes a turn. Note that this does not really apply when traffic does not exceed the capacity of the open lane(s). Not doing so results in two problems:

1. Loss of road capacity. Not fully using the closing lane means the traffic is being forced into a smaller space resulting in the traffic to be backed up a longer distance.

2. Multiple merge points. It's merging that causes the biggest slow down and full stops. When people are merging willy nilly, it creates multiple merge point much further back than necessary resulting in the backup occurring further back.

I suggest reading the book "Traffic: Why we drive the way we do and what it says about us" by Tom Vanderbilt. IIRC late merging strategies can increase traffic throughput of upwards of 15%

I just remember seeing the study somewhere but maybe what you are mentioning is what I was thinking of. I think it's where people try to force their way into the merging lane that there start to be problems. I just remember seeing a nice little animated gif that showed what happens.

[Dips]

Actually that's not true. When the closing of a lane is causing traffic to back up, it is more efficient to use the closed lane up to the merge point, especially in very heavy traffic, 3 to 1 lane closures, and traffic with a lot of trucks.

That absolutely right. It's the folks who merge too soon who cause the backup in the non-ending lane. They do this without realizing it.

If there's a quarter mile of open road available in the ending lane, by all means use it. Of course be careful, drive slowy and at the end wait for someone to let you merge. Barging in is both rude and illegal. Every other car is ideal for keeping traffic moving but the non-ending lane has the right of way and you can't always count on everyone to yield it.

A nice bonus to waiting to move over: If everyone waits to merge until close to the end of the lane, then both lanes end up going about the same speed until getting to the merge point. Nobody gets to speed ahead of anyone else.

[Pagan]

Oh well. Guess I should be thankful that today, only ONE person tried that, instead of the usual yutz parade pulling that stunt.

I remember one time when I was driving from Las Cruces to some place on the east side of El Paso (Cruces is about 40 miles north-west of El Paso). There were electronic signs starting around the Sunland Park exit telling you that one of the lanes through the Spaghetti Bowl was closed. This is a distance of around 20 miles. Ample warning, yet, there were always those idiots....

Somewhere there is a study of traffic patterns, and it's actually better for everyone in the long run if they just behave and get in line at first notice of a problem.

Ah, but do you see your error here? You're not only employing logic but you're also discounting the fact that these people are such speshul snowflakes.

Now if I see a car in the lane that's not driving crazy, or just seems to not realize that it's going to be closing I'll let them in (these people are normally slowed/stopped with a turn signal on before the actual end of the road -- not the ones flying past to save time). But if someone flies past in the lane to save time -- too bad.

Especially if nobody's letting the poor sod in. I also try to leave at least a car length of space if front of me for the people that are trying to be decent about it.

Traffic should merge together like a zipper. Merge at one point and everybody takes a turn. Note that this does not really apply when traffic does not exceed the capacity of the open lane(s). Not doing so results in two problems:

If there's a quarter mile of open road available in the ending lane, by all means use it. Of course be careful, drive slowy and at the end wait for someone to let you merge. Barging in is both rude and illegal. Every other car is ideal for keeping traffic moving but the non-ending lane has the right of way and you can't always count on everyone to yield it.

But you're assuming that everybody's going to do that and we all know that they don't.

[blas]

Don't even get me started on merging.

People do NOT comprehend that the person merging is responsible for finding the gap and the safe place to enter. It's a courtesy to move over for someone, but if traffic is too heavy, no one should have to jam the brakes or speed up just to let someone in.

[powerboy]

...I'm very passive aggressive with a mean streak hidden underneath... It will get me in trouble one day I am sure... but I am the guy who stays parallel with the idiot and won't let him in. I just kinda look at him and smile as he turns that wonderful shade of red knowing that he will at the very least have to get in line behind me... and of course when he does... I am the worlds BEST driver. Sticking to the speed limit, keeping 2 car lengths behind the person in front of me etc.

...*sighs* ... I'm gonna get shot some day...

That is how I do. But if they were waiting before I got there. I will try to let them in.

[Dips]

But you're assuming that everybody's going to do that and we all know that they don't.

I don't expect everyone to adhere to the zipper pattern, but surprisingly most people do.

I stay in the faster lane until the end and don't feel guilty about it because there's nothing wrong with driving in a 1/4 mile long legally open lane as long as I'm cautious. The fact that others insisted on jamming themselves into the slower lane before they had to isn't my fault, after all. When I get to the end I wait patiently in line at the final merge point (which really ought to be the *only* merge point) for someone to let me in regardless of whether they adhere to the zipper pattern.

Occasionally someone is feeling self-righteous about having to wait longer and won't let me in, but that's not a big deal. I just wait for the fellow behind him to let me in (and say thank you, of course). One car length in a traffic jam isn't going to make any difference.

[ditchdj]

I've talked about this before. In the situation that Blas talked about being in, sometimes there will be a semi in the lane with the line of cars, and then there will be another semi in the left lane pacing the semi in the right lane, deliberately blocking the left lane and keeping people from speeding by to cut in front of everyone. When the left lane finally cuts off, the semi in the left lane merges in front of the semi in the right lane. I can see how it can be well-intentioned, I don't agree with people taking traffic laws into their own hands, since they're actually breaking the law themselves by impeding traffic.

[blas]

Ugh, the holding hands thing...also sucks when you decide to be nice and move over for someone merging in, and then that person who merges (or maybe even just someone behind them) starts going the same speed that you are and you CAN'T get back into the right lane without either ramming the gas or the brake to adjust the speed....meanwhile, while stuck in the left lane, there's a parade of people angry that you're doing 70 in their hammer lane, tailgating you viciously until you get over.

[Talon]

Some random skidmark on the thong of society...

LOL Blas, you have such a lovely way with words. That's almost better than the Red Dwarf throwdown:

"I think of you as a cancerous pollick (sp?) on the anus of humanity."

[Pagan]

I don't expect everyone to adhere to the zipper pattern, but surprisingly most people do.

You have to come drive here. I have yet to see it actually happen. You'd think it would with the herds of roving orange barrels we have.

One guy I worked with is an animator. He made movie about our orange barrels, "Orange Barrels from the Phobosphere". Basically, they're evil aliens out to take over the world. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395693/