It may enrage drivers who are already waiting in a long line, but the City of London says it's the right thing to do.
The city is launching a campaign to encourage drivers to use the "zipper-merge" when approaching lane closures.
Drivers are being asked to stay in their soon-to-end lane for as long as possible, instead of sliding into single file early when traffic goes from two lanes to one. The so-called zipper merge then comes into play, with drivers delaying their merge until the lane has ended, alternating moving forward with those in the open lane at the point of the bottleneck, much like a zipper closing.
“Transportation specialists agree the best approach is the one that benefits everyone: a zipper merge,” said Edward Soldo, director of roads and transportation for the City of London. “Zipper merges keep traffic flowing and reduce wait times.”
Studies show this method can decrease traffic congestion by as much as 40%, reduce the speed differential between lanes, and foster a sense of fairness that all lanes are moving at the same rate. The old way creates long line ups, collisions, and hard feelings when other motorists whiz past those lined up, according to the city.
Backing up the city's effort to introduce the zipper merge to London is a Canadian National Bottleneck Study released by the CAA in January. It found bottlenecks are the single biggest contributor to road delays, far outpacing traffic collisions, weather, and construction.
The zipper merge campaign is part of London's Vision Zero road safety strategy, which aims to reduce the number and severity of collisions on city streets and increase road safety for cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians.
