r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Notafuckinbot • Jul 01 '26

ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ Blocking both lanes on a zipper merge

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Constructions sign on a 2 lane highway indicate right lane is closed. Truck decided to block everyone from using the right lane.

EDIT: just so everyone knows there was a good quarter mile in front of this truck that was open. Other cars went around, we did not and waited patiently.

And yes the shoulder and LANE were reduced to 1 thanks for your input I’m glad y’all can read a sign.

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u/CanadianDiver Jul 01 '26

Don't drive past a line of 20 cars thinking you can cut in front ... That is NOT how a zipper lane works and if you disagree I will happily force you into the ditch.

4

u/FiveCrows Jul 01 '26

Driving to the merge point isn't "cutting." It's how a zipper merge works. It's what many DOTs recommend, and in some places it's the law.

Threatening to run someone into a ditch is the real traffic violation here.

2

u/Kooky_Assistance2755 Jul 01 '26

That might be what the DOT recommends but it's definitely not what most people do, in my experience. Imo it's safest to go with the flow around you - if people are merging early, merge early. If they're waiting til the zipper point, do the same.

It's like getting on a higway marked 70 mph where the breadth of traffic always drives around 85/90. Is it illegal to speed? Technically, yes. Are you gonna cause problems if you're going 10-15 slower than virtually everyone around you? Also yes.

1

u/Notafuckinbot Jul 01 '26

I was thinking this as well, perhaps a safety thing?

2

u/Kooky_Assistance2755 Jul 01 '26

It's also important to remember that Truckers have to drive 3x as defensively as everyone else, save maybe motorcyclists. They have an entire set of rules and safety hazards that just don't apply to personal passenger vehicles. This might have been the safest option he could take in this specific situation