Interesting read on the history and theories of merging and its impact on traffic bottlenecks. . . Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks: A Primer Focus on Low-Cost Operational Improvements
Including such things as:
- What Exactly is a “Traffic Bottleneck”?
- “Good News” and “Bad News” About Fixing Bottlenecks
- Understanding Merging at Recurring Bottlenecks
- The Difference in Merging for Recurring and Nonrecurring Conditions
- Which is Best? “Early” or “Late” Merging?
- What Instruction is Given to Motorists?
- Early Attempts to Direct Motorists How to Merge
- Merge Principles
- Principle #1: “Go Slow to Go Fast”
- Principle #2: Keep Sufficient Gaps
- Principle #3: Zippering
- Is Murphy Right? Does the Other Lane “Always Move Faster”?
- Principles Put Into Practice: Variable Speed Limits and Speed Harmonization
“Excepting for some basic, generic instruction in states’ drivers manuals (“wait for a safe gap in traffic” – typ.) little has been done at the national level to educate drivers how to merge safely and efficiently, as compared to other national education efforts promoting seat belt compliance, school zone safety, traveler information, or pedestrian rights and practices. The perceived reason for this may simply be the expectation that there will always be drivers who feel they know best how and when to merge in a queue, irrespective of any instruction to the contrary.”
Sounds to me like a project which should be added to a National Vision Zero Action Plan.
