Is this Queue Jumping?

When 2 lanes merge in to 1 should you drive down to the front of the queue, or is this queue jumping? Some people try to act like the Lane Police when this happens. Is this right or wrong?
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#learningpoint #dashcam #education

[@jacobwaltonpb5932]

If everyone used both lanes we would all join the same level of queue.. that’s the real problem. Don’t add to the queue, Fill each lane equally

[@wumpty93]

This should be placed on all merge and turn signs it might get people to understand

[@the___truth8038]

The problem with that it, lots of drivers would rather just que early than have to get beeped at or annoy others when trying to merge from the right.

[@airportdocumentaries]

And it keeps the side roads clear for vehicles that want to turn in instead of waiting in a long queue just to turn.

[@klr6363]

urbex2007 taxi Drivers are sneaky cunts, ever since I passed my test in November I think taxis are some are the worst drivers I’ve seen, they cut up in front of you and tail gate the fk out of you and also not to mention they’re almost always exceeding the speed limit. You’d think that since they’ve got passengers in their car youd think that they would be mindful of their speed. But. NOPE.

[@taxedpayer776]

The issues arise when people pull out of the lane that is closing to early, they need to go to the end then merge, the ones that move out of the closed lane before they need to, then the vehicle behind them then goes a bit further then moves over, and so on.

[@Creatronic]

I’ve been driving for nearly 3 years now; you’ve really helped me change my attitude to people who merge into a left lane. I’ve always thought they were using it to just skip queues, it’s just so traffic can keep flowing! Thanks Ashley for explaining it!

[@Dynamikcheese]

Same here. I was one of the angry cunts.

[@jeremystanger1711]

Skipping big queues is a nice bonus though ;)

[@Outnumberedbykidsandcats]

@@jeremystanger1711 but if everyone merges where they’re supposed to then there isn’t any queue jumping as both lanes are the same and merge

[@andyclark8991]

Using both lanes, both lanes helps out the flow of the traffic by no ends. Everyone merging together. I had a lane hogger/using both lanes he was. Recently. Man in mini, stopping the flow of the traffic he was, so that people couldn’t merge together, through his own spoilt behaviour. Merging together is the safest way, and the quickest way. Do don’t block up traffic. And you most likely would block up traffic jointly early. And the saddest thing, this man in mini, stopped an ambulance from going through on lights. With his spoilt behaviour

[@andyclark8991]

And also wanted to add. No where in the Highway Code does it state that’s it’s ok to use both lanes. No where. The safest way, safest quickest (by keeping the flow of the traffic going) in merging together.

[@StratosTitan]

In Belgium there was recently a pretty big campaign about correctly zipper merging. There were big signs on the highways telling people to use all lanes until the very end and then merge left, right, left, right,... Always let one person in and then you go, the person behind you then lets one person in too, and so on. We had this because we have a giant traffic problem, especially in Brussels and Antwerp, correctly zipper merging eases traffic jams a little bit. We are taught the correct way in drivers ed, but a lot of people, especially 35+ dont do it, maybe because they werent taught back then

[@MikeBSc]

This is a brilliant idea. You'd have thought with the introduction of smart highways here in the UK, they could easily implement the same concept. But as Ashley put it, the people in charge of the government can't wipe themselves without arguing about it!

[@wino0000006]

@@MikeBSc This is not brilliant - this is logic.

[@Engineer9736]

I wish the government did more like such education campaigns. Like put every evening a 5 minute clip on the national TV explaining a road rule or so. Every day during my daily commute i see people who don’t understand the big markings on the road to give way to crossing traffic. Also, the police may be much more agressive like taking in licenses for off the scale behavior like the blue van in this video. But police people are 80% lazy asses..

[@scareneb]

"Zipper merging" is actually also a very good term for it and it's something I've never heard it been called in the UK. It definitely helps reinforce that you should let in mergers in turn, as Ashley mentions. It also makes it more apparent that there should be two lanes (two sides of a zip).

[@techheck3358]

wino0000006 logic can be brilliant. What’s your point?

[@TheVeyron81]

I think i’ve seen it called Zipper Merging in other countries, and most of them have it perfected, apart from here in the UK 🙄

[@ThePhoenix109]

Its not. At least not in the Netherlands. Its considered rude.

[@epender]

@@ThePhoenix109 At least your authorities are campaigning to change the idea that it is rude, neighboring Belgium has even outlawed it. I don't think any driving organisations in the UK have had any sort of campaigns promoting zipper merging.

[@BaldMancTwat]

@@epender The phrase "merge in turn" and "zipper merging" mean the same thing. You are certainly taught to merge in turn in the UK.

[@epender]

@@BaldMancTwat Drivers still don't seem to get it at all, or maybe they do, I just notice plenty of idiots trying to get in front or arguing over priority/right of way. FFS, people here think that queuing in two lanes which merge into one in still traffic is "skipping the queue", you try to use an empty lane and a car pulls into your lane just to stop you using the entire length of the road and shortening the queue. Either people here are poorly taught or they just play by their own rules, I'm not sure which it is.

[@nicholassmith8759]

we aren't very good drivers compared to some countries. Germany for example, who have no speed limits on some roads. That would never work over here because were not good enough at it

[@I_Evo]

It all comes down to the British love of queuing. See a queue and join it (even if you don't what it's for) a tut at anybody who tries to cut in.

[@Kayobong]

I Evo This is very true, I sometimes don’t want to use right lane when merging just because I feel like it’s cutting a queue.

[@BadDriversOfAugustaGeorgia]

If that was true, it would be a problem only in the UK. It's a problem everywhere.

[@dufonrafal]

probably the reason, I've never seen that attitude in any other country!

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

@@BadDriversOfAugustaGeorgia it's not as bad in some other countries though. When I visited New York, the taxi we were in frequently left the lane it was in and moved further up another, which is very necessary in NYC so you don't block the junctions (intersections) which are frequent. When the time came to move off again, the traffic that had joined other lanes so it wasn't backing out into the junction just merged in with the existing traffic and everyone got on with their day. In the UK it would be complete anarchy and no-one would go anywhere for fear of "queue jumping".

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

And if the queue was a half mile back and was in the right lane with an empty left lane wouldn't that make you and the rest lane hoggers.

[@Henry.Riccato-Smith]

"Drive on the grass" haha

[@hikaru9624]

I've had to park on the grass at a hospital car park before but I've not driven on grass yet.

[@splodger7881]

He's been watch the wrong KZbin channels ;)

[@monkeyfunk8371]

I often drive when im on the grass

[@valleyboy2099]

Whats rong with driving on grass i do it evry day?

[@a.speers1365]

I assume and i hope the 'driving on grass' was just a joke but in all seriousness driving under the influence of Drugs is not a joke so please dont.

[@Scott-bf5cc]

Thanks for the education... I'm not going to be one of the "holier-than-thou" commenters on this video and I'll admit I've always blocked people I deemed were cue cutting.. my perception was that the cars in the right lane knowing their lane ahead was blocked were simply just cutting traffic while the rest of us waited but when you think of it rationally if traffic split between 2 lanes we'd all be better off... the last clip of the lorry was just completely unacceptable and is 10x worse than people who drive bumper to bumper to not let people in... like I said thanks for the lesson as I don't think I was ever taught this when learning to drive.

[@LeeTanczos]

Well done sir. I read a lot of comments trying to find someone converted. Being ready and able to change your attitude is the ultimate accomplishment and you did it! And with style too!

[@MrFlash4203]

The thing is at @10:00 mark the lorry is doing this because cars have the mentality that they need to be infront of the lorry. And the lorry is actually preventing an accident because if he was staying in the o/s lane cars would go into his blindspot and sit there. If he stayed in the n/s lane cars would swarm into his o/s then force themselves like 4 of them infront of him and he could risk hitting a car or a car cutting in too close to him and end up pushing them infront of the cab. Ergo the closer he got to the blocked lane area the more he took control of the situation. Car and van drivers are impatient. And in the ideal world he would not have to do this. Other road users would show respect towards larger vehicles and give them space. Like a campaign years ago people forget. Give larger vehicles space and heaven forbid go up their inside if you can’t safely emerge the other end. It might be wrong what the lorry did. Perhaps. But it’s a safety point of view. The blue van from earlier however was still a substantial distance from the lane closure and so was a pain. It’s unfair to point fingers at this lorry driver when all he was doing was controlling the situation to make sure cars don’t end up getting hit etc. I myself have had to do this plenty of times and your even taught sometimes to do this when doing turns or roundabouts because you can’t do the lines without risk of hitting someone.

[@TheBoostedDoge]

Here in Portugal taking up two lanes of traffic can give you a €250-€2500 ticket and 4 points taken from your license

[@royhumphreys9529]

It's a fine here too, unnecessary obstruction.

[@danimayb]

We have this law called obstruction of the highway, This can apply to anything even if that particular action is technically not illegal.. Like this one. They are blocking the highway, So Police have the right to warn or charge people doing this if caught out. But what are chances of that these days? lol

[@Figureight]

I wish we could like a video more than once. What astounds me is how people just do not get it. Backing up in one lane is not only dangerous but it completely ruins the flow of traffic, which would be unimpeded if everyone was taking in turns to merge

[@Asl6uk]

I agree. There's road space to use so I use it. Why there isn't an add campaign to educate drivers in the U.K. I just don't know. Merge in turn!

[@RobBCactive]

People don't like people overtaking rapidly down a narrowing lane playing chicken, where people are moving. That causes a total stop, where 2 cars fight for the same place. If you pass by slower and filter in in turn often both lanes can move as in the video. At times cars don't slow at all despite all the warning signs and then attempt to merge into traffic at high motorway speeds.

[@adamedwards4839]

Any excuse to jump a queue

[@derekheeps1244]

You’ve got that completely backwards : the traffic comes to a halt at the front because people are pushing in . If everyone simply joined the back of the queue there would be NO slowing and stopping at the front , caused entirely by the self important ones who are too important to queue and have to overtake at every opportunity

[@adamedwards4839]

@@derekheeps1244 shame it’s never going to change as there’s too many queens on the road

[@MikeBSc]

To be fair, more and more I see signs preceding roadworks and lane closures that say "use both lanes" and "merge in turn". People still get triggered when there are "queue jumpers" even when there are instructions to do so. So whenever I reach a situation like this I've found it's best to proceed down the open lane with caution. Not too slow so as to hold other drivers back, but slow enough to react to the "lane police" that swerve out to block you.

[@stuartmcconnachie]

Mike I agree. But until we have road signs everywhere “use both lanes, merge on turn” then moving slowly down the unoccupied lane seems to be the answer. It less likely to invoke the ire of the lane police, and for some reason seems to encourages other road users to join behind you. People usually let you in in turn at the end also, so long as you moderate your speed and don’t come pelting down the outside like a maniac. I’m not sure I have a lot of sympathy or guilt any more for the people I pass. It was their decision not to use the empty lane available to them. 🤷‍♂️ Another suggestion for a helpful road sign: “indicating at roundabouts reduces congestion”. But I doubt we’ll see that one any time soon either.

[@superseven220]

I agree, but there needs to be more signs and more publicity because at the moment most drivers seem to be oblivious to the facts

[@CrapUsername62944]

I like you proceed slowly and cautiously, but mainly to not to be perceived as ‘racing past like some arrogant a£$£40!e’ in the eyes of other. Just showing that it’s a considered and careful decision not one of being unreasonable.

[@collinslfc]

It should be a motoring offence to block a lane of traffic like the HGV did. Then attitudes will change.

[@I_Evo]

But in other situations HGV's sometimes do that if they're about to make a turn and have to swing out and don't want to sandwich traffic coming up the inside or outside.

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

It is. wilful obstruction of the highway I think it's called.

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

Sol agreed but that’s completely different to what the lorry did here which was wilful obstruction.

[@OkenWS]

@@SPTSuperSprinter156 Probably the same offence as people protesting sitting on a road I'd imagine. There is no reason in the Highway Code for them to drive where they're driving, therefore they're committing an offence. I hope the dashcam footage campaigns accept the footage as evidence but I guess it depends on the opinion of the officer reviewing.

[@sparkycalledmarky]

You need road policing for that to have any effect. Lots of people still drive erratically while having a conversation on their handheald phone. With no police around to enforce these laws they will continue to be broken en masse.

[@benmcleod3040]

There is a two-lane roundabout where I live and the lane I need to turn left is always busy af so I just go in the right land and do a 540 turn around the roundabout 😂 I feel bad but it saves me like 5 minutes

[@cigmorfil4101]

There is nothing that says you cannot do a complete loop of a roundabout; in fact you are told that if you miss your exit you *should* continue round and do a loop of the roundabout. I can immediately think of two roundabouts where there are signs explictly telling drivers to do a complete loop of the roundabout if they want to take the first exit. When I drove the ELT replacement bus service (from Surrey Quays to Whitechapel whilst the tunnel which took the East London Line under the Thames was serviced) we were told to do a complete loop of the roundabout at the south end of the Rotherhithe tunnel instead of taking the first exit into the tunnel (due to lining the bus up with the width restriction).

[@janetothen2583]

Its not illegal. Slightly immoral but hell if they all did it ud still all be moving so u know, u snooze u loose really.

[@ColinMill1]

Unfortunately, it is rather self-defeating when everyone does it as happens at M67 Junction 4. Everyone and their dog tries to pull this one during the evening rush-hour and in the end the whole of the roundabout gets grid-locked.

[@dazj3965]

@@ColinMill1 it doesn't help that the tailback from M67 onto roundabout is so long at rush-hour. Its a nightmare roundabout. The ones that travel around in wrong lane then try to push in make the problem twice as bad

[@TaylorBertie]

So in other parts of the world like here in Australia the merging laws are actually written to encourage the use of all available road space. And we're educated about what is known as a "Zipper merge". It surprises me to see the demonstrated behavior in the UK because all it seems to be doing is artificially increasing the queue length. Not to mention the people "policing" this do so in a very unsafe manner where they do not stay in their lanes. That lorry at the end, all it would take is a brave or inexperienced driver plus some inattention in his mirrors from the lorry driver and you'd have a collision as he squeezes the lane.

[@theindiediary5950]

Nice to know some places understand it. And yes, that lorry driver was making himself a hazard.

[@MikeBSc]

I am always impressed how Australia has things working so great. The laws their are well thought out.

[@dutchdrifter8740]

I learn my learners to zipper merge, but in the real world there are to many people just merging to soon and causing problems. Here in the Netherlands infrastructure is pretty good aswell as our driving education, but haste is a big problem. Following distances are too short and jumping infront of any car you can seems to be the new way of driving.

[@Zaman730]

The problem is the testosterone levels here in the UK is higher then the worlds average.

[@Smorki]

Here in the Czech Republic, we also have this merging rule, however, many "drivers" are completely oblivious to it.

[@dominiknowak8818]

I think you should have mentioned the fact that if there are 2 lanes but people are only using 1 then the traffic jam is longer and might block previous intersections.

[@Engineer9736]

People who have such a low IQ that they don’t understand that, shouldn’t have a drivers license.

[@MikeVlogsYT97]

Sol - yeah it actually happens quite a lot

[@nothingsurprisesmeanymore]

Where you merge is almost irrelevant (except right at the cones) it's how you merge. If done properly no one has to change their speed and the traffic flows but because 95% of drivers are incompetent this leads to traffic jams where there shouldn't be.

[@spacered949]

This happens all the time

[@VictorKibalchich]

Had some psycho just this week threatening to batter me when I pointed out to him that merge in turn was a thing. I just laughed at the prick.

[@smokeysquid1931]

Not only is queueing not the correct way to approach a merge like that, it actually causes several other traffic problems. For example, a very long queue in a downtown area might extend through traffic lights, so now you have a gridlock situation happening because the available road space isn't being used. On top of that, there's now an element of danger in the open lane, because people in the queue may leave gaps to let people turn in front, and those people may not be aware there's fast moving vehicles in the open lane.

[@boss7167]

I passed my test 6 years ago and I still enjoy watching your videos

[@660einzylinder]

I passed my test 36 years ago and have just come across this channel, I am learning so much it is almost scary!

[@NakedSnake1807]

If there are two lanes to use, then you are allowed to use them. If you must merge in turn then that's exactly what you do. Surely it is there to reduce traffic?

[@elliotwoodhouse2459]

Yeah that's exactly what they're for, it's the same in the village near me. There are two lanes but people always funnel into the one on the left for some reason then get really mouthy if you go down the right hand lane to the front 🤷‍♂️

[@SilverMe2004]

Yes, but the reason why the wait is so long in the left lane is that, it has to keep stopping to give way to the people in the closed lane Of cause the quickest way to slow down the right lane(the closed lane) is to put more cars in it (ie your car, your full car. not driving in both.)

[@roddenshaw]

@@SilverMe2004 if they are merging one by one, both lanes should move at the same speed.

[@SilverMe2004]

@@roddenshaw do you know what happens when 2 objects try to occupy the same space & time? Only one lane is getting through so the max speed is that of one lane. So if that one lane has to slow down to create space for the second lane... It'll go faster?

[@alexrouault7421]

@@SilverMe2004 It's not that it goes faster in the front. Honestly, it most likely goes a little bit slower at the front because of the merging. The biggest advantage (I think) would come from fitting more cars in less distance of road space. Suppose it's rush hour and you're sitting in the left lane back 300m from the merge point. If you're waiting to make a left hand turn is 100m further up, you have to wait for all the cars to move that 100m. That is, unless half the cars in the left lane move into the right lane to use all available road space. Then you'd be able to make your turn immediately.

[@Obsolete386]

I like how it's practically sunny in the beginning of the video, and raining by the end. Typical UK

[@wa67jr]

This is why we go to other countries tries for holidays

[@superseven220]

The great British weather! But then that's what gives us lush green countryside year round instead of the parched barren land you see around southern Europe for most of the year!

[@soldiers303]

@@superseven220 I would pick dry grass any time of the day

[@MrSupercar55]

@@superseven220 *Clay soil has entered the chat*

[@123Luke456]

I face this stupid situation on my daily commute. There needs to be adverts on TV educating people about this.

[@1988dgs]

I can just remember public service announcements back in the 80’s. They need to be a thing again, too many people make up their own rules when they don’t have a clue

[@johnruggiero4087]

It's the 'barbaric' defensive attitude that most drivers seem to adopt rather than just letting things flow smoothly. Good video. Confirms my point of view for years. Lane utilisation.

[@garyborland6680]

When people merge and are let in, using indicators is perfect, that's merging. What usually happens tho is you're going down a 30 road doing 30 and an eejitt comes racing down the merge road and then pushes in without waiting or indicating, that's what I see as queue jumping, they're also the same drivers that use left and right turn only junctions to cut the queue and drive straight over.

[@wumpty93]

Easy way to solve this problem? Don't put the "lane is closed sign" until 200 yards away from merge and turn not 800. Because the later people see this sign means the more people not realising so they all pile down the closed lane and effectively using all road space. You shouldn't have to do this but then again neither should I have to look left and right at a traffic light controlled intersection to prevent getting killed by red light jumpers 🙄🙄

[@andyowens5494]

Gun_man 123 Except, when the traffic is flowing, you want to give people sufficient warning. 200 yards is not sufficient on an urban 40 limit (just watch the chaos when the warnings havent been properly deployed and the old folks who cant react fast enough, or new drivers who arent anticipating far enough ahead, or the middle aged brain dead who just dont care, find themselves next to a couple of artics. You just have to hope the other drivers are aware, and react appropriately, before the collision blocks the whole road.

[@rival2028]

Makes no difference. Idiot drivers dont read signs anyway

[@MikeBSc]

I think that's the point, it's to make drivers use all the available road space. If everyone queued in the lane which wasn't blocked, and that backed up 800 yards onto the roundabout before it, then you start to have queues on that roundabout too. Which causes even more problems. But if you have cars using both lanes, the distance of the queue is halved.

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

Wouldn't make any difference if the sign was 200yds away. That's over 1 1/2 football pitches. As I've said on previous videos, when two lanes merge into one except on temporary road works there should be a 'MUST Merge In Turn' signpost along with ground mounted. As for that idiot of a "professional" trucker and the rest of his like who use two lanes should be charged for driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, and those who drive up the arse of the vehicle in front to block merging traffic should be charged for tailgating.

[@irishRocker1]

Almost certain to get rear end collisions with this approach, when someone realises the end of lane, and brakes hard, and the following cars were just following and missed the sign

[@shmavitz]

Thanks Ashley, great video! I'm a driver of 20 years experience and have often wondered about this 'grey area' of road etiquette. Thank you for your insight, it's never too late to learn!

[@kaydaror8337]

I've been driving for a few years now and I gotta say this was an eye opener. I use to think that everyone were trying to cut lanes so I'd probably let one in but was getting angry when others pushed through. I really thought those people were pretentious and aggressive forcing their way through. So, since watching your videos everything made sense to me lol. Wished I learned all this from my driving instructor. Perhaps, the reasons I've been watching your videos was because I was looking for more knowledge on improving my driving, glad I did though 😄. Thank you Ashley and keep up the good work mate

[@ashley_neal]

That’s amazing Kay. Thank you so much for the feedback. Good on you for not thinking you know it all. We all keep learning, me included. Ashley

[@hyraxhd3011]

I believe driving up to where the obstruction or lane closure is, is the right thing to do. For example say on a dual carriageway which is 2 lanes. If there are 400 cars on each lane and for example the 400 car queue in lane 1 stretches back 1 mile. If the other 400 cars in lane 2 went behind the 400 cars in lane 1 then the queue would stretch back 2 miles. But if they carry on and merge in-turn where the lane closure is then the queue is just 1 mile long in both lanes. This reduces queue length and and queueing times.

[@deffar]

If no one merges, there will be no queue.

[@1randomkiwi]

Thanks Ashley, definitely changed my opinion. I've always queued early as I didn't want to be seen as "cutting in". If only more people knew how to merge like a zip (aka merge in turn).

[@MD_ENTERTAINMENT]

He is teaching you to do the wrong thing. If you have to use your indicator to join then it tells you everything. He is a very impatient and indiscipline individual

[@mranonyymuus]

@@MD_ENTERTAINMENT lol you're part of the problem.

[@superseven220]

@@MD_ENTERTAINMENT it's official advice from the DFT and in many countries around the world, if everyone did it we would all be queuing for a shorter time. One thing which is illegal is to continue in a lane on a motorway with a red x above it as it's closed from that point regardless of whether it's been coned of or not

[@MD_ENTERTAINMENT]

@@superseven220 if you have to use your indicator then you have to wait. It is as simple as that

[@AC-pk4ut]

@@MD_ENTERTAINMENT You're completely wrong and should not be driving on our roads. People like you are the cause of countless traffic jams.

[@wirdy1]

Thank you for this video, as a young driver I got posted to Germany & learned their zipper merge rules. So easy. Everyone did it fine.( Incidentally, only doing major roadworks at night always seemed a great idea too) . In the UK there's a strange mentality over this issue. My missus cringes from the passenger seat whenever we encounter a lane merge and I use all the available road. If you're a nervous driver then merging early is no problem, just don't get all prissy when others have the confidence to zipper merge at the end if they want to.

[@GaffaTV]

A question regarding the same situation but when there isn't a lane closure - many times when I'm coming off the M62 and turning left onto Queens Drive (by The Rocket), during rush hour, the left lane can be clogged up because it's for people turning left (onto Queens Drive) after the motorway ends. But you'll often get people using the middle lane (which is for Edge Lane Drive) all the way up to the lights nearly, only then to move into the left lane for getting onto Queens Drive. Where do people stand on this one? Anyone with knowledge of the area would know the left lane is backlogged due to that being the one lane for turning off, onto Queens Drive, but unlike merging in turn, I feel this is a scenario where people really are pushing in.

[@YB210]

I am a professional driver (I assure you I am more so than the lorry driver in the clip). I would think it reasonable that you can use the middle lane up to the point whereby signage (of some sort) tells you the lanes heading. At the point it is clear that a lane has a specific direction, drivers should ensure they are in the correct lane for their direction. This accounts for those who do not have local knowledge so there is no reason why anyone should use the wrong lane and cut in. This would hold up traffic in the middle lane wishing to go the correct way for that lane. Anyone agree with this?

[@donscm]

Recently I was turning right at a roundabout which had two lanes on the exit, one main lane and one merge in turn lane which ends fairly shortly. I went in the second lane as the main lane was blocked with queued traffic. I went to the end, left indicator on, and a driving instructor sped up and deliberately blocked me from coming in quite aggressively. Seems like there is a big ignorance problem among drivers as to what merge in turn actually means.

[@Harp3rBoy]

Great video Ashley! I usually merge pretty early when in slow moving traffic just to avoid people being agitated, and as well that I felt like I was 'pushing in' but now I know that this is not the case I will try to use more of the road space and merge in turn as this surely reduces congestion.

[@elizabethmurdoch2512]

Thanks so much for your videos Ashley! I passed my test on Thursday after 15 years of Epilepsy and was so anxious it has taken 3 years of learning to sit my test. Been watching your videos to understand live examples of rules of the road for about 6 months and it’s helped massively! Passed first time, feeling safe and confident on the road- thank you!

[@ireaallylikethisname]

Cheers Ash, I had this happen on the M61 last year- slow moving traffic, two mile tailback from merge point because two lorry’s decided to close lane 2 and 3 temporarily. Absolute sausages. Stinkyfingers

[@imanallamericanrejek]

Hey, thanks for this. I actually experienced this myself today as a passenger in the truck (lorry) that was blocking the open lane. Traffic was slow and there was at least 40 car lengths before the lanes had to merge. This actually opened my eyes to a new perspective on it that I totally agree with, which actually helps reduce the traffic buildup for sure. As a young driver that takes a little pride in it, I enjoy and appreciate these videos and your education on the subject.

[@ffab101p121]

Fair play giving to charity. Thumbs up.

[@apwip]

I would like to add a different perspective on this. If you had a lane closure sign on a fast carriageway or motorway with lane closure at 0.5 mile (say due to roadworks). To me it would be sensible if the traffic in that lane to move over at the earliest good opportunity. Imagine if both lanes were being used at fast speeds up to the 0.5 mile closure (choke) point. You would get motorway speeds reduced to stationary speeds in a very short time with a potential for pile ups. So merge in turn may not always work.

[@ashley_neal]

I do address this at the end of the video. Thanks. Ashley

[@Twiglet015]

I'm a lorry driver. What that lorry driver in the video doesn't realise is that because of what he's doing and the length of his vehicle he could be backing the traffic up onto the junction at the back of the queue and causing mayhem there.

[@tanglewood777]

HGVS R TWATTS ON MOTERWAYS AWAYS TAIL GATE CARS ON SLOWER LANE 5 FT AWAY

[@pussinboots1145]

@@tanglewood777 Keep up with the flow of traffic then.

[@grahamlive]

@@tanglewood777 Fuckin speed up a bit then. Or slow down a bit. Don't sit at 55-56 mph. It'll just make you angry.

[@BaldMancTwat]

@@tanglewood777 Sorry but I'm a learner and even I know you're the twat. Lorries are limited at 60mph so if you are going the speed limit then that is not possible. Now the realisation has come in that you may be a caravanist.

[@iallso1]

I ride a motorcycle in a country that permits lane splitting and filtering if it is carried out in a safe way. Also when receiving instruction I was told that when safe I should make progress. Despite this I have had cars pull into the space between the two line to deliberately block me from filtering to the front. Because I ride a motorcycle for my job at the city council and the bikes are sign written, work has also received complaints about filtering by multiple officers, the stock response is that it is legal and that the complainant should learn the road code. In NZ it is also permitted for motorcycles to use bus lanes and transit lanes, (not bus only lanes) and some bus and car drivers get quite upset when motorcycles pass along the bus lane.

[@stuarthartley6824]

This is such a good video, I’ve been driving for decades and never knew that this was the rule for these types of scenarios, and got slightly annoyed thinking people were pushing in. The more people know this the less will be triggered. Great job and we’re never too old to learn!

[@andyxox4168]

.. now you can push in with impunity 😉

[@andy-dt7to]

this is an interesting question, one which you are correct regards the highway code, and one which many people are either not aware of or don't agree with it. The situation from 02:54 is a case in point, if everybody went into the left lane early and didn't use the 'free' right hand lane then the que would then be even longer and would then impact the roundabout and several other roads as well when the issue should only affect one road. So its absolutely right to use both lanes. The issue i have, is there is no rule, guidance or sign to set out when the lane merging needs to take place. Taking the use of both lanes to the extreme you would use both lanes right up to the cones/blockage, - but this then leads to lane 'shuffling' and hesitation at the pinch point, reduced the efficiency of vehicles thorough the pinch point - which determines how back the jam is. In this case its particularly bad as there is a traffic light involved and not as many vehicles get through per cycle as they might without the shuffling and hesitations.. Ideally the lanes shuffling would be sorted out before the pinch point, but again where should this be done? Sadly it is difficult to get drivers to cooperate in an efficient manner. But for those that think queing in one lane is fairer this is always open to abuse, - ultimately if we ALL use both lanes and TAKE TURNS to merge this is ultimately the fairest way to que as both lanes proceed at the same pace and we all get where we need to go at the same rate.

[@lukegibbons6420]

For me, it's all dependant on the speed at which cars are travelling, at the point of merge. I don't think you should be merging in turn at speeds above 20mph, but it's fine at speeds below that. I feel rule 134 of the highway code sort of agrees with this; "Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed".

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

What would make merging in turn dangerous?

[@stuartmcconnachie]

johnny 3shoes: At higher speeds there are often uneven gaps between vehicles, for whatever reason. Enforcing a zipper merge where there is clearly enough room for 2 cars from the same lane to move in/through together would be pointless (and potentially dangerous). For example if the rear of those two vehicles was required to slow or stop just to allow another vehicle from the other lane to advance enough to be able to zipper when they could just as easily zipper behind. But given hypothetical equal speeds/sizes/separations of vehicles in both lanes, then yes - zipper at any speed is the way to go. But basically use common sense and recognise that one car length gained by deliberately disallowing a merge makes practically no difference to your journey.

[@Seanmcdhuibhne]

@@stuartmcconnachie if lane one has a 200mtr plus gap between 2 cars driving at around 50mph and lane two has two cars in between with a sufficient gap between them then that wouldn't be considered as merging in turn. As far as danger is concerned merging in turn where there is a lane closed ahead is very similar to merging from a slip road.

[@lukegibbons6420]

At high speeds there is no forgiveness for driver error. So if you get a clever dick who refuses to allow you to merge, then the likelihood is you are going to either end up in the cones/opposing lane OR having to slam the brakes on in a fast moving lane. Also, if you are able to travel at high speed at the point of merge then there is no congestion. It's only when there is congestion that using both lanes and merging in turn serves any purpose. Otherwise you may as well get in lane early and save the risk of nobody letting you merge further up.

[@mdcollins1984]

Yep. I'm in York and our Ring Road has a lot of two-lane entry/exit roundabouts that merge for a little while in between each one. Clearly the purpose is to allow a greater volume of traffic across the roundabout, merging at a steady (slowish) speed on exit. What do the numpties do? All sit in Lane 1, no one can clear the roundabout, so they block it up for people going off at different exits. Increasing time in traffic for everyone. It is far quicker to zip merge at 10mph when all is gently flowing, than when one lane is stopped solid and closing down all the gaps. They make it worse for themselves.

[@morbideddie]

I had this exact problem on the York ring road. Approaching a roundabout to go straight on It's fairly busy, 2 on 2 off before merging back to a single lane and about 6 cars all in lane 1. I use lane 2, go straight on and the two cars who were to my left deliberately blocked me merging. It's not even like me being there detrimented anyone else, just a sheer lack of knowledge on how roads work from the other drivers. I just merged behind them, no fuss, but it does leave me scratching my head at how selfish some people are on the roads.

[@chrisbalchin1481]

Ashley, many thanks for your videos mate. Your clear aim is to educate all drivers, good and bad into good driving, which includes a good attitude. Sometimes one can be blinded by societal etiquette, but also, for various reasons one can have a warped view of what should be normal behaviour. Ashley, you have educated me tonight, for which I am grateful. I am one, who until tonight would prevent drivers from 'queue jumping' short stretches of dual lanes. I saw it as selfish. I no longer believe that. To anyone I stopped I am sorry. Ashley, your videos help those of us prepared to be open minded to learn; to be a safer driver. Thanks mate!!

[@nothingsurprisesmeanymore]

Really 😆😆😆

[@churchers]

I’m finding this sort of issue appear on a lot of roundabouts these days as they are being designed to have multiple lanes for a single direction, then merge in the exit. This is specifically to allow more traffic through the roundabout, as two cars can enter at the same time. However I often will approach to find a dozen cars in the left lane and nothing in the right. I’ll go to the right and get treated like a queue jumper when I try and merge.

[@CJax749]

Always do this; it’s called zipper merging. People in the UK get so irate though, always consider it cheating. Those same people love to just sit there for hours

[@cigmorfil4101]

Wherever two lanes join at a "pinch point" there will be a stall in the flow of traffic and queueing. To get the best flow when a lane closes reduce the pinch points to a minimum - which is one: use both lanes and merge in turn at the pinch point. When you have 1 lane queueing and the other lane empty, merging into the queueing lane before the physical merge pinch point creates another pinch point which stalls the flow and delays everyone. Those who use the empty lane all the way to the physical merge are doing everyone a favour - as the queues approach the pinch point they should be arranging themselves ready to merge in turn by creating gaps for the other lane. Anyone who doesn't merge in turn causes a stall in the flow of the other lane which causes a shock wave to run backwards up the road and worsens the queues. When the stalked lane does get going again it usually causes a stall in the other lane, worsening the queues for everyone. The biggest problem is those who have the power have no idea about traffic flow. There was a minister who moaned about the M4 bus lane between junction 3 and the elevated section going into London without any idea that the bus lane was actually improving the flow for all traffic! The capacity through junction 3 is two lanes. By having 3 lanes from there to the elevated section, although the elevated section has the same 2 lane capacity as junction 3, it causes queueing at the elevated section when the lanes reduce back to 2 from 3. (There is no exit between junction 3 and the elevated section except the Heston Services, but that has little effect on the overall flow.) Reducing the number of lanes between junction 3 and the elevated section reduces the queueing at the elevated section as there is less ability to "race" between the two. Just closing the lane off would have people moaning about the unused road space (even though if was actualling improving the flow), so it was made a bus lane. Reducing the speed limit also improved the flow as it tends to keep all vehicles going at a similar speed. (The bus lane also had the advantage that coaches could actually do 60 mph as opposed to about 55 mph which is what most cars are actually doing when their speedometer shows 60: they are only accurate to about 10% and over register the speed whereas the tachograph in a coach is accurate to about 1-2% and shows near enough the correct road speed. This is why you may find a frustrated coach or lorry driver right behind you through 50 mph roadworks - they can't use the other lane and you're driving at about 45 mph whilst your speedo reads 50 mph; they aren't speeding, you're doing less than the speed limit.) By removing the bus lane the flow worsened again and created more queueing just before the elevated section.

[@TimmyTonk]

It would be really nice and a perfect world if everyone filtered into the lanes in turn one by one, this keeps the flow progressing and moving forward. But not everyone does unfortunately :(

[@markp8295]

Looking at transport planning and traffic flow models, what the lorry did speeds up the flow and shortens the jam. People merging is slower than people just driving. More cars per second when the light is green, means smaller jam. So whilst there is space available, so long as the jam does not interfere with a previous junction, the lorry is reducing traffic and also making the road safety because very few people think about the differential speed as they drive along a row of cars and instead drive the limit which you didn't, but many do. If you do drive the limit and someone pulls out, and it's on dash cam, you'll be done for due care and attention as it's impossible for you to see them signalling if you're doing 40mph. This leaves 2 options. 1) If it's a short queue and a long road and your vehicle is large enough to do so, block both lanes to speed up traffic. 2) If it's longer or a short road, and you're using up all available space, drive in relation to the speed of the vehicles you're passing. I sometimes pull up along another HGV and match speed , then the vehicle behind sees I'm being considerate and we travel together to the obstruction then they let me in. Slower for me, but faster for the majority.

[@alexevans9379]

Love your videos. So well thought out, very honest. I've passed my test but I'm still subscribed because your videos are so interesting, and they're great for reminding and informing of things I may have forgotten, or things that may be new to the highway code.

[@steveakam]

These people blocking lanes should be fined for causing an obstruction.

[@quackers.]

We have Road works in our town at the minute with a merge in turn arrangement. The road has a complicated junction with lights on one end and a roundabout on the other, the road is maybe 300 yards long. Because no one wants to be rude and cut in there is always a long queue down the road, along the roundabout and down the dual carriageway which leads to it, so it’s often impossible to use the other exits on the roundabout. People are strange.

[@quackers.]

Danny Brodrick yep

[@ibs5080]

Absolutely excellent video Ashley and something I have been thinking of for ages. You are totally spot on with all the points you make. It's hard to believe that this sort of situation remains an issue to this day. Anyone would think that cars have only just been invented and that traffic jams are something new! This whole situation really needs some sort of public education campaign. How I wish they would bring back on TV those short but useful "Public Service Information" films. We certainly need one on how to merge correctly in these types of situations. Another similar merging situation is when one is on a bust slip road to a motorway which itself is moving very slowly with more or less bumper to bumper traffic. So many drivers on the slip road will try to join the slow moving mainstream far too early (sometimes coming to a virtual standstill at a 45 degree angle) when there is still several hundred yards of perfectly legitimate (and clear) slip road ahead of them. In this sort of situation, I simply drive around these folks and proceed to more or less the end of the sliproad and then merge with the traffic jam on the motorway. I am really very pleased indeed that you made this latest piece...and I notice you narrated from the passenger seat whilst stationary this time!

[@darrenellis4085]

Theres a reason that both lanes are open in this situation. If they wanted everyone to drive in one lane the roadblock would be much further back. Use both lanes until the very end.

[@robhampton5593]

Yes, that's right, but without raising awareness of the guidance and rules as Ashley is doing, people will drive like idiots. The lane police imaginary merge point would be another 300 yds or more further back again.. UK driver training is so basic and doesn't introduce and educate factors like these. We need frequent and clear tv guidance on road use, especially now since the "new" road traffic guidance and laws were introduced. Germany did it when I was there, A 5 minute daily clip called Think and Drive! Perhaps mainstream TV should wedge these in between the evening news programmes. To see HGV drivers blocking lanes has no excuse, they undergo more training to obtain their licences, their instructors should have gone further to ensure they have a better understanding of traffic flow, safety and the causes of tail backs. One nearly forced me into a centre reservation recently, whilst making progress before a merge in point, he accelerated as I was passing him, presumably to prevent me from using the lane and making progress. A car was shadowing me, A long blast of the horn made him aware and he eventually eased off instead of killing me for following the guidance and keeping the traffic flowing.

[@ediblepinevideos]

In the US, for this kind of thing, you’ll get a ticket for failure to maintain lane. But, there are a lot of people, especially on interstates that if there’s heavy traffic, they’ll use the shoulder to jump traffic and merge somewhere up the road, which is also illegal

[@HCkev]

The problem is that many people that were already in the queue decide to switch to the closing lane just to pass over the other people.

[@woolf123]

You had the same option yes? but you chose to join the queue instead of using the road correctly?

[@HCkev]

@@woolf123 moving into the closing lane just to pass over people at the last minute isn't using the road correctly, sorry. It's being an asshole. If you're already in the closing lane, then by all mean merge in as the lane close. But when being in the queue, don't move to the closing lane to pass over those 5 cars in front of you. Cars behind you will fill the hole you left and people in front will be forced to leave you room - doing the exact opposite of what "zipper merging" is all about, i. e., keeping the traffic going smoothly.

[@p0ta2driver]

@@HCkev what is the difference between the 10th car passing you vs the 100th car passing you? If it's all about manners I'm pretty sure you should be offended at someone who's like a Thousand Car behind previously passing you more as supposed to someone in between If anything you should thank these people cause once all space are filled up, guess what there won't be anyone be able to pass you cause all lanes are filled up, no more A millionth car entering the traffic jam passing you whose been there for 10 hours w8ing to get out. I suggest stop taking your frustration out for making the wrong call on queue early even though the pace of traffic is safe enough to perform zipper merging.

[@vikingvic]

Sometimes doing that is not bad, and even necessary, for example if a bigger vehicle knows it will needboth lanes to turn a sharp corner or whatever. Also for queue jumping, blocking both lanes will fill up both lanes behind, and essentially fix the problem until the congestion ends naturally

[@cody3728]

such a great thing to do giving 100 to the charity, love the channel, not boring just great/informative driving videos

[@bradburyrobinson]

If you get a chance head down to Seaforth docks at the moment and take the slip road round towards Waterloo. Lane 1 is closed at the junction at Potters Barn and it's absolute chaos. People merging at all different points causing lane 2 to back up over the flyover.

[@bailey125]

Yeah I talked about this in a comment in the previous video. It's very annoying when people think they can police other road users who are doing nothing wrong.

[@OkenWS]

Even if they were doing something wrong you have to ask when it would be acceptable to police other drivers. Would someone pull out into Lane 3 on a motorway to deliberately slow a Lambo going 100mph, or, more likely, an 02 plate Corsa with shagged brakes? I don't think so. Same applies.

[@brianposada87]

I get policed all the time when teaching. Sometimes my drivers will be making a left turn and they have established themselves in the intersection and the light changes from green to amber to red and my student finishes the turn at a decent speed and everyone yells "why are you turning on red" lol. I usually laugh it. Same goes with zipper merge. They should go all the way to the end and merge one car at a time. Well said when the instructor said that drivers that get triggered are the problem.

[@bailey125]

​@@OkenWS Yeah that's true. I didn't word my comment properly. What I meant was that it's especially annoying to be policed by someone since not even the police would take action against you as you are doing nothing wrong.

[@camcab147]

Years ago, I've encountered signs that have said "Get in lane" then there's a number and a red mark to indicate one lane is closing. So, people got in lane leaving the other one empty until the occasional person uses it. That's misleading. If the sign had said, "Use both lanes then merge in turn" and giving a number when the merging would commence that would be much clearer for people to use both lanes.

[@paulcook7426]

Two points 1 - I once saw 4 miles of queue on a motorway in a similar situation, signs out for lane closed ahead. 30 minutes or more later. The roadworks had already finished but signs not taken down but because everyone thought they better queue early they lost half an hour or more of their lives because of incorrect lane discipline. 2 - If we really aren't meant to use the outside lane, then either the cones should start where the authorities want the road to be closed, or the roads shouldn't be two lanes at all. Basically if there's tarmac, use it.

[@ColinMill1]

To a degree this could be solved by the way the merge is signed. By showing which lane is shut it promotes a sense of priority to the other lane. Simply indicated a merging with a symmetrical sign (and perhaps coning in a symmetrical way at the pinch point) might help.

[@LazarkGaming]

The supermarket thing is only true, if you join the shorter queue, but you can't purchase anything at that checkout, and you're told to skip ahead of the longer queue.

[@paulminshall8793]

Once the empty lane has filled up, should drivers in the closing lane be looking for a gap ahead of the lane closure point? Surely it is better to merge along a length of road rather than just at the closure point? If the traffic starts to flow freely, then you can’t leave it until the last moment or else there is a danger of having to stop and wait for the moving lane to let you in, which will stop the traffic in the closing lane. This only works if both lanes are moving at the same speed.

[@clairewatson9119]

Hi Ashley Neal, thankyou so much for yet another great video... I think this video with the grey Mercedes lorry driver is very worrying.. Why would the driver who must have paid a fortune to pass his test treat other road users this way.. It takes months to learn and then pass a driving test.. Another great video Ashley Neal.. Thankyou for taking the time to highlight the general attitude of road users... I believe driving is a privilege not a human right... 🤗 🌈 X

[@OkenWS]

I was thinking the same thing about the lorry. I become more and more disturbed by the behaviour of drivers of this class of vehicle who have the privilege to be allowed to accelerate 44 tonnes of mass with a hinge in the middle up to (downhill) 70mph but have a totally lax mentality for the duty of care they have to others on the road. If one of those cars he's blocking goes under his trailer and gets decapped (it happened to a Tesla in the US not so long ago) it doesn't really matter if he's 'not at fault' because of the really stupid rear-ender rule, because the guy has still killed someone over an ego battle. Ego should not come into driving a vehicle that has more kinetic energy than a reasonably sized missile. And yet people like this get huge leeway in the courts when they get to disqualification level on their license.

[@cerberus276gaming6]

I was originally thinking he was taking two lanes as they were approaching a junction that he needed a bit of space to turn, but this clearly was not the case

[@shaunastone2273]

Ha ha I had this in Sheffield the other day. 200 yards of empty lane with the junction behind clogged up so I went into the empty lane to the end and merged. Three cars went passed not letting me merge in turn because I didn't sit in the queue for 5 minutes lol. I'm sure half if it was because I had my roof box on

[@yorkshire_tea_innit8097]

i wouldnt let someone in if they were not abiding the zipper rule at the end of the queue. Say for example if they were rushing to try and get infront of you when they should go behind.

[@Ruuhm]

Dont be childish

[@CarlMCL]

Exactly what makes the queues longer for others, just let him past.

[@djtaylorutube]

@Robert, well you should let them in if they're more important than you. You can recognise if they are, they'll usually be driving either a BMW, Audi or Mercedes, or a white van.

[@Andreas16375]

Sometimes you need to grow up and just let it go, That 1 second you just lost of your very precious time by letting that person in you will get back before you've reached your destination

[@ColinMill1]

I think there is a potential issue where the idea of using the right lane up to the pinch point spills over into motorway usage. I'm thinking here of the M60 Junction 24 (where it links to A57 and M67) At times the volume of traffic exiting at this junction is massive and I have seen it where all three lanes are occupied with cars trying to exit at this junction and leaving it to the last few yards to move into the left lane. A few months ago the police shut the M67 and the M60 anticlockwise virtually stopped flowing with empty motorway beyond the junction.

[@wax333]

it should be 1 -2 1-2 or 2-1 2-1 but everyone just barges their way in.

[@ernestbywater411]

KZbin put this in my alert today. I don't live in the UK. However, where I do live the law is very clear: In merging traffic at the merge point the cars take turns with the vehicle the most ahead of the other at the point of the lane shrinking having the right of way - this is called a zipper merge. If you try to merge after the lane starts to shrink and there's a collision the car the the front furthest ahead is deemed to be in the right and the other driver charged with an unsafe lane change. Merge before you get to the last 3 metres prior to the shrinking and it's the same as a normal lane change, merge in the last 3 metres and it's a zipper merge.

[@eddiegremlin]

The problem is created by the signs that are used the distance they begin and the education of the engineers in charge of the roadworks. There is no reason to start warning of a lane closure at 800 metre’s on a road with less than 40MPH limit. A simple “road works ahead”, sign at 800, “slow” at 400 and lane closure sign at 200. With a new and improved “Merge in turn” or “like a zip” sign at 50. Problem solved.

[@michaelsheriff231]

The lane closure signs are even worse on the m6 :(... at least the smart motorway has improved this problem a little...

[@markfox1545]

Edward Millership - '800 meters'?! 800 is a LOT of measuring devices!! 😄😃😂😁😀

[@eddiegremlin]

Michael Sheriff Smart Motorways do nothing for free flowing traffic, plenty for the cash machines - traffic cameras.

[@eddiegremlin]

Mark Fox autocorrects a bitch.

[@nathanbrown492]

The best thing to do as a transitional thing is to pull up by the last car diagonally, so that the order is maintained (so no nutcases throwing a fit), and it hopefully signals to those behind you to do the same.

[@NickTheKangaroo]

Jesus Christ it’s amazing how uncommon *common sense* is these days. Obviously use both lanes to the end and then zipper merge... _facepalm_

[@pommeinzennor]

Ashley, totally agree with you. Just wondering what your thoughts would be on the following situation. Dual carriageway road, coming up a round about 500m ahead where left lane turn left and right lane straight over. Traffic queuing in left lane but nothing in right lane.

[@Jay-Niner]

Using both lanes right until the end and then merging is more efficient for traffic flow. This is a simple concept that was part of the mandatory, class-based driving lessons that I had to take in Germany to get my license. The UK needs to abolish the learner driver system because all it results in, is undereducated drivers on the road.

[@ScottyDontt]

Um it's really not more efficient, you can see this in the video, the person letting Ashley in has to slow down to let him in, if you slow down you reduce your average speed, if you reduce your average speed overall you're going slower, this is primary school maths... Also 2 x 10 people is 20, 20 people is 20, just because the queue isn't as long doesn't mean there are less people, again primary school maths.

[@MikeVlogsYT97]

ScottyDon't - Ofcourse it’s still 20 people, but the line is half the size because there’s two lines... so it doesn’t affect other roads also getting a build up of traffic

[@jamdoginc]

ScottyDon't Yes it is much more efficient because all the other nearby roads don’t get blocked up if people use all the lanes

[@pauljh74]

@@MikeVlogsYT97 If there's a line of 10 cars already merged left and then 10 come up the second lane, the car in position 5 after the merge will be 9th in line. 10th car is now 19th. Then when there is the merge people slow down, there's hesitation - "is he letting me in?" When it costs you one or 2 sets of traffic lights in delays, you can see why people get pissed off when a bunch of people that were well behind you are now up the road while you're stuck at the red light *again*. The only people it benefits are those that come from behind. As for the lorry - I can bet you if he stuck to one lane - and he left the room he needs being a great big lorry - at a guess, up to 5 cars would shoot past and cut in front. He opens the gap, another car cuts in etc. Straddling 2 lanes isn't the answer, but opening yourself to be cut off isn't ideal either.

[@woolf123]

@@pauljh74 Sigh another one that just don't get it. That's your ego talking gettin upset because someone got ahead of you. You had the same option to use both lanes but im guessing you choose to sit in the massive queue instead?

[@whitewingedkrad]

When there is a red X on a motorway then you should merge early as possible ? Another one i dont think merge in turn counts is like jnc 15 on the m25 N, whe people speed down the 2 inside lanes that are turning of for the M4 and pulling in at the last minure either i to tiny gaps, coming to a hault on a clear motorway or deiving up the hatching and along the hard shoulder till you find a spot to pull in.

[@jonhartley7445]

The problem is things don't usually work the way they're meant to, if we all used both lanes and it was 1 for 1 at the end then it would be fine, but we see audis and such pulling out of the left lane to blast past everyone and try to cut in, half the time being "triggered" is a perfectly normal response. The problem is the real world of driving just does not work like we are taught.

[@bearwynn]

Was gonna say this, and it's also a case of a lot of people not knowing how to merge properly. Just this week I experienced a lane closure on a dual carriageway, but the lane closed at the same time the on ramp joins the carriageway. Effectively two lanes merging into the middle lane. Complete chaos.

[@michaelwood3529]

One of the best educational videos on the internet. I drive the A303 every other day and some people simply do not understand what filtering is.

[@superseven220]

A DFT study proved that it's quicker for everyone if both lanes are filled and then merge as the lanes narrow into one, but trying to get that message across seems to be nigh on impossible

[@Whackfear]

Here in Germany you're taught to use the "Reißverschlussverfahren", or "zipper merger". You're supposed to use both lanes all the way to the obstacle, and then both lanes must merge like a zipper, so one car from left lane, one from right, and so on. This obviously doesn't apply during flowing traffic or on the Autobahn, as speeds there are substantially higher, and merging a few hundred meters earlier is much safer.

[@pauljh74]

Generally changing lanes in advance when there is a gap in moving traffic is better for traffic flow. Lane changes that require another vehicle to slow down to let you in should be kept to a minimum.

[@dopiaza2006]

The problem is that at the moment it's not the intelligent people who use the second lane sensibly, it's usually arseholes in BMWs . This sets up a feeling of hate towards anyone doing it.

[@hellzie3917]

You are meant to use both lanes hence why on the lane that is closed they angle the cones so you can use the zipper method to merge in. However people get annoyed the fact they have sat in the mile long que and you haven't so you struggle to merge in.

[@1ninjatiger]

Hey quick question..whats your thoughts on using a motorway exit lane (and exiting) to avoid a queue of motorway traffic...but then re entering immediately. Area is the Queensferry crossing in Edinburgh/Fife. We usually exit before the bridge when coming from Edinburgh and head for Bo’ness exit...we mostly find it all queued up with cars using this lane to bypass three lanes of busy sometimes start stop traffic only to exit go straight across the roundabout and re enter. This then causes a hold up to the traffic going in our direction. It bugs me so much 🤬

[@LoadingRetroGames]

I would say that's completely fine , I often use the right lane on a road near me that ques to go left or ahead on a roundabout, right lane is almost always empty as the third exit is just a petrol station and burger king , I simply use that lane and go fully around the roundabout , it blows my mind that nobody else does , they all just sit and que

[@hadz001]

Thank you for doing this. It's no queue jumping at all. Also can do address this kind of situation but on slip roads? For example when you join the slip road and people whack their brakes on to join the dual carriageway or motorway and I go around them to fully utilise the slip road. Going around them is maybe not the right thing to do on my part but fully using the slip road is the right thing to do

[@joblessalex]

There is a rule. If you're driving down two lanes it's an improper merge or dangerous driving ticket.

[@timboslice4019]

Nothing wrong with it. I think the only thing that gets my back up in those situations are the people that 'race' the merge. Ones that fly down the outside, knowing it merges and trying to nip the odd car off. They are the ones close to causing accidents. Nothing wrong in stationary traffic though, makes sense.

[@ficus4p]

no, its not. Merging to early causes traffic jams.

[@davidrumming4734]

I have a 2 into 1 merge on my way to & from work. The reason why people will happily que and not use both is imo because some of the other drivers won’t let you in-so better to get in the que early. And when this is going the other direction to the open road + merging mr Audi/bmw/transit van/young person in old corsa will race you inc cutting across lanes to get in front of you before the road runs out. Aside from those drivers the rest of use the zipper idea quite well.

[@hippopotamus86]

Problem is that the British love a good queue. Which is why more British died on the titanic than Americans.

[@robindeath7568]

I think you said you said the key words around 7:20 "barge in" and its the people who try to muscle their way in without due regard to the traffic movements around them which really acts as the trigger; not necessarily the act of driving down the closing lane and using all the available road space as you mentioned up at the start of the video.

[@martf8014]

Not even going to bother watching the video. I will just tell people how it is on this subject. Ashley this is no reflection on your videos by the way as they are great. But by not watching and just giving you the information as it stands will give it more gravitas. So the correct way to deal with this road situation is to drive as far down the lane that is subject to closure as you can. Then merge in turn at that point.

[@xGeorge1337x]

Haven't even watched the video yet either and this is the correct response. They're doing roadworks on the dual carriageway that circulates my city and due to the idiots that won't use both lanes, the queues back up to other traffic lights and junction which in turn causes more traffic

[@konsul2006]

It would be very unsafe to merge too close to the construction zone imho. Start merging at a good distance so traffic behind have good time reacting to the merging lanes.

[@martf8014]

@@konsul2006 this is your opinion but you must understand that it is wrong.

[@IToohat]

Hi Ash, I have been driving cars and riding motorbikes on the road now for 25+ years (not that this necessarily improves your driving or makes you an expert, but I am a driver/rider that is and has been actively improving my driving over those 25 years). Before I start my question about cyclists and best practice for cyclists and motorists (and it is a question, and open to debate.....I'm not trying to state everything as a fact) I would like to start by stating that my total cycling on UK roads experience is very limited, although I can relate to many of the same dangers as a motorcyclist. I have been placed in a situation today that I felt was unsafe, and admit that I had no plan of action in my 'tool kit' ready to deal with the situation safely. The situation was this; 2 cyclists where on a twisty (60 mph limit) road, I approached the cyclists and could see they were 2 abreast and chatting (no problem, maybe they were communicating something important). I had reduced my speed to around 7-10 mph, left 3 car spaces (due to the poor visibility ahead with the 2 cyclists blocking my view), and continued around bend after bend. with fear of traffic behind approaching at potentially 50 mph more than my current speed I put on my hazard lights, and due to a lack of any look or acknowledgement from the cyclists (who had now passed a parking area on the left, but had held their 2 abreast position). I tooted my horn, and finally got a look over the shoulder of the off side rider. They made no attempt to adjust their position and this continued for 2 miles). I later pulled next to them at the end of the road (give way junction) and explained the problem they were causing on the narrow, twisty road and they simply shouted "Rule 66 mate, learn your highway code" (This was a conversation, not an argument, and the cyclists were not being rude, but I feel they should pay more attention to "Rule 66" of the highway code) My understanding of this rule is that cyclists can ride 2 abreast unless 1. The road is too narrow, 2. The road is very busy, 3. riding around bends and the highway code favourite "as long as it is safe to do so". The road was not particularly busy, but I was unable to attempt any safe overtake due to the constant blind bends (caused mostly by the riders blocking my vision, even while leaving sufficient room between them and me), the particularly slow riding added to the danger. I was even considering pulling over and waiting for them to clear the stretch of road ahead, but had no safe place to pull in after I had realised that they would not be moving to a single file. I am just wondering how you would advise to handle that situation for future reference. I appreciate that most cyclists are considerate and more aware, and I even get that riding 2 abreast could be safer in some situations, but feel that this situation appears far too often. *As a disclaimer for any disgruntled people who haven't read the above properly, I know I don't own the lane, I know I don't have more right to be on the road just because I pay tax, and I know cyclists are more vulnerable.......honestly I do get it!!! I'm interested to hear any impartial views from other motorists or cyclists*

[@nagow_360]

Is quicker for everyone if you skip surely

[@Hellcream69]

its not skipping. Using both lanes can speed the queue up by almost 45%

[@Interknetz]

@@Hellcream69 Does it though, in all technicality? I just see it as reducing the impact it has further behind you (e.g stuck at traffic lights because a big queue of people in one lane rather than using a 2nd lane that starts further down the road).

[@Hellcream69]

@@Interknetz You also need to look at what impact it has on other roads nearby. If you have enough people in one lane, you can block otherwise fully working lane nearby

[@jpwolf1701]

There should be signs to say "Road Works Ahead" and another that says "Use Both Lanes" and near the point of merging then have a sign which says which lane is about to close. Until this happens, the stress will only continue. It really comes down to poor signage because if it were made clearer to the obtuse of the driving world that they can use both lanes and not immediately showing which lane is closed too early, then no one would need to become a rolling road block.

[@itchyscratch6328]

I agree, but there are often signs that say Merge in Turn where two lanes become one and people still don't do it! 😠

[@laszloplook9599]

I don’t know why, in the case of two lanes merging to one, they don’t merge to the centre, then adjust to the desired lane. Then there is no urge to take one lane over the other and enforces merge in turn.

[@nickrendell4300]

In one merge into one lane on the A303 a sign actually reads use both lanes to merge. And I have seen the car that sticks out between both lanes way back from the merge into one lane. Which holds people up and then causes aggravation for others.if I am on the right lane when a merge into one is coming up I will use this lane until the merge and wait in turn to merge.

[@sirderam1]

If there is a choke point, at which only a certain nunber of cars can pass through in a given unit of time, what difference does it make if there is a single queue going one by one through the choke point, or if there are two lanes zipper merging at the choke point? Surely it cannot be more than one car, more or less. So the time it takes to get through the choke point is going to be roughly the same for any given car in either scenario. In fact, I would argue that the very act of zipper mergimg will slow the flow of traffic at the crucial choke point, thereby increasing the time it takes any particular car to get through the choke point.

[@proptart7933]

I saw a video once (something like mythbusters) and it is a *lot* quicker to fill both lanes up and "zipper merge" at the end. Sometimes even for the ass who would normally be hogging the centre line and not letting anyone pass. The things people do out of spite, or to save face, is crazy. ...I usually hate dashcam compilation channels/videos too, but yours in particular are much more interesting. It's great to see how learners and instructors deal with the situations.

[@initialyze]

I had this in Lincoln. Moved away from traffic lights and merge sign very clear ahead. No-one on my right so I kept going. Saw a Nissan Kumquat coming up on my right then. Going into the merging area (arrows showing you to keep over) the Kumquat kept coming up my right. Lanes merged when the Kumquat was next to my boot and she blared her horn at me. Upset because I didn't slow down to let her overtake? I always leave room to let someone move in, in front of me. It just gets a bit irritating when others choose to push past as well.

[@paul77i7]

I usually drive in the empty lane but only at around 20mph and even slower as I approach the lane closure to match the speed of the other lane. Most people seem OK with this and it helps in forming a second lane of traffic without blocking it unnecessarily. It also stops stopping anyone charging past at 60-70mph, which is what really seems to annoy those who are queuing in single file.