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I'm surprised this is written like zipper merging is some kind of recently discovered secret. Zipper merging (or weaving) has been standard practice in parts of

by molf 12y ago

I'm surprised this is written like zipper merging is some kind of recently discovered secret. Zipper merging (or weaving) has been standard practice in parts of Europe for 20 years (maybe longer – I can't really remember anything else). Since March 2014 it is even mandatory in Belgium, and anyone merging early may risk a €55 fine [1]. It has been repeatedly advocated and promoted by various governments in Europe [2] and I doubt anyone questions its effectivity. Some experiments have been done in the past with alternative methods like zipper merging with groups of cars, but this is only applied when traffic can be regulated (with lights or traffic controllers). The nice thing about zipper merging is that with enough public knowledge, drivers can regulate merging themselves. [1]:http://www.vandaag.be/binnenland/145761_ritsen-verplicht-vanaf-1-maart.html http://www.vandaag.be/binnenland/145761_ritsen-verplicht-van... [2]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNhnLYI2Efw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNhnLYI2Efw – Dutch government TV ad from 1989 which explains and promotes zipper merging (albeit very poorly, I must admit).

ChikkaChiChi 12y ago
It's not the concept that is newsworthy, it's the decision to actively promote it that is.
- dubfan 12y ago
  More importantly, the decision by American transportation authorities to promote it is newsworthy. It seems like Northern Europe takes a more systematic and serious attitude towards driving, while the American attitude is more "eat my breakfast while driving 50mph in the left lane, and give the finger to everyone who passes me on the right"
craigds 12y ago
Agreed. Zipper merging has been standard practice in New Zealand my whole (28 year) life. Except we call it "zip merging" because "zipper" sounds awfully foreign around here. I didn't know there was another way to merge until I read this article.
- Chronic29 12y ago
  It is because of comments like this why I visit HN less and less each day. This is essentially a "plus one" style post with a short anecdotal example that contributes little to the discussion.
krzrak 12y ago
> I'm surprised this is written like zipper merging is some kind of recently discovered secret. Yeah, it's funny :) In U.S. they have the same with road circles/roundabout. Some time ago I watched TED talk where the speaker was talking about this like it was some amazing innovation :)
aluhut 12y ago
I wish it would work...they teach it since decades in Germany and you still see people not doing it right or worse: people complaining that you drive up to the end. People not letting you in at the end and so on... I still try it every time because most of the times, it just saves me a lot of time. I've never seen/heard of people being fined for not doing it or preventing people to merge.

by molf 12y ago

ChikkaChiChi 12y ago

It's not the concept that is newsworthy, it's the decision to actively promote it that is.

dubfan 12y ago
More importantly, the decision by American transportation authorities to promote it is newsworthy. It seems like Northern Europe takes a more systematic and serious attitude towards driving, while the American attitude is more "eat my breakfast while driving 50mph in the left lane, and give the finger to everyone who passes me on the right"

craigds 12y ago

Agreed. Zipper merging has been standard practice in New Zealand my whole (28 year) life. Except we call it "zip merging" because "zipper" sounds awfully foreign around here. I didn't know there was another way to merge until I read this article.

Chronic29 12y ago
It is because of comments like this why I visit HN less and less each day. This is essentially a "plus one" style post with a short anecdotal example that contributes little to the discussion.

krzrak 12y ago

> I'm surprised this is written like zipper merging is some kind of recently discovered secret. Yeah, it's funny :) In U.S. they have the same with road circles/roundabout. Some time ago I watched TED talk where the speaker was talking about this like it was some amazing innovation :)

aluhut 12y ago

I wish it would work...they teach it since decades in Germany and you still see people not doing it right or worse: people complaining that you drive up to the end. People not letting you in at the end and so on... I still try it every time because most of the times, it just saves me a lot of time. I've never seen/heard of people being fined for not doing it or preventing people to merge.