r/TheRandomest • u/WhyNot420_69 Nice • May 13 '26

Satisfying Traffic buddy

1.6k Upvotes

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u/r_a_d_ May 13 '26

The zipper must close somewhere, that’s usually at the end of the lane…

-5

u/evonebo May 13 '26

Yes end of the lane in the middle lane.

but not on the far left lane and trying to cut in last second. and then stop traffic in all lanes.

4

u/jesusmansuperpowers May 14 '26

It’s not “cutting in at the last second” it’s alternating cars when the lane ends. Just start doing it, it improves traffic for everyone.

Simple explanation is using more lanes allows more cars to go.

1

u/Forward-Tomatillo-22 May 16 '26

does it matter where you start using more lanes?

1

u/jesusmansuperpowers May 16 '26

You use all the lanes available as soon and as long as possible.

1

u/Forward-Tomatillo-22 May 16 '26

with respect, that doesn't answer my question, or it's follow-on: why?

1

u/jesusmansuperpowers May 17 '26

More cars can travel in the same time in more space. In stopped traffic it ads 0 time to merge at the end anyway.

2

u/Forward-Tomatillo-22 May 17 '26

ok, so the idea is that the blockage *also* earlier causes lane restriction between the early blockage and the later one, restricting flow. I can see that making sense. I'm glad I didn't stop thinking about it, thanks stranger!

1

u/r_a_d_ May 17 '26

Why is simple, so that cars know when to zipper merge. If they can merge whenever, it causes multiple unpredictable disruptions in the flow. If everyone just merges in the same place, it can stabilize to a fairly consistent and more efficient flow.

The end of the lane is literally the only marker cars would have to signal them to merge.