Share this simple graphical explanation for fellow drivers. Let's all reduce delays by 35%. Source: http://usat.ly/2cN2qPZ

This method also reduces the backup length from disrupting other arteries.

Excellent idea!

I don(t think it goes any faster... the actual limiting factor is still the single lane.

Traffic jams in highways are very easy to explain when you understand that the highest flow of cars ((ie number of cars that pass a given point during a given time) is achieved by the lowest car speeds. The jam is just the highway's way to maximize the flow.

Right, so the point to take away from all of this is that neither lanes of cars (in either the right or wrong way to do things) are benefiting from either scenario, with the exception that a few poor souls will be assaulted with banal rudeness (banal - because it occurs EVERY single day) when the impatient drivers want to get at the front of line, BEFORE you. They, too, are ignorant of the basics of traffic flow and gain perhaps a couple of seconds advantage, which in the scheme of things isn't THAT much speedier.

I just ran in a situation today and I was already in the correct lane so I didn't move to the empty lane but many people tried to get in early as usual, and leaving empty space.

I think this strategy does work because when we leave empty space, we treat the construction zone like as if it's longer than it already is. So the bottle neck is treated to be longer.... and surely longer construction zones cause more delay.

Uniformity does have its advantages, but the time saved is so minimal (I'm not condoning the rude tactics, just saying) that no matter how you slice it, jumping cars in line has no real benefit, just adds to the human emotion factor of perceived lack of respect which gives birth to road rage. I prefer the courteous

Quote:

wait your turn

method, myself, because it's good to see humans interact with one another while driving dangerous machines with diplomatic tact. Or something like that... <meanwhile on a parallel universe...spirally dream scene of John Cusack driving a limo in the movie 2012>

I often visualize what happens to all the other drivers and pedestrians around him in that movie as a sort of "go to" thought when people are discourteous. Yes, I am evil like that!

The thing is to get everyone to do it the right way. Ha!

The guy who has to get ahead of everyone else is not going to change his ways.

Good point, Tin!

So true, O. Although I do find that by leaving space in front of me so that people can merge or change lanes, more often than not results in a smoother flow of traffic for the people merging into traffic. I notice that metered merge points tend to build up and most drivers perceive this as a threat to their commute home and refuse to open space in front of them. When this happens around me, I just let more cars in than usual. So, just like construction zones, rush hour can be smoother for all if everybody does the right thing. Kind of like paying it forward usually results in more people doing the same.

I read somewhere that if every lane is used up to the loss of a lane, and the people in the remaining lane each let one car in, then it works fine not to get over early. But, that being said, there will always be the few who will ruin it by not letting the one car in.

It's happening just right outside our parking lot right now.
2 lanes is closed down to 1 lane.
And the one lane is left completely empty people trying to get in early and refuse to use the empty lane.
So the effect is that the one lane is filled up and backed all the way to the previous red light.
And no one is going to the empty lane that when the light turns green at the previous light, nothing is moving trying to fill up empty space...so the effect is propagated backwards further than if everyone took turns and taking up all spaces available.
Losing queue space.

It would be good if everybody went for the open lane. Nobody would be mad. Nobody would hog both lanes. Everybody would be in the same bad situation.