Approaching Lane Closures
May 29th, 2009There is probably nowhere that the unofficial rules of the road are “enforced” by other drivers like that of the lane closure line up. You know, the long line up of traffic that forms on one side of the highway after drivers pass the lane closed ahead advisory signs. Drive by in the empty lane and I’ve seen people open their doors or swerve partially into that lane to let other drivers know that they are supposed to be in the line up, not using the capacity in the empty lane to get ahead.
The trouble is, this is not the best way to behave when traffic approaching the lane closure is heavier than what can be accommodated by a single lane. What everyone should do is be aware that the lane ends ahead, continue with caution using both lanes, and at the end merge like the teeth in a zipper before proceeding through the zone single file. This will move 15% more traffic than the situation where everyone moves over and lines up when they start to see the signs. If we’re lucky, this method will only slow us down, but not cause us to wait in a line that is virtually stopped.
If traffic is light and no line has formed, merging early is perfectly acceptable. Due to the lower volume, a backup will not form to cause delay.
These practices are acceptable because the black on orange signs used in these situations are advisory. A driver can choose to take the advice (or not) as their experience, traffic and road conditions would dictate in the circumstances.
Flag persons, cones, barricades and the like are traffic control devices that must be obeyed. Once you reach them at the point where the lane is closed, it becomes an offence to fail to follow their requirements. Now you must move over as indicated, but not before.
Tags:Behind The Wheel, construction zones, lane closures
About the Author
Cst. Tim Schewe (Ret) is the author of the Behind The Wheel column. He has been writing the column for most of the 20 years of his traffic enforcement service in the RCMP. In January 2006, Schewe retired from the force and resides in Vancouver Island. You can visit his website at http://www.drivesmartbc.ca/
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I was unaware that Merging at the end of the lanes moved 15% more cars. It would probably be realistic if people actually let others in.
I block. Im not going to lie.
Very happy to see this topic posted on the blog. I’m one of the late mergers because it makes more sense to me than playing follow the leader in a full, slowly advancing lane. A lot more dangerous are the self-righteous pricks who see themselves as the lords of the road, bestowed with the godly powers of traffic control.
It boggles me every time when a road suddenly comes to an end and one needs to move into the other lane how the drivers that are in that lane refuse to let in the other car and all this does is make a traffic jam and cause more problems, please can some one just explain this to me would it not make more sense to rather slow up and let the cars in ahead of you????
i don’t think it matters where they merge in just as long as they merge in smoothly and a let in without a fight.
I’ll admit i block too.
i just don’t think it’s fair to everyone else when everyone has the common sense to form a line. then one person races up the empty lane just to force themselves in, in front of everyone they was behind.