Driving Pet Peeves

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Not in heavy traffic. As soon as cars start queuing then the best way to merge is a simple one for one at the point where the obstruction is. All cars will at some point have to move to the lane that isn't blocked, if they do that early then all that does is cause an even longer queue in the free lane and block the lane where the obstruction is.

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What difference does it make at which point the cars merge into a single lane? If everyone does it as soon as the obstruction is seen, how does that make any difference to merging at the place of the obstruction? Surely what makes the queue longer is those who don't merge as soon as the problem is identified but who zoom up the free lane in order to beat the queue? I remain to be convinced by the argument that the place the merging occurs makes a difference to the length of time to get through the obstruction.

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Originally Posted by grunt

What difference does it make at which point the cars merge into a single lane? If everyone does it as soon as the obstruction is seen, how does that make any difference to merging at the place of the obstruction? Surely what makes the queue longer is those who don't merge as soon as the problem is identified but who zoom up the free lane in order to beat the queue? I remain to be convinced by the argument that the place the merging occurs makes a difference to the length of time to get through the obstruction.

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I think the issue is the potential congestion further back. The longer the single line (ie with no merging), the more likely it is to cause congestion in other (unrelated) roads, eg roads crossing that line, roundabouts. By having 2 lanes of congestion nearer the obstruction, those unrelated issues further back can be avoided.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Not in heavy traffic. As soon as cars start queuing then the best way to merge is a simple one for one at the point where the obstruction is. All cars will at some point have to move to the lane that isn't blocked, if they do that early then all that does is cause an even longer queue in the free lane and block the lane where the obstruction is.

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Spot on, allowing me to drive right down the free lane, past all the idiots in the queue and merge at the point of obstruction to the obvious annoyance of others. 😀

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

I always get caught out with this when I'm in the UK, in Germany it's expected that you merge at the point where a lane closes and although the rules are the same in the UK, people don't seem to understand the advantages of using the "zipper" system. It's people who merge too early that cause the queue in the open lane to get longer.

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Do you ever have trouble with getting let in to the lane, or are they OK around your way?

My experience in Bavaria was that you almost had to force your way into another lane, as they just wouldn't budge. Maybe that's just Bavarians...


Actually, they were even worse in and around Vienna. I still get shivers thinking about driving round there. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Keith_M

Do you ever have trouble with getting let in to the lane, or are they OK around your way?

My experience in Bavaria was that you almost had to force your way into another lane, as they just wouldn't budge. Maybe that's just Bavarians...


Actually, they were even worse in and around Vienna. I still get shivers thinking about driving round there. :rolleyes:

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I think the only trouble I've witnessed is people trying to change too early not being let in. That said there are still regional differences, in the former East they used to react similarly to the UK but the zipper merge message is obviously getting across because it's very rare you'll see people not adhering to it now.

Austrians are just weird anyway, like snobby Germans. :wink:

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Originally Posted by grunt

What difference does it make at which point the cars merge into a single lane? If everyone does it as soon as the obstruction is seen, how does that make any difference to merging at the place of the obstruction? Surely what makes the queue longer is those who don't merge as soon as the problem is identified but who zoom up the free lane in order to beat the queue? I remain to be convinced by the argument that the place the merging occurs makes a difference to the length of time to get through the obstruction.

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It’s physics or dynamics or something….

I get your point as intuitively it’s the same amount of cars doing the same thing but the reality seems to be that zipper merging at point of obstruction is a better and faster way. Some research has suggested it’s up to 40% more efficient. Or so Google says anyway [emoji12]

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

I think the only trouble I've witnessed is people trying to change too early not being let in. That said there are still regional differences, in the former East they used to react similarly to the UK but the zipper merge message is obviously getting across because it's very rare you'll see people not adhering to it now.

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Cheers :aok:

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

,,,
Austrians are just weird anyway, like snobby Germans. :wink:

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Very true.

:greengrin

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Thanks

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Welcome [emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by grunt

What difference does it make at which point the cars merge into a single lane? If everyone does it as soon as the obstruction is seen, how does that make any difference to merging at the place of the obstruction? Surely what makes the queue longer is those who don't merge as soon as the problem is identified but who zoom up the free lane in order to beat the queue? I remain to be convinced by the argument that the place the merging occurs makes a difference to the length of time to get through the obstruction.

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The problem is that if it's not defined when or where to merge, then everyone has a different opinion as to where the merge should happen.

After the game today I went a different way home. I headed down Pilrig St then Newhaven Rd before Ferry Rd.

The road is so tight there there is no room for buses. The whole street needed to come to a standstill and squeeze to the left so the buses could get through, I have no idea what happenens if buses meet heading in opposite directions. For some reason they allow parking on both sides of the road, if the banned parking on one side there would be enough room for everyone.

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

After the game today I went a different way home. I headed down Pilrig St then Newhaven Rd before Ferry Rd.

The road is so tight there there is no room for buses. The whole street needed to come to a standstill and squeeze to the left so the buses could get through, I have no idea what happenens if buses meet heading in opposite directions. For some reason they allow parking on both sides of the road, if the banned parking on one side there would be enough room for everyone.

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Ferry Road is a often a nightmare route for heading to the game. My wife drove me through a couple of times on that route, as she was going to the Botanic Garden, and there were just so many blockages/hold-ups.

Selfish parkers.

Specifically in areas like where my permit is in Zone 5 and there is a stretch of space boxed off for permit holders ( or paying public). There is room for 8 cars if the full length of the boxed area is used, however I am now constantly seeing cars leaving half a cars length at either end of the boxed area - meaning you are sometimes down to only 5 or 6 cars being able to park there. Presumably they are too cautious in getting the car to the edge of the box and then too lazy once they get out and see their error to actually just get back in the car and move it a couple of yards forward/back. Or maybe they are just oblivious.

It's almost always very small cars too. Minis, Micra's, Twingos etc etc. Not sure why.

Cyclists who don’t use the cycle path through Holyrood Park, particularly heading uphill. I was stuck behind one tonight and could not safely overtake as there was a constant stream of traffic heading downhill, resulting in a fairly long tailback. To make matters worse they had no lights on whatsoever, not even a rear reflector. It was just as well they were at least wearing a hi vis jacket. More of a reason to be on the cycle path.

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Originally Posted by Peanut Shaz

Cyclists who don’t use the cycle path through Holyrood Park, particularly heading uphill. I was stuck behind one tonight and could not safely overtake as there was a constant stream of traffic heading downhill, resulting in a fairly long tailback. To make matters worse they had no lights on whatsoever, not even a rear reflector. It was just as well they were at least wearing a hi vis jacket. More of a reason to be on the cycle path.

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You had me at cyclists.

People who will queue 4 deep at the petrol station, causing a queue out the forecourt, when there are empty pumps available, but they are kn the wrong side.

It's a long hose, just use any pump!!

Saves me time though.

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Originally Posted by Onceinawhile

People who will queue 4 deep at the petrol station, causing a queue out the forecourt, when there are empty pumps available, but they are kn the wrong side.

It's a long hose, just use any pump!!

Saves me time though.

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I have posted about that before on this thread, drives me nuts especially when they end up actually blocking the entrance to the the petrol station.

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Originally Posted by Onceinawhile

People who will queue 4 deep at the petrol station, causing a queue out the forecourt, when there are empty pumps available, but they are kn the wrong side.

It's a long hose, just use any pump!!

Saves me time though.

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Does my head in. lazy eejits.

I don’t know if I’m imagining it, but the number of faulty traffic lights, (usually stuck on red) both temporary and permanent, seems to be on the increase. Very annoying but, more importantly, very dangerous, especially when the stretch of road includes bends and frustrated drivers decide to go against red.

People who switch their engines on and sit for 10 minutes polluting the immediate environment before they drive off. In normal weather, so it's not a de-frosting windscreen issue. Is it just some sort of hangover from the days when people started their horseless transport with a crank handle, and the engine had to warm up, or is there some proper rationale? :dunno:

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Originally Posted by lapsedhibee

People who switch their engines on and sit for 10 minutes polluting the immediate environment before they drive off. In normal weather, so it's not a de-frosting windscreen issue. Is it just some sort of hangover from the days when people started their horseless transport with a crank handle, and the engine had to warm up, or is there some proper rationale? :dunno:

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One of our neighbours does this, sits in the car with the engine running for 5-10 minutes every time, then does the same when she gets back, sits in the car with the engine running for several minutes

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Originally Posted by Jim44

I don’t know if I’m imagining it, but the number of faulty traffic lights, (usually stuck on red) both temporary and permanent, seems to be on the increase. Very annoying but, more importantly, very dangerous, especially when the stretch of road includes bends and frustrated drivers decide to go against red.

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Yep, I've noticed this too. A couple of months ago, I was the first car at a light stuck on red. The pressure was added as the car directly behind me was a police car.

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Originally Posted by overdrive

Yep, I've noticed this too. A couple of months ago, I was the first car at a light stuck on red. The pressure was added as the car directly behind me was a police car.

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Very tricky. I think I might have turned my engine off, walked back to the police vehicle and asked for their advice. :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Jim44

Very tricky. I think I might have turned my engine off, walked back to the police vehicle and asked for their advice. :greengrin

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Indeed. Or wait for them to do something.

Folk turning right into a junction and cutting across the car approaching the junction. Of course you're a ****** for nearly causing an accident

Drivers who drive 10 car lengths behind the car in front in heavy traffic at 15MPH and then we miss the traffic lights due to this.

Having to pay for parking at Leith links!! When the **** did that start?!? £8.5 for 2.5 hrs!!

Cars on South Gyle Access not realising it is a 40mph and going sub 20mph, cutting into the right hand lane quite early, continuing to go at 20mph only to go straight on at the roundabout thinking that they can’t be in the left lane to go straight ahead

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Originally Posted by overdrive

Cars on South Gyle Access not realising it is a 40mph and going sub 20mph, cutting into the right hand lane quite early, continuing to go at 20mph only to go straight on at the roundabout thinking that they can’t be in the left lane to go straight ahead

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I "know" it's a 40 there but the sat-nav in my car which gets live updates thinks it's a 30.
Unsure how the GPS companies get their data but it isn't being thoroughly checked.

That horrible sensation when you are stationary at traffic lights and the car beside you creeps forward and you think you are rolling backwards and jamb on the brake pedal in a panic.

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Originally Posted by Alfiembra

That horrible sensation when you are stationary at traffic lights and the car beside you creeps forward and you think you are rolling backwards and jamb on the brake pedal in a panic.

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:greengrin