Reply With Quote
Not that idiot drivers will obey the signs and lights, but this looks like a good system:
Smart Lane Merge
http://www.cotrip.org/cotrip_quarter.../editorial.htm
"A recent study in Minnesota underlined the usefulness of ramp metering. After removing the meters from some portions of Minneapolis highways for a test, the cry for their return was loud and long. Another study from the Land of 10,000 Lakes showed that “polite” drivers actually made some traffic jams worse because of early merging. Many drivers were moving out of the lane that was closed ahead too early, thus making the back-ups actually longer and wasting open highway lanes that could accommodate more vehicles in a smaller space. Signs that instructed drivers to “MAINTAIN YOUR LANE UNTIL THE MERGE POINT,” made getting through cone zones more efficient. If I had my way, you’d be seeing those signs in Colorado construction zones soon."
Not that idiot drivers will obey the signs and lights, but this looks like a good system:
Smart Lane Merge
Oh SNAP!!
Last edited by Spurminator; 05-09-2007 at 03:17 PM.
hahahahaha. i almost got dr pepper on my shirt there.
On 281 and Florida, going south, about a month ago, there was an 18 wheeler that literally snapped in half on the highway. 4 lanes had to merge into 1, I can see why people would merge early then, especially the people furthest away from the open lane. In regular construction, taking turns at the cones, would make the congestion shorter in size. We'd hear less of "Damn, I-35 was backed up from downtown all the way to the Splashtown".
Oh I definitely agree multiple lanes merging is a different story.
PWNED!!!
I'm one of those that doesn't let then in when the lane closes. You had your shot three miles ago, enjoy the wait
Roundabouts are worse than merging. Most drivers just can't seem to grasp the concept.
I don't let late mergers in.
More, because it feels so good to be right.
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/workshops...oy%20paper.doc
LATE MERGE
The Late Merge is opposite of the Early Merge in that it is designed to encourage drivers to use either the open or closed lane until they reach the merge point at the lane closure taper rather than merging as soon as possible into the open lane. One example of the Late Merge is the system developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). This system was implemented as a means to reduce the road rage engendered between drivers who merge into the open lane early and those who remain in the closed lane and merge into the open lane near the front of the queue at the last minute. Approximately 1.5 miles in advance of the lane closure, USE BOTH LANES TO MERGE POINT signs are placed on both sides of the roadway. These signs are followed by conventional ROAD WORK AHEAD and advance lane closed signs. Finally, MERGE HERE TAKE YOUR TURN signs are placed on both sides of the roadway near the beginning of the taper.
The primary intent of the Late Merge developed by the PennDOT is to reduce the road rage between early and late mergers by informing drivers that it is permissible for traffic to travel in both lanes to the merge point. Although it is not standard practice, the Late Merge is used regularly at work zones on freeways by one PennDOT district office. No problems have been reported with its use, and it seems to be well received by drivers. A study of its operational effects found that it increased the capacity of the merging operations by as much as 15 percent (footnote 5).
Since the Late Merge seems to address many of the problems experienced with the conventional merge during congestion, the UNL also conducted field studies (footnote 1) to compare the safety and operational effects of the PennDOT Late Merge and the conventional merge. The results of these studies revealed that the conflict rates are substantially lower with the Late Merge. At higher densities, about 75 percent fewer forced merges and 30 percent fewer lane straddles were observed for the Late Merge; and, at densities below 25 vpm, no conflicts were observed for the Late Merge, whereas conflicts were observed for the conventional merge. The studies also found the capacity of the Late Merge to be nearly 20 percent higher than that of the conventional merge.
Conceptually the Late Merge addresses many of the problems that are associated with traffic operations in advance of lane closures at work zones on rural freeways, especially during periods of congestion. In particular, the lengths of the queues that form as a result of congestion are reduced by about 50 percent, because the queued vehicles are stored in two lanes instead of only one. The shorter queue lengths reduce the likelihood of them extending back beyond the work zone’s advance warning signs and surprising approaching drivers, which in turn reduces the potential of rear-end accidents. In addition, driver experience less anxiety about knowing which lane is closed, because either lane can be used to reach the merge point. The availability of both lanes also reduces the frustration levels of drivers. Drivers in the open lane are less likely to be irritated by others passing by them in the closed lane, because this maneuver is permissible with the Late Merge. Drivers are able to select the lane with the shortest queue and not be concerned about others blocking their path to the merge point.
It goes on to discuss how this is best suited for high-density traffic scenarios, but there is potential danger during lower traffic times when people are driving at higher speeds. Obviously, you should use your judgment. If both lanes are going at a relatively good speed, there's no need to wait until the "last minute."
This thread cracks me up because my wife and I have an open debate on this every time we travel westbound on I-40 here in ABQ. There's a lane closure for an overpass rebuild that everyone has known about for weeks. I'm a believer in the early merger and get over a couple of miles before the lane closure. My wife runs down that merged lane until the "mandatory merging point" and then slides over.
I think if people are traveling at the same speed in all the lanes and allowing people to merge over at the merging point, then it works. In our one-horse town, however, people haul ass down the merging lane and then folks get frustrated and don't let them in which causes traffic to basically stop at the merging point.
Bottom-line is that people don't know how to drive, and any change in the roadway creates utter chaos.
People in my city can't even grasp the concept of 4-way stops, and they've started putting in roundabouts. Enough to make me want to kill someone.
What's a roundabout?
They have roundabouts at the shops at la cantera. Like the above picture^
They have roundabouts up here in Addison too (mostly in shopping/restaurant areas). With how many people just turn left or right at the roundabout, I'm surprised there aren't more accidents. And I don't blame people, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.
And I've used that many times! I didn't know there was a name for it.
Spurminator was just vindicated like a mother er. Where are all the people who were posting things in the early in this thread? Come have some crow.
My guess is they're stuck in traffic.
Spurminator was just vindicated like a mother er. Where are all the people who were posting things in the early in this thread? Come have some crow.
what, no yes jokes?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
