drive
vice-president of government and
stakeholder relations. “But if all drivers
use the zipper merge, all drivers benefit.
In other words, if everyone is using
both lanes equally, nobody is cheating.”
AMA’s endorsement in the media of
this technique sparked a national con-
versation about merging, and Canadian
motorists have shown a real passion for
discussing best practices. We invest so
much time behind the wheel, so it only
makes sense to also invest in refreshing
our driving knowledge and skills.
The case in favour of zipper merging
comes down to efficiency and helping
to ease congestion.
A recent CAA study concluded that
bottlenecks are the single biggest con-
tributor to road delays, far outpacing
traffic collisions, weather and construc-
tion. In Calgary, for example, a pair of
Crowchild Trail bottlenecks—at 24th
Avenue and between University Drive
NW and Memorial Drive NW—results
in an additional 1.42 million kilograms
We all win when drivers use the zipper merge
of carbon dioxide emissions, 150,000
bY MIStY harrIS
hours of driver delay and $4.34 million
in lost productivity each year.
In Edmonton, a bottleneck on Gateway
construction season. AMA’s driving
We’ve all been there. A sign warns of
Boulevard—between Whitemud Drive
experts, in line with traffic research,
a lane closure ahead and you’re faced
and 34 Avenue—annually accounts
say the answer is the zipper merge.
with two options: immediately merge
for 966,000 kilos of carbon emissions,
Put simply, drivers use both lanes fully
into the bottleneck and secure your spot
92,000 hours of driver
to the point of closure (or
in line, or drive to the end of the closing
delay and $2.65 million
defined merge area), then
lane before making your move—in front
See our video on how
in lost productivity.
alternate, zipper-like, into
of drivers who waited their turn.
to do a zipper merge:
A small change in
the open lane. The tech-
Both driver types—the “line-uppers”
aMaInsider.com/
thinking can make a
nique maximizes avail-
and the “cheaters”—tend to be equally
zipper-merge
huge difference. “Adopt-
able road space, fostering
convinced their way is best. The former
ing the zipper merge is
fairness and courtesy
because their behaviour seems polite
a way of making things
when everyone abides by
and less stressful; the latter because
better for drivers,” Kasbrick says. “It
it. In fact, research shows it can reduce
their strategy leverages empty road real
helps to ensure both lanes move at an
congestion by as much as 40 percent.
estate and saves time. But who’s right?
equal pace and that we’re all being cour-
“As Canadians, it’s our natural
For years, the question has been up
teous to one another. Given that two-
instinct to line up and be patient.
there with cilantro and the series
thirds of Canadians believe congestion is
Nobody likes seeing other people race
finale of Lost in its ability to spark
getting worse, every little bit helps.”
past them,” says Jeff Kasbrick, AMA’s
debate —especially during Alberta’s busy
The “Cheat” is On
Congestion
Buster
Tips for performing
a safe and successful
zipper merge (when
conditions allow)
• Drive consistently. Don’t
rush ahead, only to slam on
your brakes later. • If there is no bottleneck
and an early merge makes
sense, feel free to do so.
• When ready to move over,
signal your intent and merge
in an alternating fashion. • The zipper merge works
best in traditional congestion
situations like construction
zones. If a lane closure is
due to a crash or break-
down, reduce your speed
and move over as soon as
possible to avoid endan-
gering emergency workers
and/or tow truck operators.
AMA InsIder
summer 2017
21