PORTLAND, Ore. — From city streets to state highways, the gripe about merging on the roads is heard often. Oregon and Washington's departments of transportation want drivers to zipper merge to keep traffic moving, but some drivers are split on it — with some even seeing it as "cheating."
When KGW asked people in Northwest Portland last week if they've heard of the zipper merge, the answers ranged from "no" to "it sounds familiar" to "nobody does it correctly" and even "cutting in at the last minute is cheating."
In an ideal world, everyone would zipper merge, Oregon Department of Transportation said. Drivers stay in their lanes and wait until the merging point, then take turns one by one, like the teeth of a zipper. If done right, most cars end up going the same speed, so that cuts down on the possibility and danger of crashes. Proper zipper merging allows cars to use the entire freeway lane, ODOT said, meaning more cars on the highway and a better flow of traffic, reducing congestion.
Darin Campbell, manager of Radio Cab and a former taxi driver for a decade, runs into improper merging daily on Highway 26 at the Sylvan interchange.
"We already have people who are trying to squeeze in early, and what that does is screws up traffic," he said. A video he shared shows several cars with abundant space between them, scattered over about a quarter mile of freeway lane — all stopped — trying to merge into the next lane over.
"It drives me nuts," Campbell said.
Departments of transportation around the U.S., including ODOT, spend resources trying to educate drivers on the zipper merging.
"In Oregon, the law states that drivers entering a merging lane must yield the right of way to drivers already in the lane," wrote ODOT's Ryan McCrary in an email.
In essence, during a zipper merge, drivers are asking for permission to enter. That of course, requires another driver to let them in. ODOT has the added task of convincing everyone to be nice and consider the greater good.
"When we all take turns and make space for others, we reduce congestion and the likelihood of crashes," states McCrary.
Driving Me Crazy features takes on things that drive people nuts on the roads. Submit ideas by reaching out to Traffic Reporter Chris McGinness on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram. You can also email: cmcginness@kgw.com