Michigan Drivers, We Need to Talk About the Zipper Merge

I'm going to say something that I think might get me canceled by a lot of fellow Michiganders...

It's not my fault you don't know how to zipper merge.

There, I said it!

There's obviously a ton of construction happening in Michigan right now, particularly in the Greater Lansing area, so I've encountered plenty of lane closures and merges recently.

The Three Things Michigan Drivers Do Wrong During Construction

And, without fail, here's how it goes every single time:

1. Everyone gets over way too early, causing a HUGE backup in the lane we're all eventually supposed to be in.
2. The lanes that are ending are completely empty, even though there's still a decent stretch of road before they end.
3. Someone inevitably decides to play "Lane Judge" and drive over the lines, blocking the lane that's supposed to end and anyone who dares to use that lane and merge correctly.

Maybe it's Midwestern politeness. Maybe it's a lack of know-how. Whatever it is, it's unfortunately not my fault that you don't know how to zipper merge (or simply choose not to).

What Is a Zipper Merge, Anyway?

The zipper merge is a specific driving technique used in these situations. This type of merge prevents backups "and creates a safer, better flow of traffic within the lane closure." So this isn't just me shouting from my soapbox, this is literally backed by data.

Instead of all piling into one lane, you utilize both lanes and take turns merging at a designated "merge point". You can watch a how-to video in the video below.

READ RELATED: How to Properly Zipper Merge During Michigan Construction Season

So, in conclusion... my fellow Michigan drivers, please learn how to zipper merge. It will help us all in the end. Thank you, from a frustrated Michigander who's tired of getting dirty looks for correctly zipper merging in construction zones.