As the temperature lowers, storms abound, and darkness descends ever earlier in the afternoon, more people drive, and more motorists want to know the best—and quickest—routes home.

According to research by Dick Lovett, there’s been a 307% increase in the number of Google searches for “road closures near me”, and a 44% rise in searches for “road works near me” in the past month.

Searches for “flooding near me” has also seen an inevitable rise.

Hand in hand

When it comes to highway maintenance, there’s a key element that consistently causes drivers’ problems: merging in turns.

‘Merging in turn’ is a traffic flow measure that allows multiple lanes of traffic to join together, with road users taking turns to merge into the new singular lane.

Seems simple, right?

Think again.

Previous research from Dick Lovett found that 7 in 10 (68%) British drivers aren’t using merge in turn properly with lane closures.

Their research shows the majority of drivers (68%) tend to move out of a closing lane immediately – or as soon as possible – after seeing a lane closure warning sign for road works or an accident.

Why?

Their main reason is to be ‘polite’ to other drivers.

Traditional values

If there’s something Brits are good at, it’s queuing.

A resounding 7 in 10 (69%) drivers told Dick Lovett they think it’s rude when other drivers don’t queue to get in from a closing lane early on.

Moreover, a third (33%) of drivers even said they actively try to stop other drivers from merging in turn when they do so at the ‘last minute’. Interestingly, men are 6% more likely to do this than women (36% vs 30%).

So, should you queue early for the sake of politeness or merge in turn?

What exactly is the correct thing to do?

Follow the rules

According to the Highway Code, drivers should wait to merge in turn at the point at which the two lanes merge into one unless it’s not busy, with section 134 stating:

“You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed.

“In congested road conditions, do not change lanes unnecessarily.

“Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching roadworks or a road traffic incident.

“It is not recommended at high speed.”

Stiff upper lip

Experts at Dick Lovett comment: “If the 68% of drivers moving lanes too early out of politeness decided to use both lanes, up until the merge in turn sign, it would result in less congestion during a lane closure as it allows the traffic to have a more consistent flow.

“Next time drivers find themselves in slow moving traffic that’s approaching a merge in turn sign, they should try to resist the temptation to move over too quickly out of politeness and use all available lanes until they can’t anymore.

“Granted, it’s difficult to beat the deep-routed British societal expectation of queuing, but moving over too soon will merely cause extended congestion.

“Also, try to resist joining the third of drivers who stop people merging if they think they’re doing it too late.

“This could be classed as dangerous driving, and it’s not your right to stop people entering the queue.”