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Reißverschlussverfahren: the zipper merge rule
The rule
When a lane ends or is blocked – at roadworks, an obstacle or where two lanes become one – vehicles in that lane drive on to the end of the lane. Right before the narrowing, the cars merge alternately: one from the ending lane, one from the continuing lane. This is the Reißverschlussverfahren, the zipper method.
Why at the end and not early?
Using the whole length of both lanes makes the queue shorter and keeps traffic flowing. Merging early and leaving the ending lane empty is not what the rule asks for, and blocking cars that use the ending lane correctly is not allowed.
Who has to let whom in?
Drivers in the continuing lane must let one vehicle from the ending lane in front of them – alternately. It is not a question of being polite; it is the rule in the StVO.
German terms to know
- Reißverschlussverfahren – zipper merge
- Fahrstreifen – lane
- Engstelle – narrowing
- einfädeln – to merge
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