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Comment by InitialBP | Hacker News Reader

These have been implemented in a lot of places extensively, such as Germany. There are also some implementations in the US. One such that I drove on often is when I-70 eastbound runs into the beltway at Baltimore, MD.

The only problem with zipper merging (much like roundabouts) is a lack of education around how they work and WHY they work. Adjust the education we give new drivers and over time our roads will become more efficient.

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CGP Gray's simple solution to traffic and good visuals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzzSao6ypE

The real simple solution to traffic is no more monkeys driving cars. Also, implicitly, fully isolate cars from human powered forms of transportation.

There is a slight flaw there. It fails to account for vehicle malfunctions (blown tires, running out of power, component failure, roadway debris, etc.) so even with computerized coördination you need to keep a speed determined safe distance from vehicles in front of them. (with reference to the accordion effect of stop and go.)

Accidents will require cleanup services.

Meanwhile self-driving cars can learn of them from the scheduling coordination services and distribute the load among working routes without rubbernecking.

People are taught to use turn signals, and are reminded "keep right except to pass" every 2 miles. Unless there are a lot of blatantly illiterate people driving around, they just don't care about the conventions of the road, and I doubt education is going to change that.

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