Road Safety – Construction Zones
With the holiday approaching we want to make sure all drivers make it home safely and do not submit to road rage which can cause an unsafe situation.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is urging people to use the “Zipper Merge” at construction zones where lanes must merge.
Many people are not aware of this and that MDOT and the Michigan State Police are recommending this merging procedure so when they see people continuing in the fast lane after notice of an impending merge they feel they are attempting to cut them off. Please be aware that this procedure is being recommended by MDOT and the State Police and if done correctly should lead to faster travel times.
Here is a quote from Michigan State Police Spl/F/Lt. Jim Flegel on using this procedure.
“The zipper merge is when the cars are traveling both lanes as far as you can travel, and then when the merging point starts coming up, that’s when they take turns coming into the lane,” he said. “And that way, it doesn’t have such long queue lines for the construction traffic.”
In any case we are urging drivers to be cautious and patient and to not submit to road rage when people are using this procedure which is intended to keep the overall traffic flow faster.
Have a safe and wonderful Holiday.
Address/Location
Muskegon Police Department
980 Jefferson Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 231-724-6750