Driving instructor advises zipper merge during construction

It’s full-blown construction season in Regina and a good time to review what it means to zipper merge.

Drivers in the lane that ends should drive all the way up to the end point, then merge into the open lane when safe.

Those in the open lane should let one vehicle in.

It ensures that both lanes are used.

“If you don’t use that zipper move, the one lane is going to get backed up for miles. It’s going to cause problems,” said local driving instructor Ken Locke.

“If everybody works together, it’s more of a friendly situation, right? Everybody appreciates it when you’re stuck in one lane and the guy lets you in, right? That’s nice. And then you let somebody else in,” he said.

SGI started including the practice in its Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook a few years ago.

To make it work, Locke encouraged drivers not to be selfish.