SINCE roadworks on the Toneway began in August, motorists have debated how they should properly use the merge lane that has been set up between the roundabout near Priory Fields Retail Park and Creech Castle.
The £8.3 million improvement scheme on the Toneway began on August 9 and will see the upgrading of the Creech Castle junction.
The roadworks aim to ease traffic congestion and improve access to Taunton.
They are due to be completed next summer.
Work on the project was scheduled to begin last year, but it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
What is the issue?
The County Gazette has received several letters about merge lanes since the roadworks began, and the debate has continued in the comments sections of our website and Facebook page.
A Kingston St Mary resident summarised the debate in a letter.
He said: "The reduction of the 'outbound' Toneway dual carriageway in Taunton to a single lane is causing a lot of anger and frustration.
"The problem is between those drivers who, correctly, believe it is right to use both lanes until required to ‘merge in turn’ so traffic doesn’t queue back onto the roundabout, and those drivers who wrongly believe cars should form a long queue only in the left-side lane, and consider any traffic in the right-side lane to be 'queue jumping'.
"This leads to some drivers blocking the right-side lane by pulling halfway into it."
In August, another driver wrote: "Any driver CORRECTLY using the right-hand lane and looking to merge into one is still faced with inconsiderate and poor drivers moving across both lanes in a bid to obstruct them.
The writer continued: "Merge lanes are allowed, they are proper, and people using the right-hand lane are HELPING traffic flow."
A Facebook commenter, who said they work in highways design, added: "Please use both lanes until they completely merge.
"Using both lanes to the full extent increases road capacity and minimises congestion."
Signs have been placed on the Toneway near the retail park roundabout telling drivers to use both lanes when queuing.
However, drivers who use the right-hand lane have been described by some commenters as 'queue jumpers'.
One website commenter said that they will sometimes "straddle the line and block" drivers who use the outside lane to overtake queuing cars or 'weave in and out'.
"I know it's not in the spirit of things but I'm not going to allow queue jumping when I and others have sat patiently in the queue," they said.
"You're not more important than anyone else, so wait your turn."
A Facebook commenter said: "Most people are polite and get into the left-hand lane in anticipation.
"Then there are those who don’t, and it does come across as very arrogant when they race up to the single lane and expect to be let in immediately."
Replying to another commenter asking why people choose to sit in the left lane when the right-hand lane is empty, someone added: "Because it's the morally right thing to do when the right lane merges and there is a mile tailback in the left lane and it allows free passage of emergency vehicles which saves lives."
Another Facebook user said: "Merge and push-in are two different things.
"Most people in the right hand-lane aim to do the latter, so deserve to get hung out to dry."
What does the Highway Code say?
Rule 134 of the Highway Code explains the correct procedure.
It says: "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 road works or a road traffic incident.
"It is not recommended at high speed."
An article on the AA's website adds: "Where traffic is queuing and moving slowly you should use all available road space in both lanes with drivers at the front of the queues taking it in turns to 'merge in turn' or 'zip merge'.
"This can help reduce the overall length of the queue significantly and minimises the risk of disruption at junctions further back up the road.
At the bottom of the article, it says: "The problem seems to be the British obsession with queuing.
"Even unprompted we'll form an orderly queue and wait patiently in line, considering anyone who doesn't to somehow be cheating.
"But next time you find yourself in slow-moving traffic approaching road works or an incident that's blocking one lane, try to resist your deep-seated urge to queue early, use all available lanes and merge in turn when you reach the lane closure."
The RAC has also commented on the issue, saying 'zip-merging' reduces crashes, speeding and congestion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel