We're all used to the construction on I-25 bringing two lanes down to one (Crossroads, anyone?). But, it turns out, when that one car cuts everyone in line and merges last minute—they're right, you are wrong. 

Right Lane Closed
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OK, so I am totally guilty of this: Traffic is slowed because two lanes are suddenly becoming one in a construction zone. I've merged over right away, and I'm patiently moving along at a low speed with everyone else, probably enjoying my favorite radio station. ;) Then, there's that one jerk who continues blowing past everyone in the other lane, expecting us to let them over at the last second.

Am I gonna let you in after you cut in line? As if. You get the stink eye. 

Well, it turns out, they're not being rude; they're kind of actually in the right, and I had no idea.

According to Diply's 'Why That Jerk Who Merges Last Minute Is Actually Right,' the Kansas Department of Transportation encourages this to keep traffic flowing. They call it a 'zipper merge,' where you continue to use both lanes, and merge by alternating, rather than all moving over to one lane right away.

It's explained here:

I guess by trying to be polite, we may actually be making traffic worse. Maybe a good thing to keep in mind next time you're in I-25 construction traffic.

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