[zngtk4]

Interesting, my instinct has always been to try to "punish" the cheaters by preventing them from merging in, thinking that this would discourage this behavior. But I can't really stop this, and the article provides a good explanation for why you might as well just let people merge in front of you.

[_cbsz]

The problem is that allowing merges incentivizes zooming ahead in the merge lane, which should result in there still being drivers who can't merge, creating the jam. I don't have a good solution for this.

[zngtk4]

To an extent I think you're right and some people will do it regardless. On the other hand, smoothly flowing traffic creates an incentive to not zoom ahead in the merge lane. There's less of a feeling of a need to cut ahead and people don't seem to do it as much when there isn't already a jam. (That is, the jam provides an incentive to cut in front of everyone)

And if people were to implement this strategy, the provided space gives an incentive for those zooming ahead to merge a little sooner rather than risk waiting half a minute for someone to let them in right at the exit. It's been my experience that most of the "cheaters" will merge a little sooner if there's space rather than zoom up right to the end. They'll still be passing you, which is IMO aggravating, but at least things will move a little sooner.

[dminor]

I used to as well, until one of the cheaters got out of his car and yelled at me at the next traffic light for "cutting him off". I decided that this potential outcome wasn't really worth it, especially since they always find a way in anyway. Another upshot is I also don't have to focus as hard on not rear-ending the person in front of me.