Zippering

You know how sometimes in the States when you're driving along the interstate and you see a sign that the left lane is going to end soon due to construction or whatever?  

You know how sometimes in the States when this happens everyone in the right lane becomes an ass and squeezes those people in the left lane out?  Even riding the bumper of the car in front of them and probably saying something inane like . . . "I ain't lettin' you in".

When I took my driving test way back in 1975, the hardest thing I had to do was pull up in front of the DMV without running up on the curb.  There was no parallel parking, driving in heavy traffic, zippering.

I never quite understood the logic behind those right-laners in the States wanting to keep me over in the lane that was obviously running out, but it all became clear to me after driving here in Belgium . . . because it's AGAINST THE LAW!  

In places like Belgium where there is A LOT of traffic, ALL the time, there's simply no room for psychotic drivers who don't understand how to drive.  Okay, maybe there are a few no matter where you live :-\

Anyway, the concept is called a ritsen, or a zipper in English, and it's part of learning how to drive here . . . AS IT SHOULD BE EVERYWHERE!

Here's  how it works - at least in places where people have learned how to drive.

JUIST = Correct                    VERKEERD = Wrong

That's right, don't even try to get over before your lane ends because it leaves a space where cars could continue to flow and traffic flow is VERY important here.

GOED = Good                  FOUT = Error

Stay in the lane that's ending until it ENDS and then those people who know how to drive let you in one at a time.  Zippering.

ZIPPER = SMOOTH and COURTEOUS

When I took Driver's Ed., also back in 1975, I was in 10th grade and it was taught by my Civics teacher (aka basketball coach).  That alone tells you how seriously learning to drive was taken.  Who better to teach driving a 4,000 pound potential weapon and of course, citizenship than a coach?

In contrast, there are 556 recognized driving schools in Belgium.  That may sound like a lot, but with over 10 million people, it comes out to about 1 driving school per 16,000 potential drivers.  

In order to pass the driving exam here, you will need to have attended one of these schools.  You must be 18 years old and the course takes 18 months and costs around 1300 euros ($1750).  If you fail the test, you will pay an additional 500 euros and get some additional training so you can try again.

They are serious about learning to drive here.  And whether you're in the right lane or the left lane . . . if you decide not to ritsen here, it's gonna cost you 55 euros ($75).

You don't have to speak Dutch to understand this video and you might learn something.  I did  :)