Do you merge early? Or do you zip past all the cars before merging at the very end of the lane? Former CBC journalist Tom New talked to Hallie Cotnam on Ottawa Morning about a better way: the zipper merge.

A zipper merge happens when motorists use both lanes of traffic all the way to a defined merge area, and then alternate in "zipper" fashion into the open lane. By doing it this way, both lanes are used right up until the end, which advocates like New think is a more efficient use of road space.

It also replaces the current merging pattern, where early mergers clog the lane that isn't ending until traffic in the lane slows to a crawl, while others speed through the empty lane and then wait for one of the other drivers to let them in. Needless to say, not everyone is willing to do so.

Do you zipper merge? Should <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ottcity?src=hash">#Ottcity</a> go for it? State of Minnesota is sold on zippers: <a href="http://t.co/0RGAvmcGuI">http://t.co/0RGAvmcGuI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OttawaMorning">@OttawaMorning</a> —@HallieCBC

<a href="https://twitter.com/OttawaMorning">@OttawaMorning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HallieCBC">@HallieCBC</a> Oh pls let Hallie and Ottawa drivers listen to the Merge-man! Fill both lanes and take turns. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSA?src=hash">#PSA</a> —@mjmclean