A lane terminates on a road with several lanes heading in the same direction. What should you do when driving on the through-lane?

When a lane ends on a multi-lane road, the traffic in that terminating lane must merge with the through-traffic lane. According to German traffic rules, drivers in the through-lane are required to allow vehicles from the ending lane to merge using the "zipper method" (Wechselverkehrsverfahren). This means that both streams of traffic take turns merging, like the teeth of a zipper, to ensure a smooth and safe flow. It is important to be cooperative and fair, giving way to merging vehicles at the appropriate time. Driving past vehicles in the terminating lane without allowing them to merge is not correct, and making eye contact alone is not sufficient as a clear rule—following the alternate merging procedure is what ensures safety and fairness on the road.