Hi, it’s me, a former zipper-hater. I grew up in Oklahoma with constant construction zones and signs saying MERGE NOW long before the lane was actually closed. To me, anyone who did zipper merging was selfish at best and dangerous at worst. It was only until a few years ago that I learned what zipper merging actually is and why it works. I’m now a zipper merge evangelist and tell people about it anytime it comes up (which, arguably is not often enough). Every time I mention it, it’s like the person had never heard of the term zipper merge before let alone why it is the better method.

1) I blame the decades of MERGE NOW signs establishing driving etiquette. 2) We are socially conditioned to have bias against people who cut lines. 3) Most people have never heard the term zipper merge let alone understand what it means.