Is Being Polite Causing Traffic Jams?

I try to consider myself a polite driver most of the time, but let's be honest, who can be polite when drivers are merging all wrong.

Based on experience, I would have to say on a daily basis, I probably see at least one if not two rude drivers whether it's highway driving or residential driving.

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According to USA Today:

But according to many experts, the driver trying to be polite is probably making traffic worse than the driver who jumped ahead.

Does this mean I don't have to be a polite driver any longer?  I think it all boils down to how well do you drive on Michigan highways?  Do you merge correctly or have a difficult time merging into traffic?

USA Today also tells us:

William Van Tassel, American Automobile Association Manager of Driver training Programs, said that AAA recommends using the "zipper" approach to merging.

I have no idea what the zipper approach is and why wasn't this taught to me back in my high school drivers education classes?

I think USA Today can break this down for all of us:

The zipper method, in which drivers merge late, is based on the idea of a zipper's "teeth."  Just as a zipper smoothly comes together, a zipper merge can keep traffic flowing in both lanes by bringing some organization to the merging process, AAA says.

Based on all of the information I've read, the zipper merge actually keeps traffic moving in a more organized direction.

I'm not sure this will catch on right away but if enough people read about it and understand that the focus here is for traffic to move more smoothly, then it will be good thing for highway drivers.