Trying to convince a large group of drivers of anything is challenging — but nothing seems to raise as much ire and contention as the zipper merge.

It sounds simple in practice. As two lanes become one, drivers continue to use both until they reach the merge point. Then, drivers from both lanes take turns moving into the merged lane, creating a zipper effect.

Easy, right? Not according to the headline of every news story about it (including this one, probably).

Many of them outline the social pariah you will become as you embrace this technique, a modern Cassandra speaking her truths from a 2013 Hyundai Sonata.

"It really is OK to zipper merge, even if other Colorado drivers hate you for it," the Fort Collins Coloradoan wrote last week.

"Zipper merge will upset other drivers. Why you should do it anyway," said the Detroit Free Press last year.

It's clear that Sioux Falls isn't zipper merging — all I have to do is look out the office window at the single lane of traffic on South Minnesota Avenue that regularly backs up into the intersection at East 10th Street as roadwork forces a merge.

Many states, however, have endorsed the technique. The Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri departments of transportation — among others — all discuss the zipper merge on their website.

Kansas even explains the process in a video, with two horrific living traffic cones providing commentary.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation was less effusive in its praise, with region traffic engineer Scott Jansen saying the zipper merge "is an option available for consideration when the traffic control needs are reviewed for a construction project."

Jansen added that the zipper merge was used years ago on Interstate 29 "with OK results."

Heath Hoftiezer, principal traffic engineer for the city of Sioux Falls, said the city has talked internally about encouraging zipper merging, but has yet to go all out.

"The tricky part is that without a big educational push you can cause a lot of frustration," Hoftiezer said.

That'd mean a full-court press from the SDDOT, likely involving radio, social media, PSAs, message boards along roads and special signing — all explaining the importance of agreeing to use both lanes and take turns fairly.

"There's a lot of DOTs and cities that didn't feel like it was successful," Hoftiezer said. "You do need the public buy-in."

And a lot of that buy-in, he said, would have to come from simply breaking people's deeply-held beliefs about what is and isn't fair in driving.

“It comes down to getting everyone to realize that it’s an acceptable practice.”