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The concepts of YIELD and MERGE mean nothing to many drivers. Building a traffic system that is based on the understanding of these concepts is thus doomed to failure. Driver retraining and real testing is the only way where the great majority of drivers will understand these points that improve traffic flow and make it safer. So here is the scoop:

• MERGE is used where a lane is available to allow cars to blend in, typically when entering an interstate highway. It is very dangerous to stop in the merge lane; accelerate instead, to match your speed to the traffic you're blending in with. Just like when you were learning how to bike, you have to KEEP PEDALING!

• YIELD also commands you to blend in, except there is no merge lane available. If a conflict would occur, you must allow the other vehicle to go ahead of you since you don't have adequate room to accelerate. (You may actually have to put your phone call on hold for a second to do that.) But if there is no conflicting traffic, keep going: Yield does not mean "a rolling stop."

• "STOP signs should not be used for speed control. STOP signs should not be installed on the major street of an intersection with a minor street. STOP signs should be installed in a manner that minimizes the numbers of vehicles having to stop. At intersections where a full stop is not necessary at all times, consideration should be given to using less restrictive measures such as YIELD signs."

  I'm not making it up - this is what the law says. If you see a STOP sign in violation of these rules, petition to have it removed.

REMEMBER: BEING POLITE TO SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU MEANS YOU ARE BEING RUDE TO SOMEONE BEHIND YOU.

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