I’m getting too old to accept all these newfangled ideas.
Early in my life, streets that bumped into other streets created an intersection. If the two streets were not busy ones, drivers were smart and courteous enough to figure out which vehicle or buggy had the right of way.
If one street handled more traffic than the other, stop signs were put up on the less busy street. If both streets carried a bunch of vehicles, a four-way stop was installed. Often, it’s difficult to figure out who should go first. I’ve seen fights break out.
Traffic lights became the next big thing. Colored lights and arrows tell drivers when they can go – or must stop. Yellow means uncertainty, testing each individual’s level of risk taking.
Some great brain came up with the idea of roundabouts. This is when all cars, coming from any direction, drive around a tiny circle.
The Departments of Transportation put out “scientific studies” showing that roundabouts reduced accidents by 37%. Yeah, right.
My little town of Carson City has gone nuts. They are installing roundabouts at an alarming rate.
I’m too old for all this progress.