Crossed Roads

Most mornings when I go to work I have to stop at an 8-way intersection. The kind with stop signs, not stop lights. I'm sure it's the only one I've ever come across and it may be the only one in Indiana.

It used to be a regular 4-way stop that was a little narrow over the bridge if you went south. Traffic backed up quite a bit between 7:45 and 8, but for the most part flowed smoothly. Then someone got the idea of adding left-turn lanes so now when you stop and look for traffic you have to check if someone is going straight past you, then you can go, probably, unless the person on your left decides to turn left before the car has cleared the intersection or the person on your right is turning right but they have a phone stuck to their ear so they can't use a turn signal and are moving so slowly you can't tell if they are turning or what the *^&% they are doing. Then see if someone is going straight in front of you from the left (don't go) or turning right on your left (it's ok to go if nobody else is). Also check if someone is turning left on your right or going straight past you. (Don't go.) Are you thinking that sounds like a regular 4-way stop, so what's the big deal? Multiply each direction times 6 other possibilities, 7 if you want to throw your own car in the count.

There are 8 lanes of traffic at the intersection with 4 stop signs. So you have to watch 7 different cars instead of just 3. Sometimes people won't take their turns, sometimes they can't tell when their turn comes, so they just sit and watch while 7 other drivers decide to go at the same time. Some like to stagger turns so there are 3 to 5 cars half in, half out of the intersection, going straight, turning left, turning right. Too many people think they don't have to take turns or it's OK to sneak through on their neighbors turn. Some think the intersection means 8 cars can go through at one time so it's every woman and man for himself.

Sometimes you just pray you'll make it, close your eyes, and put the pedal to the metal.

I do think that drivers at that intersection are getting better at maneuvering the labyrinth. I like to think that I've had a lot to do with that. Goodness knows I've given them enough instruction through my subtle suggestions and appropriate hand gestures.