From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Terri Hyle
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 1:33 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Winona] Event planning for Winona, and what it means
Sure, I know the rule about uncontrolled intersections. But I also know as a relative new-comer to Winona (I've lived here only 14 years) that many people move to Winona or visit our city, coming from cities and towns where all intersections were controlled. This creates a completely different set of expectations and driving habits than slowing down at each intersection. If you have lived your life in towns where all intersections are controlled, you naturally believe as you travel down a street and see no stop sign or light that you have the right of way and drive accordingly. I have seen accidents outside my home (I live the second house from the corner) where each driver went through the intersection, believing he/she had the right of way. In two cases, vehicles ended up in the middle of the front yard of my neighbor on the corner. A few more yards, and the vehicles would have taken out part of the house. And it was just luck that no children were playing on the sidewalk at the time. A neighbor who lives across the intersection has lost part of their fence because of car accidents. Fortunately, the intersection is now controlled, and I have not seen any accidents at the intersection since the stop signs were installed.
Traffic rules only work if everyone knows them and understands which rules
are in place. That may work well for people who grew up in Winona, but for
transplants, and visitors, it takes some getting used to. In the meantime,
unfortuantely, there are accidents.
GS opines: Drivers are required to know the rules and to apply them correctly. That should include determining by observation whether an intersection is controlled or uncontrolled. It is possible (at the vast majority of intersections, I can't recall one where I could not) to see whether or not there is a Yield or Stop sign on the intersecting street prior to entering the intersection. If you enter an intersection without having done that you are driving inattentively, IMNSHO. I would encourage law enforcement to ticket both drivers for that offense in the situation you described. That may not be possible, but I wish it were.
Further, it would seem to me that one has a special obligation to be attentive when driving in an area with which you are not thoroughly familiar.
Glen Schumann
Winona, MN
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