Say a Prayer

Please say a prayer for all the drivers in this area. The local Department of Transportation has given them a puzzle they may not be able to solve. What is this confusing bit of newness they have had thrown at them, you ask? It is a traffic circle or round-about. Actually two such intersections, and they are different in their traffic patterns. I know you are sitting there in utter disbelief, but it is true. Though these bits of traffic efficiency are commonplace in Europe and even on the East Coast here in the States, they are all but unknown here in the middle of Indiana's corn fields. We are quite civilized in many respects. I don't want you to think that we are all red-necked illiterates walking around in overalls with a blade of hay sticking out of our gap-toothed mouths. We are most of us intelligent, educated, well read, and somewhat well traveled. But this is new to a huge number of our citizens. I admire the way these circles can handle the increased traffic in our area, and I am lucky enough to be familiar with them in my travels to England. I don't know what possessed the powers that be. After all, many of these drivers have yet to get a handle on the concept of turn signals and merging onto highways. This could lead to a huge increase in traffic fatalities. I get to manuever a 36 foot long school bus through these intersection. If you don't know, most people will do anything to stay out from behind any bus. This includes looking straight at me only 4 feet away and pulling out anyway. Then just to balance things out, there are the confused older people who get to where I am waiting to enter the circle and come to a complete stop, threatening imminent collision. They really should have had a required class. On second thought, maybe classes on the use of something simpler like the use of turn signals; and then we can tackle traffic circles.