Confusion only adds to decrease in safety

A priest was recently involved in an accident at the intersection of Highway 151/13 and Highway 100. She stated she thought the intersection was a four-way stop. So we have confusion already causing accidents between different intersection designs: Highway 151/13 and Highway 30, which is four-way stop with red flashing signals and, just a few miles up the road, Highway 151/13 and Highway 100, which is signal controlled.

Now the Iowa Department of Transportation is determined to add another ingredient to the mix, just a few more miles up the same road at Highway 151 and Sixth Street South (Springville). As we all know, this ingredient (J intersection) will be new.

The DOT's reasoning: It's quicker, it's cheaper, it's already been approved by previous city officials in Springville. Their cause for considering a different intersection design from the existing is accidents, which I interpret as safety. How does more confusion equal higher safety?

Jeff Whitney

Cedar Rapids