Why do we think that we can turn right on red, no matter what? Many people don’t even look to see if a car is coming. I’m sure they think that a ‘right on red’ translates into ‘green.’ It doesn’t. I believe it is legal only to make a right turn on red if you come to a complete stop first. Also, it is important to remember that a green left arrow has right of way over your right turn on red. Right on red is conditional on other situations. It’s not a slam dunk.

Regarding any complaints about cops stopping people who illegally make right hand turns on a red light, I have only one or two or three things to say: No right turn, no right turn, no right turn. Do we need 4 signs? I think it would be fun to have bleachers set up across the street, and every time a cop is there (which isn’t very often - I know because I work at the Library) and applaud every time someone (obviously blind) turns right when he/she shouldn’t and gets stopped. By the way, there is always a reason for a ‘no turn on red’ and it has to do with visibility in every case. When a traffic engineer measures distances, speeds, and stopping capabilities, he knows what he’s doing. And it’s for your benefit. Quit whining and obey those very visible signs.

Do we all know what to do when a red traffic light is blinking? The intersection immediately becomes a 4-way stop. All traffic stops, then resumes, in the order of arrival. If 2 cars arrive at the same time, the right of way goes to the car on your right. Just pretend you still live in Connecticut, the home of the 4-way stops!

Coco’s Café and Bakery’s Outstanding Volunteers for December: Congratulations to Hal St. Clair and Ralph Stewart, who work for Neighborhood Watch and Emergency Preparedness in the Crime Statistics Division. Enjoy your lunches for two at Coco’s.