‘I Don’t Get It’ Episode 4: Traffic Lights That Turn Red For No Apparent Reason

When it comes to life here in southeastern Minnesota, there are just a few things I don’t "get." Like why many of Rochester's traffic signals seem to randomly turn red.

Now, I know there are many other things that are more important than this. And, I also realize that the time I head to work (around 4 a.m. each morning) puts me squarely in the minority, but I still don't get why traffic signals randomly turn red -- even when there's no traffic coming the other way!

I totally get traffic signals -- when there's traffic to direct. And during most of hours of the day, their cycles of turning from green to red help regulate the smooth flow of vehicles on our city streets.

But why, at 4 in the morning, do these traffic signals randomly turn red -- even when there are no vehicles coming from the other direction?!?