‘Minnesota Nice’ Doesn’t Work at Four-Way Stops

Here in Minnesota, we're known for being...nice. Which seems to be true. For the most part, we are polite and helpful to our fellow citizens. But when it comes to an intersection with a four-way stop, it seems we're a little TOO nice.

On my drive into the Quick Country 96.5 Communications Complex along 6th Street in southwest Rochester, I routinely encounter four different intersections with four-way stop signs. Heading east from Highway-52, there are four-way stops at 6th St. and 14th Av.; 6th St. and 10th Av.; a newly-added four-way stop at 6th St. and 6th Av.; and finally one last four-way stop at 6th St. and 4th Av.

And, when there's traffic, it seems NOBODY knows when to proceed through the intersection! Have you noticed this? EVERYBODY just sits there and waits; nobody wants to be seen as the pushy jerk who just plows through the intersection first. But somebody has to go-- and it's not that tough to figure out! Come on, people,  whoever got there first, goes first. But, somebody-- anybody-- make a move, would you?!?

This video seems to sum up how us Minnesotans behave at a four-way stop. Even though this video was made in Canada, it seems they share our Minnesota 'niceness' when it comes to this driving behavior. Check it out...