One of the most treasured things about my job is the connections I make. Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to interview some fascinating community members. I have had the chance to learn what it has taken others decades to know. I get to retell stories of some of the most personal moments in the lives of another. It is truly a rewarding experience to connect with so many great folks. 

Having said that, sometimes the biggest drawback, in what I do, is everything I just mentioned above and the fact, I only have so much paper. 

There isn’t a story I have walked away from where I don’t feel I could have added this or that somewhere into the article itself. Sometimes those connections make such an impact, I feel compelled to include in-depth details and sometimes, those connections often led to multiple story ideas. 

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of visiting with a motorcycle rider, Erin King, from Casper. I initially interviewed King for information on bike safety and how we, as drivers on Wyoming roadways, can stay safer this year with the influx of motorcycle traffic. However, King was absolutely full of helpful knowledge. Unfortunately, some of that knowledge didn’t quite fit into my safety article. 

One of the things King and I spoke about was intersections and their dangers. She said something to me which really made me think.

“What does the green light mean?” King asked. “Everyone believes it means ‘GO’ but it really doesn’t.”

While taking a trip last weekend, I drove through the town of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on highway 26. There are about five stop lights in a short stretch of highway and undoubtedly, there is a crash in one or more of those intersections daily. 

Now I realize that is Nebraska, but the concept applies here in Torrington as well, even though we just have two traffic lights on our main highway entering and exiting the town.

“Green doesn’t mean go. Green means you have the right of way to occupy the intersection, once it is safe,” King explained. 

“Once it is safe.”  

That means once all of the other traffic has cleared the intersection.

Green doesn’t mean you can just go. You need to look around and make sure the intersection is safe for you to approach. 

Stay safe, Goshen County.