The intersection at Warren Avenue and Chase Road in Dearborn is less thrilling than a roller coaster but more dangerous than having dinner with wild bears. And it’s flashing again. 

Starting at 10 p.m. the traffic light at Dearborn’s most dangerous intersection starts flashing yellow on Warren and red on Chase. It basically turns into a stop sign for cars on Chase. But this arrangement is dangerous, given the heavy flow of traffic on both streets throughout the day.

Disclaimer: The Arab American News’ office is on Chase and I have to go through that intersection daily. I have a dog in that fight.

On Wednesday night, while I was trying to make a left into Warren from the northbound side of Chase, a car on the opposite side of the road thought it was its turn to go through and almost hit me. 

But I’m not the only one who drives on Chase. The wheels of thousands of cars roll along on the road’s asphalt on a daily basis.

Chase Road, particularly between Warren Avenue and Ford Road, is one of the most traveled streets in the city.

The speed limit on there is 25 mph and there are a few homes that face the street, but it is by no means a residential road. The street has numerous businesses that open late and it serves as a main connector between Dearborn’s two busiest streets, Warren Avenue and Ford Road. It also leads to heavily populated subdivisions in the area.

After diligent reporting by my colleague Samer Hijazi in 2013, the city changed the light to standard red-yellow-green throughout the day. But now it is unnecessarily back to the old ways.

The flashing light is not the only issue associated with considering Chase a residential road. There is no left-turn light on Warren and Chase. Trying to turn left (south) into Chase, from the westbound side of Warren is like playing Russian roulette (I have narrowly survived this adventure many times). 

The flow of traffic on Warren is constant, especially around rush hour. Hence, only one car can turn left onto Chase per green light session. The turn has to take place at a critical time after the light turns yellow on Warren and before it turns green on Chase. 

The problem is that many Dearborn drivers are adventurous when it comes to crossing yellow, even red lights. While you are making a left thinking that the car heading east on Warren will stop at the soon-to-be-red light, you are often up for a surprise that could be fatal. 

Because of the absence of a left-turn light, many cars are turning into the gas station on the southwest corner of the intersection when the light is red on Warren, which is creating a congestion problem at the station.

We cannot blame the city or the county for the atrocious driving in Dearborn. That is something that our families and community organizations need to address. 

However, the flashing light at Warren and Chase needlessly adds danger to local roads that are already filled with reckless drivers. 

Make it red-yellow-green 24/7 again. Please.