What's an octagonal sign?

I remember being 15 years and 9 months and sitting in the Department of Motor Vehicles, taking my Learner's Permit test for my driver's license on a computer. The test was 20 questions, and I think you could only miss 2 or something like that and still pass. While taking the test, the person taking the same test next to me turned to me and asked, "What's a red octagonal sign?" My eyes went wide, and there is no way, at that young an age, that I hid the "you've got to be kidding me" look on my face.

I was reminded of this episode on Tuesday on my way to drop off DJ at daycare. I going southbound on Manor Road, approaching the corner of Dulaney Valley and Manor Roads. To be fair, this is a weird intersection. Dulaney Valley Road "T's" off at Manor Road. The northbound direction of Manor Road does NOT have a stop sign. The southbound direction of Manor Road and Dulaney Valley Road both have stop signs. To boot, it's very much common place during the morning rush for people to be driving northbound on Manor Road and not give a turn signal that they are turning onto Dulaney Valley. So you really have to be careful at that intersection!

As I was approaching the intersection, I'm watching the traffic pattern of the opposing cars to see if I have the time to make the right hand turn onto Dulaney Valley before the closest opposing car. At first look, it seems like I'll have the time to come to a stop and make the right hand turn onto Dulaney Valley before the closest oncoming car would get to the intersection. But I still have to slow down and eventually stop. It's a stop sign after all. And that I do.

The van behind me honks at me.

HUH?!

I don't get it. It's a RED OCTAGONAL SIGN. I have to *stop*.

The thing that blows my mind is that this impatient person wasn't the first person to honk at me at that very intersection. It's happened to me on some other occasions, too. On one of those occasions, Steve was in the car with me, and I asked him, "What did I do wrong?!" He agreed with me that he doesn't get it either. I was exercising caution and therefore not endangering anyone at a very weird intersection.

Admittingly, I also gave in to my pregnancy hormonal whims, put down my window, and gave him the one fingered salute all the way down Dulaney Valley Road. From my rear view mirror, the expressive gestures from the van behind me were, admittingly, hilarious.

Although my one fingered salute was not exactly appropriate, my stopping at a red octagonal sign that says STOP on it was. If this guy's behavior is indicative of typical driving habits in my area, then I'm surprised there aren't more wrecks at that intersection. I will continue to STOP, no matter how many people HONK at me. Go honk yourself, you impatient law breakers. ;-)