Flashing Yellow Arrow

[patric]

We let the 'burbs try it first to see if anyones heads exploded, now its time for Tulsa to give serious consideration to adding a flashing yellow arrow at some intersections to ease unnecessary congestion.

"Flashing yellow left turn signals allow both protective and permissive left turns and were installed to ease traffic flow at the intersection.  Previously, a driver attempting to turn left may have sat at a red light while there was no oncoming traffic. The new lights will flash a yellow arrow and allow the driver to turn left and avoid "unnecessary delays" when through lanes have a red light but there's no oncoming traffic."

Broken Arrow and Sand Springs have them, and there was one scheduled to be installed at 81st w ave & Charles page, but has anyone seen one on the city proper?

We have lots of good candidates for congestion-busting; 27th & Harvard (Broken Arrow Expressway underpass clusterflock) would be one place I might suggest.  When I pitched that to the MAC the response was "we dont have the parts, case closed."

[heironymouspasparagus]

I drive through BA quite a bit and those things are truly brilliant!!   Shame someone didn't figure this out many years ago!!

[Cats Cats Cats]

So... its like a green light.

[MostSeriousness]

They were just getting to installing them in my last year in Norman. I'm not sure if there was any noticeable difference between them and other setups (though I only had a few months of experience as a pedestrian and driver on those streets). Other than a lot of vocal opposition to them, which again, was probably finally giving up around the time I moved.

[Red Arrow]

One of my co-workers doesn't think they are so great.  A young driver coming from the opposite direction thought it was like a regular yellow, one you could run because the "cross" traffic didn't have a green yet.  Yep, turned left just in front of him.  Significant front end damage to my co-worker's truck.  The brand new car of the young driver was presumably totaled.  I think it was probably another Master's or PHD thesis that someone just had to try.

[patric]

So... its like a green light.

More like a Yield sign that is traffic-aware.

[Conan71]

What's a traffic light? What's congestion?

Man I feel blessed those days are over for me.

[cannon_fodder]

So... its like a green light.

Yep. This revolutionary "new" traffic device is exactly like a green light.  You can turn left when clear. 

Of course, the concept isn't new and the flashing yellow isn't new either.  You see the sporadically in other places.  I find they cause me to pause for a moment to make sure the light isn't turning red and verify that it is a flashing yellow.

I'm not sure what the advantage is over a green light for "turn if you can" and a green arrow for"go go go."

[heironymouspasparagus]

One of my co-workers doesn't think they are so great.  A young driver coming from the opposite direction thought it was like a regular yellow, one you could run because the "cross" traffic didn't have a green yet.  Yep, turned left just in front of him.  Significant front end damage to my co-worker's truck.  The brand new car of the young driver was presumably totaled.  I think it was probably another Master's or PHD thesis that someone just had to try.

That's more related to the young driver having not retained any of the drivers manual he/she was trained on.  But mostly texting.

[Weatherdemon]

Owasso has had those in a few intersections for a year or so and yea, most folks treat them the same as a yellow light although some are confused and just sit there.

[TeeDub]

So... its like a green light.

Like that, but it costs thousands of dollars more and gives jobs to several brother-in-laws and cousins.

[Tulsa Zephyr]

Next thing you know, we'll have back-in pasrking spaces on one-way streets...

[cannon_fodder]

Serious question: why are flashing yellow arrows an improvement to a solid green light?

They don't bother me, I just don't understand why it is supposed to be an improvement.  If it isn't an improvement, why do it?  If it isn't an improvement, costs money, and introduces confusion... 

Someone cure my ignorance.

[patric]

Serious question: why are flashing yellow arrows an improvement to a solid green light?

They don't bother me, I just don't understand why it is supposed to be an improvement.  If it isn't an improvement, why do it?  If it isn't an improvement, costs money, and introduces confusion... 

Best I can figure out is it reminds people in the left turn lane to yield before turning, as opposed to thinking you dont have to if the signal is solid green.

Ive seen turn lanes pile up because they wait at a red light when there is no other traffic at all.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Serious question: why are flashing yellow arrows an improvement to a solid green light?

They don't bother me, I just don't understand why it is supposed to be an improvement.  If it isn't an improvement, why do it?  If it isn't an improvement, costs money, and introduces confusion... 

Someone cure my ignorance.

Scenario;
Traffic coming the other way has a green.  Left turn green on your side implies you have a right of way.  Flashing yellow left arrow means the same thing, but can go if the oncoming is clear.  Yellow left arrow implies about to change, I guess - also means yield but go.    The ones I have seen, the yellow left turns solid yellow arrow when it is ready to change.   Probably an extra level of 'training' needed, but looking at the sign and the flashing yellow arrow, it is (should be) a quick learn.  Well, for most...