Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Flashing Yellow Arrow Goes All Over Texas Now
Posted 07-02-2015 at 03:55 PM by case44
A few years ago, I did a blog chickenscratch on the new phenomenon in traffic navigation called the flashing yellow arrow. Basically, every state and every city, burg, and town will eventually feature this new feature, intended to make people yield while waiting to make a left turn opposite traffic passing in the other direction.
I mentioned Frisco, Texas, as a location that is putting all of it together. Today, most eligible intersections have already converted to FYA in Frisco, and this could become the first city in Texas (and, perhaps, the nation) to be completely transformed to this newly-mandated process. That solid, stale green ball was causing too many problems, and so, this new yellow flash is doing the trick at helping cut down on accidents at intersections. After all, yellow means yield, so that has to be fixated into the brains of travelers, errand-runners, everyday people, and driver's ed students.
If you look at Texas, just about every major city is getting on board with the FYA concept, but as conditions warrant to replace old signals, you'll likely be seeing this first at places with new traffic lights. Eventually, all the old signals with the ball will be replaced. By the way, in other states where the Dallas turn-lane concept does not exist, it is still possible for an FYA to be used, and that's anywhere there is a turn lane outside of the flow of traffic and opposite a green light in the other direction.
But back to Texas now....
The way it usually works is this: On a four-lens display, if horizontal, the flashing arrow is usually third from the left. On a five-lens display, it'd be fourth from the left (a double-red at the far left). On a vertical display, it's always second from the bottom, regardless of whether it has four or five lenses. In Marshall, Texas, they do it backwards; their FYA is second from the left on a four-lens horizontal.
Guess they just want to be different. Just don't ask me why....
Me, personally? I like this. I've always liked it. It's so much better and easier for many folks to understand when navigating a busy intersection. Can't wait until other places start getting this juggernaut firmly in place.
I mentioned Frisco, Texas, as a location that is putting all of it together. Today, most eligible intersections have already converted to FYA in Frisco, and this could become the first city in Texas (and, perhaps, the nation) to be completely transformed to this newly-mandated process. That solid, stale green ball was causing too many problems, and so, this new yellow flash is doing the trick at helping cut down on accidents at intersections. After all, yellow means yield, so that has to be fixated into the brains of travelers, errand-runners, everyday people, and driver's ed students.
If you look at Texas, just about every major city is getting on board with the FYA concept, but as conditions warrant to replace old signals, you'll likely be seeing this first at places with new traffic lights. Eventually, all the old signals with the ball will be replaced. By the way, in other states where the Dallas turn-lane concept does not exist, it is still possible for an FYA to be used, and that's anywhere there is a turn lane outside of the flow of traffic and opposite a green light in the other direction.
But back to Texas now....
The way it usually works is this: On a four-lens display, if horizontal, the flashing arrow is usually third from the left. On a five-lens display, it'd be fourth from the left (a double-red at the far left). On a vertical display, it's always second from the bottom, regardless of whether it has four or five lenses. In Marshall, Texas, they do it backwards; their FYA is second from the left on a four-lens horizontal.
Guess they just want to be different. Just don't ask me why....Me, personally? I like this. I've always liked it. It's so much better and easier for many folks to understand when navigating a busy intersection. Can't wait until other places start getting this juggernaut firmly in place.
Total Comments 2
Comments
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It's a little depressing, though, when you want to get home and instead of a green arrow, you get the yellow one and have to wait for a few thousand or so cars to pass before it's safe to turn. That's if the light doesn't turn red again.Posted 07-02-2015 at 07:34 PM by shoe01
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Yeah, rush hours at major intersections do need some attention from the green arrow for the protected left turn. Different places tend to time signals differently.Posted 07-04-2015 at 04:56 AM by case44
