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The flashing yellows are a great idea and make perfect sense.
I can't believe there are people out there struggling with this.
I'm not struggling with how they work, I'm struggling with how they were implemented. I'm also struggling with the little kid that was killed the other day when someone else struggled with how they worked.
Online comments about this are full of people posting about how smart they are and how quickly they figured it out. The fact remains that not everyone is as smart as you and people ARE having problems with the lights. People that are driving 3000lb projectiles. All it would have taken is the same sort of campaign that was used for the metered on-ramps lights.
You may be the smartest fella in your neck of the woods, but all it takes is a slightly less smart grandma heading your direction in a Crown Vic, not aware of the change, to ruin your day.
I'm not struggling with how they work, I'm struggling with how they were implemented. I'm also struggling with the little kid that was killed the other day when someone else struggled with how they worked.
Online comments about this are full of people posting about how smart they are and how quickly they figured it out. The fact remains that not everyone is as smart as you and people ARE having problems with the lights. People that are driving 3000lb projectiles. All it would have taken is the same sort of campaign that was used for the metered on-ramps lights.
You may be the smartest fella in your neck of the woods, but all it takes is a slightly less smart grandma heading your direction in a Crown Vic, not aware of the change, to ruin your day.
RED = STOP
GREEN = GO
YELLOW = Yield, proceed with caution or, imminent signal change depending on placement of the signal or sign
nowhere in the USA does YELLOW mean "right of way".
Every flashing yellow arrow I have seen has a sign right next to the signal which clearly states:
"Left Turn YIELD on Flashing Yellow"
How much clearer can it be?
That's not intelligence that's knowledge one is assumed to possess if they are operating an automobile on public roads. If someone cannot understand this sign they likely lack the basic skills and should not be driving.
RED = STOP
GREEN = GO
YELLOW = Yield, proceed with caution or, imminent signal change depending on placement of the signal or sign
nowhere in the USA does YELLOW mean "right of way".
Every flashing yellow arrow I have seen has a sign right next to the signal which clearly states:
"Left Turn YIELD on Flashing Yellow"
How much clearer can it be?
That's not intelligence that's knowledge one is assumed to possess if they are operating an automobile on public roads. If someone cannot understand this sign they likely lack the basic skills and should not be driving.
Humans operate on habit and learned responses. Something they have done every day for 40 years all of a sudden changes without warning, while they are traveling 45 mph, and they may not respond and re-learn in milliseconds like you. Yes, there IS a sign next to the yellow arrow that explains it. But that would require stopping and reading it. Would you say its safe to stop on our roadways to read every new sign that pops up?
You can say whatever you want, yes you won, you are smart and figured it out. Not everyone did. At least one little kid is dead because of that. I've seen countless close calls by people not knowing what to do.
Why are you against a little heads up on the changes to make EVERYONE'S travels a little safer? Even for the smartest amongst us like you?
Humans operate on habit and learned responses. Something they have done every day for 40 years all of a sudden changes without warning, while they are traveling 45 mph, and they may not respond and re-learn in milliseconds like you. Yes, there IS a sign next to the yellow arrow that explains it. But that would require stopping and reading it. Would you say its safe to stop on our roadways to read every new sign that pops up?
You can say whatever you want, yes you won, you are smart and figured it out. Not everyone did. At least one little kid is dead because of that. I've seen countless close calls by people not knowing what to do.
Why are you against a little heads up on the changes to make EVERYONE'S travels a little safer? Even for the smartest amongst us like you?
There is a heads up - the sign the city placed next to every flashing yellow signal now in operation.
This, coupled with the color chosen for the signal - yellow - should automatically signal to drivers to "slow down", "yield" or, "proceed with caution". That's what "yellow" means when used as a traffic signal.
Anyone who approaches a yellow anything on the road and does not use caution is not using common sense.
If the signal was a flashing green arrow I would agree with you 100%. If the signal had no sign next to it explaining what it meant I would agree with you 100% too.The correct color of caution and yield right of way was used and a sign providing instruction is supplies. There is little left to interpretation.
The first time I ever saw one of these lights was a few weeks ago here in Vegas. The first time I saw the yellow flashing arrow I had no idea what it was. I slowed by approach (as it's yellow), looked up at the signal as I slowed to a stop, noticed the sign right next to the signal and read it, waited for a safe break in oncoming traffic, then turned. Why on earth would I assume I had the right of way on any yellow light, especially when it's doing something I've never seen it do before? I don't see where any great intelligence was used just common sense.
There is a heads up - the sign the city placed next to every flashing yellow signal now in operation.
This, coupled with the color chosen for the signal - yellow - should automatically signal to drivers to "slow down", "yield" or, "proceed with caution". That's what "yellow" means when used as a traffic signal.
Anyone who approaches a yellow anything on the road and does not use caution is not using common sense.
If the signal was a flashing green arrow I would agree with you 100%. If the signal had no sign next to it explaining what it meant I would agree with you 100% too.The correct color of caution and yield right of way was used and a sign providing instruction is supplies. There is little left to interpretation.
The first time I ever saw one of these lights was a few weeks ago here in Vegas. The first time I saw the yellow flashing arrow I had no idea what it was. I slowed by approach (as it's yellow), looked up at the signal as I slowed to a stop, noticed the sign right next to the signal and read it, waited for a safe break in oncoming traffic, then turned. Why on earth would I assume I had the right of way on any yellow light, especially when it's doing something I've never seen it do before? I don't see where any great intelligence was used just common sense.
+1 nicely put.. anyone who can't figure it out should not have a license.. I know that's a whole 'nother can of worms, but anyone who is "65 and driving a crown vic" probably does not have the reflexes needed in today's traffic to operate safely.
I'm usually too drunk, or busy texting to notice the yellow lights.
Just kidding of course. They are trying to solve the problem with idiots not understanding how to turn on green. It won't work, can't cure stupidity.
Did you guys know that 80% of American's think they are smarter than average?
How many of them do you think know what left of center means?
This is not the reason the flashing yellow arrow was created. Turn on circular green causes a hazard known as "yellow trap" if the circular green facing one direction ends earlier than the circular green facing the opposite direction. It is unsafe to end a permissive turn at that time, but that is exactly what the circular green left turn does.
Flashing yellow arrows cure yellow trap. The timing of the flashing yellow arrow is always the timing of the oncom8ing circular green, not the timing of the circular green facing the left turning driver. Thus, the flashing yellow arrow can still be flashing while the circular signals facing the same way are red.
Usually drivers who run a flashing yellow arrow think it is a steady yellow arrow ending the green arrow. Most if these drivers are from places where flashing yellow arrows have not yet been in use.
But the sign is quite informative.
We gain several benefits from the flashing yellow arrows:
1. Left turns can be made during a larger portion of the cycle, saving gasoline.
2. Left turn modes can be freely changed between exclusively protected, protected/permissive, and exclusively permissive, depending on either time of day or traffic levels.
3. Left turn sequences can be switched around at will without causing yellow trap. Possible sequences are dual lead, dual lag, and lead-lag.
4. The availability of lead-lag with permissive turns allows progressed green lights in BOTH DIRECTIONS on more two-way streets.
5. Progressed green lights means fewer stops, saving gasoline.
Nothing was wrong with that, although I do not recall seeing it in my area. What I saw, and still see at Flamingo and Maryland for example, is a green left turn arrow turning into a yellow, then red. You have to wait for the next light to get through. This can last for even 3 lights sometimes when it doesn't need to.
Yellow trap is what is wrong with left turn on circular green.
Yellow trap happens if the circular green for one direction on a street ends before the circular green facing the other way on the same street. A left turning driver thinks both ended at the same time, and turns across live traffic, causing an accident.
Turning in to Orleans off of Arville used to have the left green arrow to solid green yield left turn. Now it's just flashing yellow arrow, no solid green "your turn". When traffic is heavy on Arville I've sat through 3 light cycles before I managed to sneak in. Terrible design.
The biggest problem I see with this was they just appeared one day. No warning or PSA to get us used to the idea like there was with the metered freeway on-ramps. Heck, they drone on and on about school being back in session for a month beforehand. Now they are saying the flashing yellows have reduced left turn accidents by 23%. I don't believe it for a second. Just watch the people trying to figure them out. Sounds like they are making up phoney statistics to make up for a very badly implemented, tax funded project.
The only difference between the left turn on a circular green and left turn on flashing yellow arrow is the meaning given by the indication to traffic that is not turning left. And that makes the difference between causing yellow trap and curing it.
Yellow signals are supposed to mean caution. The theory behind the flashing yellow lights is (1) standardize the signals to match the majority of the country (Most cities especially rural ones use the flashing yellow light or "ball" (mostly late at night) and yellow arrows to help the flow of turning traffic and (2) the green ball signaled to some errant drivers that it was safe to pull out in front of oncoming traffic thinking that it was a protected turn (meaning the other side had a red light) and turn without yielding causing accidents.
Most of the signals in the SW corner have the new yellow flashers and I personally like them. Like a previous poster said, it will take some time to get used to them but after a few years it will be like second nature.
On page 22 of the NV DMV driver license handbook explains the signals. "A yellow light means CAUTION. A steady yellow light is a warning that the light will be turning red. If you have not entered the intersection, you must stop. If you are already in the intersection, you should
continue moving and clear it safely. DO NOT speed up to “beat the light.” A flashing yellow light means you may go ahead, but proceed with caution. A solid yellow arrow means the
signal is going to change to red and warns you to clear the intersection. A flashing yellow arrow means you must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. You may complete the turn when it is safe to do so."
But then the true problem that arises here in the valley...do most drivers even read these books when they get their drivers license. Just look at your nearest 4-way stop sign intersection on a busy afternoon. No matter what you do...if you drive in Las Vegas you take an inherent risk, from untrained drivers, drunk drivers, vacationing visitors mesmerized by the lights of the casinos instead of paying attention to the road, pedestrians that like to play chicken with cars, pedestrians that like to wear all black that like to play chicken with cars on a darkened street at night...and then add 2 drops of rain on the pavement and you have an all new degree of entertainment.
A flashing yellow light also means you have to yield to oncoming traffic if turning left, and to pedestrians if turning either way.
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