Metro Atlanta drivers & flashing yellow traffic lights (transplants, safe)

[space cadet]

Why do drivers in Metro Atlanta have no idea how to handle a flashing yellow traffic light? Every time I encounter a traffic light that is blinking red on one side, and yellow on the other, the intersection turns into a four-way stop? The only time a traffic light intersection should be a four-way stop is when the traffic signals are completely off, or when all sides are blinking red. If there is side that is blinking yellow, the traffic on that side of the intersection is to slow down and proceed with caution through the intersection without stopping. The blinking red side is then supposed to treat the blinking red as a normal stop sign.

Signs, Signals & Markings | Georgia Drivers Manual | eRegulations.com


Where I grew up in Ohio, everyone seemed to fully understand these rules. Any theories on why so many people around Atlanta do not?

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by space cadet

Why do drivers in Metro Atlanta have no idea how to handle a flashing yellow traffic light? Every time I encounter a traffic light that is blinking red on one side, and yellow on the other, the intersection turns into a four-way stop? The only time a traffic light intersection should be a four-way stop is when the traffic signals are completely off, or when all sides are blinking red. If there is side that is blinking yellow, the traffic on that side of the intersection is to slow down and proceed with caution through the intersection without stopping. The blinking red side is then supposed to treat the blinking red as a normal stop sign.

Signs, Signals & Markings | Georgia Drivers Manual | eRegulations.com


Where I grew up in Ohio, everyone seemed to fully understand these rules. Any theories on why so many people around Atlanta do not?

Traffic reporters repeatedly tell drivers to treat yellow flashing intersections as 4 way stops. I blame Captian Herb Emory.

[alco89]

I don't think we test people hard enough on these things.

[space cadet]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Traffic reporters repeatedly tell drivers to treat yellow flashing intersections as 4 way stops. I blame Captian Herb Emory.

Well, if that is true, it explains a lot.

This creates an unsafe situation because you have half the drivers who know the law, and then other half listening to traffic reporters. Some are stopping, others are driving right through, and you have no idea what each car is going to do. It really defeats the purpose of the traffic signals.

[atler8]

I've encountered such a situation plenty of times & often at very bust intersections where both of the intersecting roads carry heavy traffic volume.
If the "rulebook" is to be strictly followed as you cited it, the one road wth the flashing caution would always have pre-eminence by that standard and the other busy street traffic load would just sit there..and sit there...
Honestly, I get where your frustration comes from space cadet but I think that what happens here locally is that many drivers are cautious & treat an intersection on its own merits as unique & worth caution.
Unfortunately, there are also plenty of cluelsess/all about me joksters who whiz on through willy nilly. Ouch!

[bu2]

Originally Posted by space cadet

Well, if that is true, it explains a lot.

This creates an unsafe situation because you have half the drivers who know the law, and then other half listening to traffic reporters. Some are stopping, others are driving right through, and you have no idea what each car is going to do. It really defeats the purpose of the traffic signals.

I thought they were just being excessively polite.

[arjay57]

I think a lot of people equate yellow lights with caution. You really don't know what other people are going to do when you approach an intersection with flashing lights, so some people are going to slow down or stop to be sure nobody is sailing through.

It might help if there was a public education program that says "if you see a flashing yellow light just keep going."

[ATLTJL]

I don't stop at a blinking yellow light, but I proceed VERY SLOWLY through the intersection.

That's mainly because I don't trust the others to understand that blinking red means stop. And often, they expect me to stop. Whose fault the accident was is meaningless if I'm strapped to a gurney at Grady, so I play it safe.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I don't stop at a blinking yellow light, but I proceed VERY SLOWLY through the intersection.

That's mainly because I don't trust the others to understand that blinking red means stop. And often, they expect me to stop. Whose fault the accident was is meaningless if I'm strapped to a gurney at Grady, so I play it safe.

Yea the problem with the blinking red lights is when traffic has a blinking red light, there is nothing to tell them is the other way has a blinking yellow or red light. It leaves drivers left to using their own devices to figure out how to proceed unless they catch a glimpse of the other light.

[afdinatl]

These transplants cant drive