Flashing yellow arrow traffic lights--safer? or dangerous? (safety, cars)

[jeoff]

I guess that the DOT have started putting up flashing yellow arrow traffic lights for awhile now, but I've just started noticing them. Honestly, I was a little confused seeng the first one (the function as a yield sign). Traffic folks say they are safer, but in the short-term I think they are more dangerous. It just takes a tiny percentage of folks not to get they are supposed to yield, and think that they are rushing through a yellow light to cause a lot of accidents--just saw one yesterday--terrible.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/DriveSmart/Saf...Pages/FYA.aspx

[primaltech]

I like them. It helps traffic flow, so that you don't have to sit there at a red arrow (with a green light), when there are no cars coming the other way.

[demonta4]

It's basically the same thing as a green left turn light so I don't get the confusion, though maybe a flashing green light would've made more sense for most people. For me yellow means caution, but most people fly through yellow lights.

[Charles22]

Someone's going to mess it up, don't worry.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I like them. It helps traffic flow, so that you don't have to sit there at a red arrow (with a green light), when there are no cars coming the other way.

The concept is fine, I just think that the execution probably results in some accidents--maybe they should use something other than a flashing yellow arrow to signal yield on left?

[cqholt]

The flashing yellow arrow is replacing the existing 5-bulb, permissive, protected signal. National research has shown them to be safer than the existing 5-bulb signals because the flashing yellow arrow reminds left turning vehicles to yield to thru traffic.

[Wesley_]

It needs a whole new color...like blue
Yellow or green, there will be different interpretations for those seeing it first time.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by jeoff

The concept is fine, I just think that the exeucution probably results in some accidents--maybe they should use something other than a flashing yellow arrow to signal yield on left?

It took me this long to determine what a flashing yellow arrow could even mean, and I'm still not sure I do. I mean what's the point? Do we need flashing green lights to indicate that yellow is next on deck?

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

It took me this long to determine what a flashing yellow arrow could even mean, and I'm still not sure I do. I mean what's the point? Do we need flashing green lights to indicate that yellow is next on deck?

It just means yield, and is only used for left turns when the other direction of traffic is on green.

[roadtrip75]

I think the old solid green was more intuitive than the flashing yellow. The flashing yellow makes one think "I still have priority for a few seconds if I hurry".