Left hand turn/ waiting for green arrow to go. (vehicle, red light, left turn)

[rstevens62]

Ive noticed lately that many left hand turn lanes, they have the light flashing yellow, meaning you do not have to sit there and wait for a green turn arrow to turn, But Im wondering why some intersections leave it the way its always been for left hand turns (they have to wait for the green arrow, even if its totally clear).


This just seems like common sense to me, if no one is coming, its ok to make a left hand turn, its wasteful for cars to sit there idling, waiting for the green arrow.

[motormaker]

No can do per vehicle codes, gotta wait for the green if solid yellow.

[Quietude]

In California, left turns were absolutely controlled by the light; you went on a green arrow or not at all.

In Connecticut, the vast majority of lefts are uncontrolled; you turn on green when it's safe.

In Colorado... they're morons. Massive traffic engineering goes into left-turn systems. Lanes separate and curve away from the straight lanes. Medians. And every one of them is either uncontrolled... or a has an arrow that is green for maybe ten seconds, then flashes yellow, turning a guaranteed turn into an uncontrolled one again. This isn't leftover horse-and-buggy or jury-rigged stuff; it's very expensive, focused, new work. (And old work, too, but they haven't changed anything in decades.)

But no, going through a red arrow with open cross traffic should not be a judgment call of an impatient driver.

[AlaskaErik]

We have the blinking yellow arrow in Alaska at a lot of intersections. Where we don't have them is at very busy intersections and at intersections where opposite direction left turning traffic blocks the view of the straight through lanes.

[rbohm]

it depends on how the intersection is controlled. some have no left turn specific signal, some have a red arrow stopping left turns until the arrow changes to yellow or green, some have have a flashing yellow or green arrow that comes one at specific times in the cycle meaning with the main light turns green a yellow arrow turns on and flashes and when the main light turns red the green arrow comes on solid. i ma sure there are combinations i am missing, but the gist is that if there is a red light specifically from the turn lane, you cant go until green arrow comes on. otherwise you can turn when it is clear.

[CALGUY]

You can turn on a blinking yellow arrow, but must yield to oncoming traffic, before making the turn.

Bob.

[johngolf]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

You can turn on a blinking yellow arrow, but must yield to oncoming traffic, before making the turn.

Bob.

Same here in SC.

[WoodburyWoody]

In Minnesota, for left turns at an intersection with signals, a blinking yellow arrow indicates you may turn but must yield to oncoming traffic, who have the right-of-way. This is in addition to being able to turn left on a solid green arrow.

Solid yellow arrow - like a solid yellow light in other lanes - is an indication that the light is about to turn to red.

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/traffice...llowarrow.html

[Quietude]

The blinking yellow turn arrow is one thing, probably a sensible compromise between a dedicated turn cycle and a completely uncontrolled left.

It's the switching from green to blinking yellow, on major intersections, in a fairly short timeframe (10 seconds, maybe three safe cars' worth) that drives me batty here. It goes from being as sensible system to aggravating light-running behavior.

[Cape Cod Todd]

It depends on the intersection and also the time of day.

I have seen traffic lights in the middle of the night blinking red which means you stop, have a look and proceed but during the day when traffic is heavy they function normally.