Date:
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Contact:
Corey Hert, WSDOT Signal Operations Engineer, (509) 577-1994
Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1618
YAKIMA – Just one day after WSDOT and the City of Yakima celebrate the completion of the US 12 – 40th Avenue Interchange Improvements project, motorists will see the first flashing yellow left-turn arrows in Yakima. Three of the four intersection legs will use this more efficient signal.
The flashing yellow arrow is designed to improve safety, reduce congestion and traffic delays during periods of less congested travel times. Motorists traveling northbound on 40th Avenue, motorists traveling westbound on Fruitvale Boulevard and motorists approaching 40th Avenue on the US 12 westbound off-ramp will all be able to turn left on a flashing yellow turn arrow.
The new signal will consist of four sections:
• solid red arrow – drivers turning left must stop and wait;
• solid green arrow – drivers can turn left with no oncoming traffic;
• solid yellow arrow – drivers need to prepare to stop;
• flashing yellow arrow – drivers may proceed with the left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians;
During the heavy traffic periods of the morning and evening commute, the flashing yellow arrow will not be used because the breaks or gaps in traffic aren’t adequate to safely allow a left turn. During these periods, the drivers will only see the solid green arrow when making a left turn.
The new signal is a result of research conducted by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 3-54. The program found the flashing yellow arrow to be highly effective at reducing driver confusion. It serves as a low-cost measure that greatly improves motorist safety at signalized intersections. The yellow arrow provides a clear distinction between times when motorists who are turning left are protected from oncoming traffic and when they must yield.
View the flashing yellow arrow sequence.
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