Mind the Flash: New, safer ‘flashing yellow arrow’ signals coming to a northeast Kentucky intersection near you
In Greenup, Boyd, Carter and Rowan counties
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2015) – Motorists will see the ‘flash’ at some northeast Kentucky intersections in the coming months.
And we don’t mean the red-suited comic book hero.
As part of a safety enhancement project beginning today, Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 traffic crews will replace yield-on-green signals with flashing yellow arrow signals at more than 20 locations along state highways in Greenup, Boyd, Carter and Rowan counties.
“Making a left turn, especially across lanes of oncoming traffic, is a high-risk traffic maneuver,” said Bart Bryant, District 9 chief engineer. “These new signals can reduce that risk by providing more detailed information to drivers.”
SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT
In most situations, when standard traffic signals turn green for through traffic, motorists making left turns may “yield on green” and wait their turn to cross the opposing lanes of traffic.
“Our new arrow signals, like ones motorists might have seen already in Morehead, Lexington or in other areas, will provide additional direction and warnings to those drivers waiting to make left turns,” said Terry Ishmael, District 9’s traffic engineer. “These signals offer a safer and more efficient way to establish right of way for left-turning vehicles.”
After installation, there will be four different left arrows that motorists can see:
- A steady red arrow means stop. Drivers turning left must stop.
- A steady yellow arrow means the signal is getting ready to turn red. Drivers turning left should stop if it is safe to do so.
- A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are permitted, but drivers must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, then proceed with caution.
- A steady green arrow means left turns are protected. Drivers may turn left. Conflicting traffic must stop.
Now being used at intersections across the country, this new left-turn arrow configuration stemmed from a Federal Highway Administration study about five years ago that showed the arrows had a higher level of driver comprehension.
In other words, motorists sometimes mistook the circular yield-on-green signal as implying that the left turn had the right of way over opposing traffic, but when faced with flashing yellow arrows motorists more easily understood yield conditions and made fewer mistakes – which resulted in fewer crashes.
In the last several years, testing of the new arrow displays in Kentucky and other states not only confirmed that crash reduction, but also showed they can reduce delays at signalized intersections by providing more choices in traffic signal timing.
NOT FOR ALL LOCATIONS
Flashing yellow arrows are most beneficial at intersections that have lower speeds, lower traffic volumes or have other favorable conditions, Ishmael said.
In an initial phase beginning today in South Shore and working south along the US 23 corridor in Greenup and Boyd counties, District 9 technicians will swap traditional lights for new arrow lights at those intersections where traffic and equipment conditions warrant. Existing traffic patterns will remain the same.
Over the next few months, expect flashing yellow arrow signal installations at the following intersections:
- US 23 at KY 7 in South Shore
- US 23 at KY 8
- US 23 at the Carl Perkins Bridge
- US 23 at the U.S. Grant Bridge
- US 23 at KY 2
- KY 693 (Diedrich Boulevard) at KY 1093
- KY 693 at KY 1725
- KY 693 at KY 1172
- US 23 at AK Steel
- US 23 at US 60 in Catlettsburg
- US 60 at KY 2534
- US 60 at Ramey Street
- KY 180 at Lions Lane
In Carter County, flashing yellow arrow signals will replace yield on green signals at:
- US 60 at KY 1/7 in Grayson
- KY 1/7 at the AA Highway
- US 60 at Olive Hill Elementary
In Rowan County, flashing arrow signals are already operational at the KY 32 and Second Street, US 60 and Bridge Street, and US 60 and University Boulevard intersections. New arrow signals will be installed at:
- KY 32 at Fraley Drive
- KY 32 at Viking Drive
- KY 32 at Bratton Branch
- KY 32 at Kroger Center
- KY 32 at I-64 West and I-64 East
At many intersections, especially complicated or busy ones, the new signals will not be installed and left-turning traffic will remain “protected” – that is, only a solid green arrow will be used to signal when left turns can be made.
