One thing L.A. does well is its left-turn signal options
QI have been a loyal citizen of the Bay Area for four decades but I hate to admit that when I make my annual trip to my hometown of Burbank in the Los Angeles area their solution to left turns at busy intersections puts us to shame. Compare:
Here, when you miss the left-turn green arrow you have to wait for the red light to go through its long cycles for all other directions, sometimes with minimal or no traffic. Finally, 3 or 4 minutes later you get to go. Very frustrating.
Down there, at many busy intersections at the end of the left-turn cycle, the arrow goes blank, i.e., no red arrow. There is a sign saying that to make a left turn on the solid green you must yield to oncoming traffic.
This works very well and is much more efficient, allowing them to shorten all the cycles. Usually all left-turning cars make the signal.
Imagine your commute with five, 10, 20 intersections. The shorter wait cycles add up. — Dave Marshall, Milpitas
AFewer than 20 percent of intersections in Los Angeles have left-turn arrows, but — get this — drivers in the land of the Dodgers want more green leftturn lights. They complain that only one or two cars can make left turns on solid green lights since many of their intersections don’t have room for left-turning lanes.
Keep going, Dave.
QOn my trip to Los Angeles this summer I noticed a new upgrade to the system.
In addition to the yield message the leftturn signal goes to flashing yellow, just prompting you to do the obvious — make a left turn when safe.
If they can do it more intelligently in L.A., why can’t we?
Don’t say it wouldn’t work at certain intersections.
Let’s give it a try. I can volunteer several intersections where it would work wonderfully. You are our best hope, Gary. — Dave Marshall
AI offer hope. Slowly cities in the Bay Area are installing flashing yellow left-turn signals, meaning drivers can turn if there are no oncoming cars or pedestrians crossing.
Just last week San Jose did this for the first time at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Henry Avenue.
The city will evaluate how things go at that location before considering using a flashing yellow arrow at other intersections.
A Federal Highway Administration study found that the flashing arrows help reduce leftturn crashes by 35 percent.
Experts believe drivers who see a yellow light rather than a round green light approach turns more cautiously.
But other studies revealed that the flashing yellow could increase the danger for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Stay tuned.