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PaperclipPerfector  13hr ago (text post)   513 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for April 10, 2026

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This is a sensible signal but the implementation around me has been terrible. The left turn signal is a 3-stack of arrows, green, yellow, and red. The first part of the turn is a protected left, so it's a green arrow during this segment. Near the end of the protected left segment, it switches to solid yellow for 3 seconds. Now, my expectation would be that if the next period is unprotected turning, it would flash yellow, and it does, but not before turning solid red for 1 second. Every time I start proceeding on the yellow, expecting it to turn flashing, the solid red causes me to stomp the brakes in case I've made a mistake and the direction is changing. It's infuriating, and I wonder if anybody else has this terrible implementation in their area.

(My preference would be for it to transition immediately from green to flashing yellow - why do we need a warning that we're about to proceed with caution?)

Under MUTCD § 4F.01 ¶ 03:

my expectation would be that if the next period is unprotected turning, it would flash yellow, and it does, but not before turning solid red for 1 second

This is the default under item F.6.

My preference would be for it to transition immediately from green to flashing yellow

This is permitted (not recommended or required) under item F.6.b.

If you feel like making a long shot, you can try asking your jurisdiction about this signal, citing these specific passages of the MUTCD in your complaint.

Steady and flashing signal indications shall be applied as follows:

(F) A steady YELLOW ARROW signal indication:

(6) Shall be terminated by a RED ARROW signal indication for the same direction or a CIRCULAR RED signal indication except:

(b) When the movement controlled by the arrow is to continue on a permissive mode basis during an immediately following signal phase, the display of a CIRCULAR GREEN signal indication or flashing YELLOW ARROW signal indication shall be permitted following a steady YELLOW ARROW signal indication. To provide a red clearance interval, it shall be permitted to display a steady left-turn RED ARROW signal indication immediately following the steady left-turn YELLOW ARROW signal indication.

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