You Know You're A Roadgeek If...

[agentsteel53]

It would make sense if it were an uncontrolled intersection, though.  Tho' I've never ever seen one of those with a flashing light at the top.

I would think a flashing light is in contradiction to the idea of "uncontrolled".  the flashing yellow does give the affirmative right of way to the direction of traffic it serves, which is, by definition, a form of traffic control. 

[kphoger]

The way I look at things is that actual right of way is not affirmed by any traffic control device or law.  Rather, all devices and laws restrict traffic.  At an uncontrolled intersection, it is not the case that all vehicles have the right of way; rather, all vehicles are compelled to yield.  If I come to an intersection at which only cross-traffic has a STOP sign, I am still compelled to yield to any vehicles that might be unlawfully entering the intersection.  Likewise, a four-way flashing yellow light would indicate to me: Slow down, watch out, prepare to yield.  Not:  no need to yield, everyone else should yield to you.

[english si]

Flashing yellows don't give right-of-way (or say that you have priority), nor are they the same as a green light.

From Michigan's (and other states') turn arrows to rule 196 of the UK's Highway Code (about Pelican crossings):

When the amber light is flashing, you MUST give way to any pedestrians on the crossing. If the amber light is flashing and there are no pedestrians on the crossing, you may proceed with caution.

to Malta's use (they do something similar to the traffic signal in Cars with many of their signalised junctions - 4-way flashing amber at night) it is clear that it means that you can go, but you don't have priority: "proceed with caution" (to take the words directly out of rule 48 of Malta's Highway Code.

So flashing yellow means that you don't have priority and you are asked to proceed with caution in 3 different jurisdictions (and IIRC everywhere across the world that uses them). Seems like the junction would work well when traffic levels are low - like at night.

[agentsteel53]

here in the US I'm used to flashing yellow being paired solely with flashing red, at intersections ranging from medium (20-25mph) to moderately high speed (as much as 65).  They are the sort of intersection where I anticipate visibility of the side streets proportional to the speed of travel, mainly so I can judge if a car on the side street is about to make a mistake and run the flashing red.

I would never think that the side street also had flashing yellow in the US.  I think to do so here would be inviting disaster.  I don't believe in the US we use traffic signals where it is imperative that one observes the lights that are intended for other directions of travel.  

Sometimes it is helpful to do so (to figure out when your light is about to turn green, or whether it is safe to make a turn on red) but I cannot think of a situation where unawareness of the side-street light could lead to disaster like the misinterpretation of flashing yellow/hidden red vs flashing yellow/hidden yellow.

[Duke87]

You know you're a roadgeek if mention of Tulane University makes you think of roads (say the name aloud).

[Alps]

Vermont has a flasher where three directions are yellow...

[kphoger]

Vermont has a flasher where three directions are yellow...

North Carolina has a flasher who was arrested for showing people his doghouse assembly.

[Alps]

Vermont has a flasher where three directions are yellow...

North Carolina has a flasher who was arrested for showing people his doghouse assembly.

My signal's turned from green to red...

[Duke87]

If you're looking for flashers, they're in the red light district.

[formulanone]

My signal's turned from green to red...

You're just like Crosstown Traffic.

[Alps]

My signal's turned from green to red...

You're just like Crosstown Traffic.

And I've got to get on the other side of town. You know you're a roadgeek when you only know the lyrics to one Jimi Hendrix song and it's this one.

[Henry]

When you were a kid, you liked to simulate road trips with your Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars by driving them all over the family road atlas!

[elsmere241]

You came up with an internal street system for the house and yard - and used tomato stakes to put up a few signs.

[Sanctimoniously]

When you spend years and years making up a fictional state and its road system for your stories, including exit lists and what fonts they've used on their signs.

[Darkchylde]

When the first thing you do when making a map of a fictional area is to make a route shield for it.

[Sanctimoniously]

When the first thing you do when making a map of a fictional area is to make a route shield for it.

Also when you order a state-named Interstate shield from said fictional state from the shield gallery.

[agentsteel53]

Also when you order a state-named Interstate shield from said fictional state from the shield gallery.

I think you need a US and state route to go with it 

[hm insulators]

Vermont has a flasher where three directions are yellow...

North Carolina has a flasher who was arrested for showing people his doghouse assembly.

Did he have a big dog or a little one?

[Takumi]

When the first thing you do when making a map of a fictional area is to make a route shield for it.

Also when you order a state-named Interstate shield from said fictional state from the shield gallery.

Or when you order a state-name interstate shield for an interstate that only exists as an internet inside joke.

[agentsteel53]

Or when you order a state-name interstate shield for an interstate that only exists as an internet inside joke.

here I thought I-366 was a formal proposal in the 50s or 60s or so

[NE2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Articles_for_creation/Future_interstate_366

[formulanone]

Or when you order a state-name interstate shield for an interstate that only exists as an internet inside joke.

I think my wife would leave me over that; however, she'd probably forgive me if there was a Springfield/North Tacoma I-401 shield.

[texaskdog]

You know you're not a true roadgeek if your avatar is either I-99 or I-238

[NE2]

You know you're not a true roadgeek if your avatar is either I-99 or I-238

Fuck you.

[DaBigE]

You see roadsigns included in a playset and are disappointed they aren't properly designed to MUTCD standards.