New yellow "LEFT" tabs on BGSs for left exits?

[lepidopteran]

In the past few weeks, and in at least 2 states, I've noticed the appearance of new yellow tabs reading LEFT atop BGSs.  They are placed on top of the sign, or, in at least one case, made part of a new replacement BGS.  Appropriately enough, they are on the left side of the sign (or to the left of the word EXIT).

Is this a new MUTCD mandate that just became effective?

An example in DC
(WTOP) Exclusive: Southeast-Southwest Freeway signage still askew

linkfix --sso

[jeffandnicole]

It's in the MUTCD, and has been in effect for several years now.

An example:

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/fig2e_14_longdesc.htm

[roadman]

Interesting that DC has adopted the MassDOT practice of providing a separate "LEFT" panel above the exit tab, instead of using the MUTCD standard of incorporating 'LEFT' into the exit tab itself.

[US71]

AHTD is slowly adopting them.

[pctech]

Here in Louisiana , LADODT is using a large all yellow  Left Exit tab above the BGS now. The exit number  and the Left Exit warning are done with black lettering.
It gets your attention, but I think it's UGLY!

[pctech]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4211928,-91.1255004,3a,75y,99h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI9ZwvXf3ZgoiV7KoKrrfXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Hope this works.
I-10 East approaching I-12 interchange.

[Pink Jazz]

ADOT has been adopting them as well.

[roadman]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4211928,-91.1255004,3a,75y,99h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI9ZwvXf3ZgoiV7KoKrrfXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Hope this works.
I-10 East approaching I-12 interchange.

In one word - Yuck!

[slorydn1]

We seem to just yellow the word LEFT in NC:

[jakeroot]

The MUTCD-standard application makes the exit tab way too tall. WSDOT does it right:

[roadman]

We seem to just yellow the word LEFT in NC:

Since 2009, that has been the MUTCD standard.  From 2003 to 2009, the tab was similar, except that "LEFT"  was white on green instead.

[txstateends]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4211928,-91.1255004,3a,75y,99h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI9ZwvXf3ZgoiV7KoKrrfXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Hope this works.

The link works, but the sign *doesn't*!!

Making the whole tab yellow just washes all the text out.  The only way it would be worse would be if it were construction-orange.  And the anti-Clearviewers will pounce all over the I-10 and I-12 shields.

[Revive 755]

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4211928,-91.1255004,3a,75y,99h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI9ZwvXf3ZgoiV7KoKrrfXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Hope this works.
I-10 East approaching I-12 interchange.

In one word - Yuck!

Yuck is an understatement.

Additionally, I am counting five down arrows on the signs, but only four lanes.  An arrow per lane sign should have been used here instead.

The MUTCD requirement for the left tabs had a compliance date of December 31, 2014 (source)- it appears many places failed to meet this date.

[txstateends]

The MUTCD-standard application makes the exit tab way too tall. WSDOT does it right:

Now that I see this adjacent horizontal version, I rather like it over the stacked vertical the MUTCD calls for.  The exception would probably be if the main BGS is of a narrow width, making the tab longer, with an overhanging effect.

[doogie1303]

Here is an example where the entire exit tab is yellow:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6805187,-71.5699476,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3O0cS0b0qVVVPlZPhgvvMg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[Stratuscaster]

Crappy examples of the standard in Illinois:
https://goo.gl/maps/j8sI5
https://goo.gl/maps/xOPB2

Even more crappy when the BGS is very wide:
https://goo.gl/maps/smTDW

They've since gone to a "non-stacked" LEFT EXIT on some signs - which is much better.

[roadman65]

Here is an example where the entire exit tab is yellow:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6805187,-71.5699476,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3O0cS0b0qVVVPlZPhgvvMg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I got a link to a signalized intersection somewhere in Rhode Island with the new flashing arrow left.

[Tom958]

The MUTCD-standard application makes the exit tab way too tall. WSDOT does it right:

Now that I see this adjacent horizontal version, I rather like it over the stacked vertical the MUTCD calls for.  The exception would probably be if the main BGS is of a narrow width, making the tab longer, with an overhanging effect.

Well, if the exit tabs are indexed to the left, which Washington doesn't do, then the "left" tab is redundant. 

Not that anyone cares, but I despise the 2009 MUTCD.

[JoePCool14]

If IDOT used the WSDOT solution, they probably wouldn't look as bad.

I don't recall any off the top of my head, if there are any, but has ISTHA done any LEFT exit tabs? Or even any left exits for that matter to this point...

Well I don't know if this counts or not, because it might be a contractor sign. The Exit legend is a bit shifted, but other than that its pretty standard. Image captured from GMSV.

[WillWeaverRVA]

We seem to just yellow the word LEFT in NC:

Since 2009, that has been the MUTCD standard.  From 2003 to 2009, the tab was similar, except that "LEFT"  was white on green instead.

Virginia has been doing it the same way as NC, although only on new signs:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.6523719,-77.4234093,3a,75y,283.32h,89.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAu4Ns6AqT34IaqGvsqZ8Qw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[JMoses24]

At last check, the signage for 2 of the 3 remaining left exits (Exit 2, Harrison Avenue and exit 10B, Galbraith Road, both on Northbound I-75) only have yellow-on-black LEFT copy on advance signage, for example "LEFT 1/4 Mile", not on exit tabs. Another, Exit 9 on eastbound I-74 which is for northbound I-275, DID have a left tab on advance signage but not for the exit itself when GSV passed through in October of last year. When I get back out that way coming up in September, I'll take a look and see if that remains. The other left exit in the district, Exit 3 for Hopple Street on northbound I-75, has been converted to a traditional right-hand exit, but when GSV passed through there last September, it didn't have left tabs. So, at least in District 8, ODOT is scattershot on the implementation of LEFT tabs.

[doogie1303]

Here is an example where the entire exit tab is yellow:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6805187,-71.5699476,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3O0cS0b0qVVVPlZPhgvvMg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I got a link to a signalized intersection somewhere in Rhode Island with the new flashing arrow left.

Yes the FYA is in Coventry on Rte 3. I posted about it in the FYA thread.

[Brandon]

If IDOT used the WSDOT solution, they probably wouldn't look as bad.

I don't recall any off the top of my head, if there are any, but has ISTHA done any LEFT exit tabs? Or even any left exits for that matter to this point...

Well I don't know if this counts or not, because it might be a contractor sign. The Exit legend is a bit shifted, but other than that its pretty standard. Image captured from GMSV.

Your photo is the rare ISTHA left exit installation.  You can tell it's an ISTHA sign, not an IDOT sign from the placement of the "TOLL" and "EAST".

ISTHA:

{94} TOLL
        EAST

IDOT:

TOLL
{94} EAST

[roadman65]

I have seen some around on ramps without exit numbers.  They are popping up more and more on many state freeways and maybe even some arterials.

[1995hoo]

I have seen some around on ramps without exit numbers.  They are popping up more and more on many state freeways and maybe even some arterials.

We have a good number of "Left Exit" tabs here without exit numbers, primarily (but not exclusively) in the HO/T lanes where most (but again, not all) exits are on the left and all the exits are unnumbered. The style they used varies. There are some that don't say "exit," perhaps because "Exit Only" was deemed sufficient (note I don't know if that was the rationale, I'm just guessing).....




....there are some that have the "Left Exit" tab all in yellow (see the sign to the far left; this sign has been modified since my dashcam took this, but the exit tab remains as seen here)....




....and there are some that use the black-on-yellow only for the word "left," such as these monstrosities near the Pentagon. (Edited to note–in case it's not clear, the left exit tab is not the reason for my calling them "monstrosities"!)