Traffic lights

[florida]

U-turn lanes would be a good idea, or if it's a congested area, do what Broward County does and use U-turn signals.

[Chris]

Interesting difference between the US and NL traffic lights seems to be that US traffic lights are often placed across the intersection, while the Dutch ones are always before the intersection.

The Dutch situation has it's pro's and con's, first, the traffic light before the intersection means there is like 15 - 20 meters (60 ft) less space for cars to wait. On the other hand, when the light turns green, and someone from another direction just crossed a red light, means the traffic has to drive like 1 - 2 seconds first before actually accessing the intersection, reducing the chance of a collision when the clearing time of the intersection is tight.

[deathtopumpkins]

Well I would assume that American traffic lights are across the intersection so cars can stop right at the intersection and still have a good view of the signal. Though I've also noticed signals going diagonally across an intersection to save space... which can create a few visibility issues with the signals.

[Alex]

U-turn lanes would be a good idea, or if it's a congested area, do what Broward County does and use U-turn signals.

Exactly. I skimmed the U.S. 98 Corridor Management Report by Santa Rosa County, Florida and it indicates that there are 125 crossovers on the stretch of roadway through just that one county. Adding signals is all that they have done so far in dealing with the safety issues.

If and when they decide to six-lane the roadway, the narrow grass median that accommodates a one or two car queue will not exist and many more signals will have to be put in place. If u-turn lanes or some other innovative traffic concept is not implemented, it will be another U.S. 441 through Lake County with signal after signal, all not timed with one another...

[Hellfighter]

In Michigan for the longest time we've has eagles, but more recently we've been switching to these.

Also, how do you post street view images?

[Chris]

Also, how do you post street view images?

I simply copy+paste it into paint, and then save it as a jpg, and then upload it to tinypic or imageshack or some other image hosting site.

[Bryant5493]

^^ On Google Maps, move the little orange man to the map. After that, click on the link button and then highlight the html link ("Paste link in email or IM"). That way, you'll be able to view the streetview, without having to use MS Paint. Just found that out recently.


Be well,

Bryant

[Hellfighter]

^^ On Google Maps, move the little orange man to the map. After that, click on the link button and then highlight the html link ("Paste link in email or IM"). That way, you'll be able to view the streetview, without having to use MS Paint. Just found that out recently.

What I actually was asking was is there any way to post the scene without making a link, like posting an image.

[deathtopumpkins]

To do that you would need to print screen, save the image, and upload it to a hosting site such as imageshack.

And for the record, you posted your reply withing the quote.

[Scott5114]

And for the record, you posted your reply withing the quote.

What quote?

[deathtopumpkins]

The one you edited it to fix. 

[Ian]

P.S.S. Where is I.C. in this thread?!

Alright, I guess I'll take part in this. I din't want to since it didn't really have to do with traffic signals themselves rather than the intersections  . But I guess I can think of a few intersections.

-PA 252/Sawmill Rd in Newtown Square, PA. Getting onto PA 252 from Sawmill Rd is a complete nightmare. You'll be sitting at the stop sign at a minimum of like 5 minutes. It is that bad.

-Lang Rd (NH 109)/Tuftonboro Rd (NH 28)/Center St (NH 28-109) in Wolfeboro, NH. The intersection is in the middle of the lakefront town of Wolfeboro on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire. All it has is just one hanging 3 way flasher with one way getting a stop sign. During the winter, Wolfeboro is like a ghost town, but during the summer its PACKED. When summer comes around, the intersection is a total nightmare. Basically its like an intersection in the heart of New York City.

-NH 16-113/W. Main Street in Conway, NH. Conway is a really major mountain town in the middle of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The intersection only has a flashing beacon and at a lot of times, it gets extremely crowded at that intersection plus the rest of the town.

These are the only places I can think of that need traffic signals that I know of.

There was also an intersection by me that was recently upgraded with a traffic signal not too long ago that badly needed it. Its kind of dangerous though because it is on a hill but I'm glad there is finally a signal there. Here is a pic of it: http://picasaweb.google.com/Iansignal/PennsylvaniaTrafficSignalsAndRoadSigns#5338843580510065090 All that used to be there was a single flasher beacon.

Going back to roundabouts and traffic circles, you gotta think of where you are putting them. What I mean is that if you put a traffic circle in an area where they are not used to them, drivers going through them are going to know nothing about what to do when going through it. For example, Pennsylvania barely has ANY traffic circles. Just a few months ago, there was a new traffic circle that replaced a stop sign at the intersection of St. Davids Rd and Newtown St Rd in Newtown Square, PA. I went to go see what it looked like and I noticed that the drivers were totally oblivious to what they were doing when going through the circle. Goes to show that its better installing traffic circles in places where they are used to them like New York, New Jersey, or Massachusetts.

-i

[Scott5114]

Going back to roundabouts and traffic circles, you gotta think of where you are putting them. What I mean is that if you put a traffic circle in an area where they are not used to them, drivers going through them are going to know nothing about what to do when going through it. For example, Pennsylvania barely has ANY traffic circles. Just a few months ago, there was a new traffic circle that replaced a stop sign at the intersection of St. Davids Rd and Newtown St Rd in Newtown Square, PA. I went to go see what it looked like and I noticed that the drivers were totally oblivious to what they were doing when going through the circle. Goes to show that its better installing traffic circles in places where they are used to them like New York, New Jersey, or Massachusetts.

I kind of like the idea of roundabouts in urban areas since they cut out waiting for stoplights. What baffles me is KDOT's pastime of randomly plunking them down in the sticks at godforsaken highway intersections. I encountered one around Garnett after driving across nearly the entire length of US 169 from the Oklahoma border to that point, and, not expecting it, nearly went over the island.

[Bryant5493]

An updated video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nn-x50J-NM


Be well,

Bryant

[Marc]

Texas I think is a little too traffic signal happy if you ask me. I've noticed that lights in Texas seem to hold longer than most states. Lights at freeways (thanks to Frontage roads) hold forever.  My least favorite is a light near my house at the intersection of TX-99 (Grand Parkway) and Westpark Tollway. That light will hold you for five minutes. And TX-99 hasn't been upgraded to limited access at that intersection yet, so you have no choice but to sit through it.

[Hellfighter]

Here's an example of our new left-turn signal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-h7bPSAd1A

[Marc]

Here's an example of our new left-turn signal

I saw several of these a few weeks ago in San Antonio. I thought it was just something they were doing locally there. But I guess not.

[US71]

Flashing Yellow Arrows started showing up here in Ft Smith about 2 years ago.  Initially, there were only 5 or 6. Now, many new intersections with dedicated left turn lanes are receiving the signals and many existing intersections are being retrofitted.

[roadfro]

Here's an example of our new left-turn signal

I saw several of these a few weeks ago in San Antonio. I thought it was just something they were doing locally there. But I guess not.

Nope, the flashing yellow arrow is in use in quite a few places now. It has moved beyond experimental stage and now has interim approval; it will be the suggested method for controlling protected-permitted left turns in the next MUTCD (as opposed to the 5-section heads).

We've discussed it's use previously in other threads.

[Bryant5493]

Is there any signage around the intersection to let drivers unfamiliar with this type of traffic light function know how to approach and utlize the signal?


Unrelated Note: Also, I've been confronted with several differing methods to approaching an intersection that has flashing yellow on two segements and flashing red on the other two legs -- treat it as an all-way stop. The other is to proceed with caution with the flashing yellows, which I think is correct. Also, I know that a totally blacked-out intersection is an all-way stop.


Be well,

Bryant

[roadfro]

Is there any signage around the intersection to let drivers unfamiliar with this type of traffic light function know how to approach and utlize the signal?

Generally, no.  One of the things studied during the flashing yellow arrow research was various drivers' reactions upon seeing various left turn control types.  One of the reasons for adopting this design was that drivers generally understood the meaning intuitively without additional explanatory signage.

Unrelated Note: Also, I've been confronted with several differing methods to approaching an intersection that has flashing yellow on two segements and flashing red on the other two legs -- treat it as an all-way stop. The other is to proceed with caution with the flashing yellows, which I think is correct.

The only times a signal is treated as an all-way stop is if it is dark or if it is flashing red in all directions (assuming there are no other controls, such as police/flaggers directing traffic).

If a signal is operating in a red/yellow flash mode and you are approaching from the flashing red side, you must treat it as if you were approaching a stop sign.  If you are approaching on a leg with flashing yellow, you should slow down and proceed with caution, yielding right of way to any vehicles which are already lawfully in the intersection.

[Bryant5493]

Is there any signage around the intersection to let drivers unfamiliar with this type of traffic light function know how to approach and utlize the signal?

Generally, no.  One of the things studied during the flashing yellow arrow research was various drivers' reactions upon seeing various left turn control types.  One of the reasons for adopting this design was that drivers generally understood the meaning intuitively without additional explanatory signage.

Okay, thanks.

Unrelated Note: Also, I've been confronted with several differing methods to approaching an intersection that has flashing yellow on two segements and flashing red on the other two legs -- treat it as an all-way stop. The other is to proceed with caution with the flashing yellows, which I think is correct.

The only times a signal is treated as an all-way stop is if it is dark or if it is flashing red in all directions (assuming there are no other controls, such as police/flaggers directing traffic).

If a signal is operating in a red/yellow flash mode and you are approaching from the flashing red side, you must treat it as if you were approaching a stop sign.  If you are approaching on a leg with flashing yellow, you should slow down and proceed with caution, yielding right of way to any vehicles which are already lawfully in the intersection.

That's what I thought and pretty much knew, but I see folks stopping on flashing yellows, so I, in turn, follow suit when a light's malfunctioning. Not all of the time, but on a wide heavily congested road.

*EDIT* Additionally, traffic reporters confuse matters with the way that they explain what to do in situations such as these. But the driver's manual does spell it out clearly. (Something nobody reads. )


Be well,

Bryant

 

[US71]

Quote from: Bryant5493

Is there any signage around the intersection to let drivers unfamiliar with this type of traffic light function know how to approach and utlize the signal?

The only signage I've seen is similar to the "Left Turn Yield on Green" signs, but with the legend "Left Turn Yield on Flashing
(<-- ) "

I really need a photo of one of those signs

[Tarkus]

Flashing yellows have been showing up all over Washington County, Oregon over the past couple years.  The one at OR-10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy)/SW 110th Ave in Beaverton was one of the "pilot" ones, as I recall.  ODOT's gotten fully on board with flashing yellow signals, and a recent technical document they published on signals stated that the 5-light "doghouse" setup was no longer to be used.

Washington County's Department of Land Use and Transportation (LUT) has also gone around eliminating a number of fully-protected left turn signals and replacing them with flashing yellows as well.  I'm not really sure how I feel about that yet.

-Alex (Tarkus)

[hm insulators]

These new flashing yellow signals haven't shown up in Phoenix yet; at least I've not seen any.