Yield ahead symbol?

[jakeroot]

I see these in Europe a lot, but I noticed a few in Honolulu at a recently re-painted intersection: http://goo.gl/6FyPjA

I've also seen these in that stretch of roundabouts along Interstate 70 in Avon, CO: http://goo.gl/EQNYpi

I know a standard exists for them: http://goo.gl/RpZPYv

Why aren't these used more often? I live in Washington, and have traveled the US many times, and never seen them before. Maybe I'm just not very observant. They seem to do a pretty good job of standing out in the couple of examples I've linked to. I'd imagine they do the same job as a "yield ahead" sign but it would seem like a good idea to maybe do both? Maybe I just have too big of a love-affair with European standards.

Anybody else seen them?

Does a topic already exist that covers this?

Have I asked enough questions?

[Alps]

There are "yield lines", which are supposed to have the same function as a stop bar but at a yield-controlled approach to an intersection. I haven't seen much of the "yield ahead" application in the middle of a lane, but I've also seen zero of a "stop ahead" application as such.

[NE2]

There are "yield lines"

AKA shark's teeth.

[Zeffy]

I think that the yield ahead signs honestly are better used in this situation rather than the shark's teeth / yield lines on the pavement.

or - either of them work in this situation. I tend to pay attention more to the signs rather than the markings that aren't the lane striping anyway.

EDIT: 666th post. Hooray?

[sammi]

I would think the former is preferred in Canada, the latter in the US.

Still, they should probably be used together.

[Zeffy]

Apparently the folks at NJDOT thought they needed to emphasize that you were about to enter the Somerville Circle (read up on it to understand why one would take measures to avoid this at all costs) and added the only YIELD AHEAD with the yield symbol sign I've ever seen. Complete with flashing yellow beacons too. Gotta get the point across: you better know how to drive or you're screwed.

http://goo.gl/maps/74Tyj

[getemngo]

I would think the former is preferred in Canada, the latter in the US.

the only YIELD AHEAD with the yield symbol sign I've ever seen.

Funny how our experiences differ, Zeffy. I was going to say, the only STOP AHEAD and YIELD AHEAD word signs I've seen are on desolate county roads or residential side streets, and usually the signs are 20 or 30 years old...though I'll grant you that YIELD AHEAD with words is more common than STOP AHEAD.

The symbols have been around in the U.S. forever, and each edition of the MUTCD does gradually introduce more symbolic signs. I can't believe STOP AHEAD, YIELD AHEAD, and especially SIGNAL AHEAD are still allowed with words. They phased out similar curve signs decades ago. 

[roadfro]

(...)
Why aren't these used more often?

The yield ahead pavement marking symbol is a fairly recent addition to the MUTCD. Without looking, I want to say it was introduced with the 2004 SHS Book (2003 MUTCD).  This symbol is used in conjunction with a yield line (shark teeth line), which is also a fairly new addition.

The symbols have been around in the U.S. forever, and each edition of the MUTCD does gradually introduce more symbolic signs. I can't believe STOP AHEAD, YIELD AHEAD, and especially SIGNAL AHEAD are still allowed with words. They phased out similar curve signs decades ago. 

Text versions of these signs were removed from the 2009 MUTCD. The most recent manual made many similar changes to increase use of pictorial/symbol signage.

[Brandon]

A sign is far better anyway.  What's the point of painting it when for a few months out of the year it can be covered in snow?

[jeffandnicole]

The ramp from Memorial Drive to Rt. 29 North in Trenton is signed and painted with Yield Ahead: http://goo.gl/maps/ZuWYo

A local town near me recently (in 2012) added some 4 way Stop signs to development intersections.  The "Stop Ahead" signs used were only in words and not symbols.

A sign is far better anyway.  What's the point of painting it when for a few months out of the year it can be covered in snow?

If the road is covered for a few months with snow, the transportation department has some explaining to do!

[cpzilliacus]

In a few European nations, I have seen a yield sign with a "supplemental plate" below with "100 M" or "200 M," to warn drivers of a yield ahead.

Often on a collector-class road coming up to an arterial.

[english si]

In a few European nations, I have seen a yield sign with a "supplemental plate" below with "100 M" or "200 M," to warn drivers of a yield ahead.

It's quite rare, however. I can only think of one near me. Normally applied when the yield isn't visible until you are close to it.

The road marking, on the pavement, is used to supplement the actual line. I'd never considered them as 'yield ahead' until viewing this thread as they nearly always simply replace the sign (though the sign may exist, at busy locations and places where there is snow a lot of the year, covering road markings). The (front end, not engineering) traffic signs manual (.pdf) describes it as "Warning of Give Way just ahead", with 'just ahead' meaning 10ft tops, and not like the Colorado example in the first post, where there's ages before the actual yield.

[Big John]

I would think the former is preferred in Canada, the latter in the US.

the only YIELD AHEAD with the yield symbol sign I've ever seen.

Funny how our experiences differ, Zeffy. I was going to say, the only STOP AHEAD and YIELD AHEAD word signs I've seen are on desolate county roads or residential side streets, and usually the signs are 20 or 30 years old...though I'll grant you that YIELD AHEAD with words is more common than STOP AHEAD.

The symbols have been around in the U.S. forever, and each edition of the MUTCD does gradually introduce more symbolic signs. I can't believe STOP AHEAD, YIELD AHEAD, and especially SIGNAL AHEAD are still allowed with words. They phased out similar curve signs decades ago. 

MUTCD 2003 and 2009 only show the pictorial signs of these.

[Brandon]

A sign is far better anyway.  What's the point of painting it when for a few months out of the year it can be covered in snow?

If the road is covered for a few months with snow, the transportation department has some explaining to do!

I take it you've never been to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during winter.  Up there, they rarely plow down to pavement, even on state highways.  Usually there is a crust of hard-packed snow/ice on the roads throughout the winter.  This crust of ice/snow is mixed with sand for traction.  Any paint on the pavement will be obscured from October through April, maybe even into May.

[getemngo]

MUTCD 2003 and 2009 only show the pictorial signs of these.

Text versions of these signs were removed from the 2009 MUTCD. The most recent manual made many similar changes to increase use of pictorial/symbol signage.

Oh good! I didn't realize this because I saw text STOP AHEAD signs installed at a new rural 4-way stop near me in 2010. Couldn't believe my eyes.

I take it you've never been to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during winter.  Up there, they rarely plow down to pavement, even on state highways.  Usually there is a crust of hard-packed snow/ice on the roads throughout the winter.  This crust of ice/snow is mixed with sand for traction.  Any paint on the pavement will be obscured from October through April, maybe even into May.

Exactly. I have no problem with pavement markings, but they should always supplement signs and not vice versa.