They think we're stupid

[roadman65]

Of course the truck route for route 1 & 9 is for trucks to use.

[OracleUsr]

An aside...what is with the E.I.L on the word "TRUCK?"

[Alps]

An aside...what is with the E.I.L on the word "TRUCK?"

Enlarged Initial Letter? Shouldn't be there.

[roadman65]

Michigan thinks we're stupid as they have to put tiny backlit signs above the signal heads identifying which signal head is for which lanes such as "LEFT RIGHT THRU" on installations that have left turn signals.

I know someone mentioned this before, but this one really takes the cake as if we could not figure that one for ourselves.

[Brandon]

Michigan thinks we're stupid as they have to put tiny backlit signs above the signal heads identifying which signal head is for which lanes such as "LEFT RIGHT THRU" on installations that have left turn signals.

I know someone mentioned this before, but this one really takes the cake as if we could not figure that one for ourselves.

They're not always obvious, and it's no different than placing a "LEFT TURN SIGNAL" sign next to the left turn signal.

[roadman65]

Those LEFT TURN SIGNAL signs are being phases out in many places.  They were erected mainly when LTS were becoming popular as back in the 70s they were not.  This was to alert motorists of the change, however I think we all know what the signal is by now.

I think there are other such issues that could use Michigan Tax Dollars towards.

[pianocello]

Michigan thinks we're stupid as they have to put tiny backlit signs above the signal heads identifying which signal head is for which lanes such as "LEFT RIGHT THRU" on installations that have left turn signals.

I know someone mentioned this before, but this one really takes the cake as if we could not figure that one for ourselves.

http://goo.gl/maps/iHD37

I disagree. If there are three red balls like this, there's no way the driver knows there's a protected left without the signal head or the sign without prior knowledge of the intersection.

[roadman65]

Common sense.  The one that is in front of you is the one for you.  If it does not change for you when the adjacent lane signal does then it must mean for you to stay.

What about the other 49 States that DON'T use those little signs?  Then you have THRU signs above a green arrow that stays on 24/7.  I mean if the arrow does not say enough, then you should not be driving.  Then you could use red arrows too.   

I can see maybe the LEFT sign, but on the straight through it almost ridiculous.  Having one for the left turn signals is the same as the LEFT TURN SIGNAL signs or MOVE ON GREEN ARROW ONLY!

[Brandon]

Those LEFT TURN SIGNAL signs are being phases out in many places.  They were erected mainly when LTS were becoming popular as back in the 70s they were not.  This was to alert motorists of the change, however I think we all know what the signal is by now.

I think there are other such issues that could use Michigan Tax Dollars towards.

Where?  In Illinois, they are a required standard, typically with the legend "LEFT TURN ON GREEN ARROW ONLY".  This is because there is NO difference in state law between a red arrow and a red ball.  Right turns are similar.  "NO TURN ON RED" or "NO TURN ON RED EXCEPT RIGHT LANE" must be posted to prohibit right turns on red.

It's rather nice, IMHO, that MDOT aids you in determining which signal is for which direction.

[NE2]

We're still stupid.

[Brandon]

Michigan thinks we're stupid as they have to put tiny backlit signs above the signal heads identifying which signal head is for which lanes such as "LEFT RIGHT THRU" on installations that have left turn signals.

I know someone mentioned this before, but this one really takes the cake as if we could not figure that one for ourselves.

http://goo.gl/maps/iHD37

I disagree. If there are three red balls like this, there's no way the driver knows there's a protected left without the signal head or the sign without prior knowledge of the intersection.

Here's another example from Hancock, Michigan, M-203 and US-41.



A winter view.



Basically, it's letting you know that you do not have to stop for a right turn.

[roadman65]

This is better than PA having a stop sign with a white sign below reading EXCEPT RIGHT TURN. 

I do think that their backlit signs are kind of cute though.

[Alps]

This is better than PA having a stop sign with a white sign below reading EXCEPT RIGHT TURN. 

I do think that their backlit signs are kind of cute though.

Why is this better? The PA method is explicit instead of implicit. Much better that way.

[roadman65]

Why is it better in Michigan than in Pennsylvania?  Because you have drivers who, I know, will stop even for the right turns despite it being all there in black and white.

Some drivers will see the STOP, but not see what is underneath it just the same way people stop for a green arrow saying its okay to turn right where the turn is protected.  They see the yellow, but either do not see the green right arrow, or they think that turning is optional with a right green arrow and make it their choice to stay.

[Eth]

It's rather nice, IMHO, that MDOT aids you in determining which signal is for which direction.

Because a signal with left arrows on it isn't sufficient to communicate this? (I know, I know, that's another thread.)

[renegade]

They have us bullshitted into believing that we can't make a move without a frickin' arrow to tell us what to do.   

[roadfro]

Michigan thinks we're stupid as they have to put tiny backlit signs above the signal heads identifying which signal head is for which lanes such as "LEFT RIGHT THRU" on installations that have left turn signals.

I know someone mentioned this before, but this one really takes the cake as if we could not figure that one for ourselves.

Isn't this a holdover from when Michigan first introduced separate left turn signals?

IIRC, back then these used all normal circular displays and the "left" sign would light up when that signal turned green (and the through movement was still red) to signify the difference that it was an active left turn movement. Eventually they phased in green arrows, but red balls were still used also so the left sign stayed above (other states would use a "Left turn on green arrow only" static sign in such cases). In recent years, the left sign persisted in some locations even with an all arrow display.

(Not sure where I might've read this, and I could have facts wrong...)

[roadman65]

As far as I remember, Virginia did not use signs nor red arrows at left turn signal intersections.  It had the red ball too.  Being from NJ, I thought that was so odd as we used the left turn signal signs and 3M signal lenses back when I was young.  I thought VA was expecting too much for drivers to use common sense even then.