double Left turn traffic signals in California

[Tom895]

At some intersections in California. There is  two left turn traffic signals on a mast arm along with supplement post mount left turn traffic signals. For example, at intersection of Hawthorne/ Artestia Bl has two overhead left turn traffic signal on separate mast arm and two left turn post mount near left /far left  supplement signals.


http://goo.gl/maps/CQyPT

[Brandon]

I don't get the issue.  In some states (Illinois for example), it's standard to have at least 2 signals per turning direction.  The local agency here determined that three was good.

[Tom895]

What I mean is that, California sometimes use two left turn traffic on a separate mast arm in the median.

[DaBigE]

I don't get the issue.  In some states (Illinois for example), it's standard to have at least 2 signals per turning direction.  The local agency here determined that three was good.

That makes two of us. Wisconsin installed a few mast arm left turn signal structures as part of the Bluemound Rd reconstruction in Brookfield. Unfortunately, GSV images aren't new enough to show them. And as expected for virtually any signalization project in Wisconsin, pedestal-mounted signals are aplenty as well.

[Jardine]

And a corollary, when there are 2 lanes turning left (at the bigger busier intersections) we seem to have a percentage of dipwads that want to change lanes while traversing the intersection, or immediately afterwards, before the turners have spaced out a bit.

In a couple of local places, there is signage before the double left intersection advising drivers to get in the appropriate lane for a subsequent right turn into a business.  Curiously, the advantage of doing so is lost upon some of the dimmer bulbs we share the roads with, and upon traversing the intersection, suddenly, OMFG!, they're in the WRONG lane!!

Are we asking too much for drivers to anticipate future occurrences, let's say, 20 seconds ahead ??????????

[Brandon]

And a corollary, when there are 2 lanes turning left (at the bigger busier intersections) we seem to have a percentage of dipwads that want to change lanes while traversing the intersection, or immediately afterwards, before the turners have spaced out a bit.

In a couple of local places, there is signage before the double left intersection advising drivers to get in the appropriate lane for a subsequent right turn into a business.  Curiously, the advantage of doing so is lost upon some of the dimmer bulbs we share the roads with, and upon traversing the intersection, suddenly, OMFG!, they're in the WRONG lane!!

Are we asking too much for drivers to anticipate future occurrences, let's say, 20 seconds ahead ??????????

Yes, if you live anywhere near Chicago.

I've found the horn to be a very useful device for these dipwads.

[Jardine]

I've always thought a high powered cutting laser to reduce the offenders vehicle to a few chunks of red hot glowing steel might work too.

[jakeroot]

I can't recall seeing a separate mast arm for a dual left turn signal anywhere in Washington...I guess our expressway-grade roads still aren't as wide as California or Florida.

The widest our roads get are usually 3 lanes each direction. This is an example of a three left turn against three lanes in each direction. Still, the signals for the turn lanes are on the normal, right-side mounted mast arm.

[mrsman]

I don't get the issue.  In some states (Illinois for example), it's standard to have at least 2 signals per turning direction.  The local agency here determined that three was good.

That makes two of us. Wisconsin installed a few mast arm left turn signal structures as part of the Bluemound Rd reconstruction in Brookfield. Unfortunately, GSV images aren't new enough to show them. And as expected for virtually any signalization project in Wisconsin, pedestal-mounted signals are aplenty as well.

I don't think there is any issue per se, but the OP is probably showing that it's a fairly rare way of displaying the left turn signal, at least in California.

It seems to be the best place to display the signal, as the median is right in front of the left turn lane, but having two signal faces up front along with a signal face on the post mount for a total of three signal faces for the left turn does seem excessive to me.

[SignBridge]

The example shown by the OP was on Hawthorne Blvd. in the south L.A. suburbs. I've driven that interesting road and it's v-e-ry wide, I believe 4 thru lanes in each direction with a median and sometimes 2 left-turn lanes. So that configuration of left-turn signals is reasonable for that particular road at least.