Traffic signals throughout western New York will continue to gain flashing yellow arrows in ongoing upgrades to increase safety for motorists turning left, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced this week.
These intersection-focused improvements will be coupled with other improvements at the same time, granting motorists more time to make turns. Currently, 40 intersections in western New York benefit from the signals, which tack on an extra phase for lights that previously allowed motorists to turn right or left exclusively when traffic was stopped. Traffic officials also hope it will improve road efficiency and save both time and fuel for commuters.
“Flashing yellow arrows on traffic signals enhance safety and help clear congestion at intersections, reducing the risk of collisions on our roads,” Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. “As part of our commitment to maintaining safe, navigable roadways, we will continue to closely monitor the traffic patterns in Western New York and across the state, and we will utilize the latest and most effective technologies to guide motorists.”
Once the changes go through, motorists will notice green arrows will turn to solid yellow arrows to indicate a red signal is imminent, and then turning motorists should not enter an intersection. A red arrow will follow. Once opposing traffic has entered its own green phase, the turn arrow will begin to flash yellow, allowing turning vehicles to proceed through safe gaps in traffic, before turning back to a solid yellow, then red arrow, as normal.