Flashing yellow arrow traffic signals A safer, more efficient
left-turn signal Flashing yellow arrow traffic signals feature a
flashing yellow arrow in addition to the standard red, yellow
and green arrows. When illuminated, the flashing yellow arrow
allows waiting motorists to make a left-hand turn after yielding
to oncoming traffic. Otherwise, the new traffic signals work the
same as traditional signals. Flashing yellow arrow signals have
been shown to help drivers make fewer mistakes. They keep
motorists safer during heavy traffic and reduce delays when
traffic is light. A national study demonstrated that drivers
found flashing yellow left-turn arrows more understandable than
traditional yield-on-green indications (individual traffic
signal lights). There are more opportunities to make a left turn
with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow than with the
traditional three-arrow, red, yellow and green indications. The
new traffic signals provide traffic engineers with more options
to handle variable traffic vo