New, flashing yellow arrow signals to be installed in Port St. Lucie |
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – Drivers will soon see a new kind of traffic light with flashing yellow arrows at twenty (20) Port St. Lucie intersections that aim to provide safer, more efficient left turns.
The flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal heads are designed to improve drivers’ understanding of left-turn traffic signal displays, and they will first be installed along heavily traveled St. Lucie West Boulevard.
“Typically, drivers may see a green solid ball when they need to make a left-turn and yield to oncoming traffic”, stated Paul Johnson, Port St. Lucie’s Traffic Operations Administrator. “Now, drivers at the intersections of NW Peacock Blvd will see a flashing yellow light instead, to increase driver awareness and reduce crashes.”Port St. Lucie’s Public Works Department plans to complete installation of the new style traffic signal head, commonly called a “Flashing Yellow Arrow” left turn signal head, at the following intersections by September 2022:
A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are permitted, but commuters must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and then proceed with caution. The flashing yellow arrow does not replace the solid yellow arrow and its meaning, a red arrow still restricts the left turn movements. Drivers should always remember that a flashing yellow arrow means turn with caution.Electronic message boards will be placed at intersections to advise motorists of signal modifications before, during and after completion. The signal modifications will be implemented as a phased approach Citywide, as funding allows. All redesigned and new signals will include flashing yellow arrows for the appropriate vehicle movements.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, left-turn crashes are some of the most common types of crashes, after rear-end crashes, with some studies showing they represent almost 20 percent of all car accidents. A national study demonstrated drivers had fewer crashes with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow than with the traditional, yielding left-turn indication.Click here to learn how Port St. Lucie is making our roadways safer.
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