Henrico Transportation Officials Installing Flashing Left Turn Signals to Improve Safety

Some left turn signals in Henrico County are about to get a little flashier. At least when it comes to left turns. And it’s all in the name of safety. The Henrico County Department of Public Works will install new traffic signals at four intersections next week to help motorists better understand the need to yield to oncoming traffic before turning left.

February 2, 2012; 3:41 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Some left turn signals in Henrico County are about to get a little flashier. At least when it comes to left turns. And it’s all in the name of safety. The Henrico County Department of Public Works will install new traffic signals at four intersections next week to help motorists better understand the need to yield to oncoming traffic before turning left.

The signals will feature a new flashing yellow arrow, which will indicate that motorists may proceed after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The signals will replace ones that have permitted left turns by showing a solid green circle with a sign that says, “Left Turn Yield on Green”. The flashing yellow arrow will appear during the signal’s normal cycles, which also will guide motorists with solid red, green and yellow arrows.

The Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation have approved the use of flashing yellow signals in light of research showing they reduce the number of left-turn accidents by more clearly conveying that motorists must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.

The Traffic Engineering Division will install the new signals at Hungary Road and West End Drive; Hungary Road and Francistown Road; Gaskins Road and Ridgefield Parkway; and Creighton Road and Cedar Fork Road. Motorists may experience temporary delays during installation.

Engineers plan to monitor the signals for about one month before deciding whether to install them at additional intersections.

February 2, 2012 3:41 PM 0