New flashing yellow arrows to direct left-turning traffic

Do you stay or do you go? Is oncoming traffic stopped? Motorists attempting to make a left turn will no longer have to wonder what message the traffic signal is conveying.

The Federal Highway Administration has adopted the flashing yellow arrow as a national standard for permissive left-turn operations. Several such signals have already been installed in Iowa. Others will be installed by the Iowa Department of Transportation and local jurisdictions throughout Iowa as agencies upgrade their traffic signals or make improvements at intersections.

The new left-turn signal head has four signals (listed from top to bottom).

1)    Steady red arrow: Drivers turning left must stop and wait.

2)    Steady yellow arrow: The left-turn signal is about to turn red. Do not enter the

intersection if you can stop safely. Complete your left turn if you are already within

the intersection.

3)    Flashing yellow arrow: Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians; then turn left

proceeding with caution. Oncoming traffic has a green light.

4)    Steady green arrow: Drivers can proceed with the left turn. Oncoming traffic

must stop. Do not go straight.

The flashing yellow left-turn arrow is intended to:

• Help prevent crashes. A national study demonstrated that drivers found flashing yellow left-turn arrows more understandable than traditional yield-on-green indications.
• Reduce traffic delays. 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. This helps reduce delays at intersections, which save time and fuel.
• Provide more traffic management flexibility. The new traffic signals provide traffic engineers with more options to handle variable traffic volumes.

Visit the Iowa DOT's website at http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/flashingyellowarrow.html to take a look at the new signals and learn more about their use.

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The new type of traffic signal is not yet available statewide. Listed below are contacts for the areas where there is at least one installation.

• Central Iowa: Andy Loonan at 515-239-1996 or andy.loonan@dot.iowa.gov
• Northeast/North central Iowa: Pete Hjelmstad at 641-422-9459 or pete.hjelmstad@dot.iowa.gov
• Northwest Iowa: Dakin Schultz at 712-274-5837 or dakin.schulz@dot.iowa.gov
• Southwest Iowa: Scott Suhr at 712-243-7627 or scott.suhr@dot.iowa.gov
• East central Iowa: Cathy Cutler at 319-364-0235 or catherine.cutler@dot.iowa.gov