Area intersections get new flashing yellow arrow signal lights

Flashing yellow arrow signals have been or will be installed in nearly a dozen Galesburg intersections.

The flashing yellow arrows are intended to reduce traffic crashes involving drivers making a left turn.  

The flashing yellow lights are hailed as more effective than a green light and yield sign at letting left-turning drivers know they should yield to oncoming traffic. 

They are also supposed to help drivers avoid “yellow trap,” which happens when a driver waiting to turn left at a green light assumes that when his light turns yellow, the light is also yellow for oncoming traffic.  That’s when drivers might be more inclined to make that left turn, thinking it’s protected.  

The flashing yellow arrows have already been added to more than 100 intersections in the Peoria area. 

“The flashing yellow arrow signal provides drivers with more opportunities to make left turns and provides traffic engineers with more options for handling variable traffic volumes,” according to a video IDOT posted on YouTube.

Crews began installing the flashing yellow arrow signals in Galesburg September 26, 2012.  Eleven intersections there have or will have the new signals when upgrades are completed:

1. Main Street and Linwood (this intersection is scheduled for completion in early 2013);
2. Linwood Road and Monmouth Boulevard;
3. Henderson Street and Carl Sandburg Drive;
4. Henderson Street and Home Boulevard;
5. Henderson Street and Dayton Street;
6. Henderson Street and Fremont Street;
7. Henderson Street and Losey Street;
8. Henderson Street and Main Street;
9. Seminary Street and US 34 ramp;
10. Main Street and Academy Street; and
11. Lake Storey Road and US 150 (this intersection is completed but not activated at this time.)

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