New traffic signs at some intersections may be surprising and possibly confusing some drivers. Dave Werner, vice chair of the Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, has sent the Press-Republican explanations of the new signs, as he does on many issues in his domain.
Here is part of what he wrote recently to prepare drivers for the signs, which say, "Oncoming traffic may have extended green."
These signs "have recently been placed or will soon be placed at strategic intersections by the New York State Department of Transportation in Plattsburgh, Malone, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, as well as many intersections throughout New York state. They are yellow signs with black lettering and are placed at the left-most traffic signal head.
"Just what do these signs mean? It means that, in certain situations, a green signal for vehicles traveling toward you could extend after the signal you are facing turns red. The new cautionary signs tell you not to assume that just because the signal in your direction turns red that the oncoming vehicles are facing a similar red signal.
"Here is an example where these new signs are meaningful: You enter an intersection in preparation to make a left turn. However, oncoming traffic prevents you from making that turn. As you wait in the intersection, you observe that the signal turns caution followed by a steady red.
"Normally, you could assume that oncoming traffic is also seeing the change from green to caution and then red at the same time. However, at intersections where the new signs are placed, the situation could be that even though you are seeing a change from green to red, oncoming traffic might have an extended green, and therefore you had better wait for oncoming traffic to stop before completing your left turn.
"This does not occur in every change of the traffic signal, and hence the word 'may' in the wording on the sign. Whether oncoming traffic does get an extended green depends on signal timing, where vehicles are in various lanes and how the computers that regulate the traffic signal are programed.
"At some intersections around the state, the situation may exist where oncoming traffic always has an extended green. In these cases, a similar sign is installed that reads 'Oncoming traffic has extended green.'"
We appreciate the information from the Traffic Safety Board, as these signs have already begun appearing. (One, for example, is at the intersection of Tom Miller Road and the Military Turnpike just outside Plattsburgh. By now, there are many.)
It's important that drivers not become nonplussed or angry when they see a driver coming from the opposite direction continuing through the intersection. That signs tells them that that driver has the right.
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