in my 35 years of driving- I never saw a flashing red left turnsignal cause an accident
 

No accidents at this heavily used intersection with FLASHING RED left
turn signals.
Location: Grand Rapids, Mi; ; W. Ottawa St @ W .Fulton ST (downtown)

Although traffic speeds here are 25-35mph, the traffic light sequence
can be just as easily used anywhere with longer light durations for
more backed-up traffic at turn lanes and longer thru light
(especially
“yellow”) durations for faster moving traffic.


(all 4 directions entering intersection have two (2)thru lanes and
and all four left turn lanes have their own signal.
oncoming traffic signals are the same sequence and run concurrently.
The sequence is the same for E/W traffic as it is for N/S traffic..


Phase 1
all three signals (2 thru and 1 left turn) are SOLID RED.


PHASE 2


Lane signals turn SOLID GREEN At that moment, turn signals go
FLASHING RED. Allowing turn lanes to empty when no oncoming traffic.


Phase 3


after 15 seconds or so of green through traffic, thru lanes go SOLID
YELLOW for about 3 seconds then solid RED. When thru lanes go RED the
left turn signal goes from flashing RED to SOLID GREEN LEFT TURN
ARROW. For 6 seconds (allowing any remaining left turn traffic to
make
protected left turn.) Left turn signal goes solid yellow for 3
seconds
then SOLID RED with the other lane signals..


While RED- the cross traffic goes thru the same sequence.


Left turn lane get EMPTIED; unlike the southbound abomination in
Palmetto.


There is NO policeman handing out tickets for not coming to a
complete
stop at the flashing solid red left turn. Some cities are happy
enough
to avoid conjestion on their roads without resorting to revenue
enhancement crime!


Can't figure out what logical basis there is for not using FLASHING
RED left turn signals (solid or arrow) on left turn signals.


A NO ACCIDENT record ought to speak for itself. Drivers are more
cautious at a flashing red-they look out for other cars better with
just a little slowing down - so there is no backup of traffic.


My business for the last ten years takes me to this intersection
where
it is entirely visable for about 12 hours every week. Never seen an
accident or near accident at all. I've talked to policemen who direct
pedestrian traffic during events at nearby Van Andel Arena and they
have told me that the signals get 100% respect from drivers due to
driver awareness of the traffic conjestion.. “There appears to be a
carryover signal respect at times when traffic is light.
Can't say the same for other left turn light sequences..