DOTD meeting to explain new signals

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will hold a public meeting in Jennings Thursday evening concerning the installation of flashing yellow arrow signals across Southwest Louisiana.

The meetings will be held in an open-house format where attendees can ask questions and receive information regarding the new signals and their locations. The event will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the Jeff Davis Police Jury building, located at 504 N. State St.

According to a DOTD press release, flashing yellow arrows will replace a solid green bulb to indicate the motorist should yield to oncoming traffic during a left turn. These new signals will feature a flashing yellow arrow in addition to the standard red, yellow and green arrows. When illuminated, the flashing yellow arrow allows waiting motorists to make a left-hand turn after yielding to oncoming traffic. Otherwise, the new traffic signals work the same as traditional signals.

DOTD says flashing yellow arrow signals have been shown to help drivers make fewer mistakes. They keep motorists safer during heavy traffic and reduce delays when traffic is light. A national study demonstrated that drivers found flashing yellow left-turn arrows more understandable than traditional yield-on-green indications, according to DOTD.

DOTD also said the new traffic signals provide traffic engineers with more options to handle a variety of traffic volumes. Motorists will eventually encounter the new flashing yellow arrow traffic signals on all state roadways across Louisiana at locations where a protected left turn already exists, as part of a federal standard for implementation of the signals.