Since 1997, engineers in Charlotte, NC, worried that too many motorists were confusing a green ball as permission to make a protected left turn. In response, Charlotte, NC will earn the distinction of being one of the first localities to implement traffic light phasing that include a flashing yellow turn arrow. According to the Charlotte Observer, “The new light replaces the green ball for left turns with a flashing yellow arrow to signal that motorists must yield.”

WSYR 9 is reporting that some temporary traffic lights in the city of Syracuse, NY are so poorly placed that they are actually causing accidents.  The issue seems to stem from the fact that other lights are placed above the intersection at other junctions, but the temporary lights are mounted to the side, on poles.  The temporary light poles were erected to replace the previous light poles, which were so deteriorated that they came crashing down a few months ago.

Has it been that long already? Inventor Garrett Morgan Sr. invented the modern traffic signal 85 years ago today after seeing a traffic accident.  More on the anniversary of the traffic light from WFSB.com.

Newsday.com reported that a traffic signal in Elmont, NY fell from the cable holding it up, striking a motorist below.  There was no explanation as to why the traffic signal would have fallen.

Nothing readers of STOPandGO.org didn’t already know: traffic lights work best when they’re configured properly. The town of Knoxville, TN, is preparing to implement an intelligent traffic control system using loop sensors, cameras, and a centralized computer control to coordinate traffic in the city. This normally wouldn’t be too notable, but check out the bizarre picture of the traffic light featured in this article!

What is the exact law when it comes to turn signals? Is it mandatory to use them each time you make a turn?

What is the meaning of a red arrow for right turns? Can you make the turn if the arrow is red or do you treat the red arrow like a stop sign?

Allan Roberts of the Sun Sentinel addresses these questions and more in his column.

Florida: Signal required every time you turn, shift lanes

Note that in New York, home of STOPandGO.org, some of the advice doesn’t apply.  There are cases in New York where you are not required to use your turn signal, for example, when you make a turn in the direction indicated by a “turn only” lane.  Also, New York requires that drivers stop and wait at right-turn red arrows.  However, acknowledging the confusion caused by this type of traffic control, New York has instead began use a red ball and “No Turn on Red” sign instead of a right red arrow.

What happens when qualified engineers using standard practices assert that an intersection near a school doesn’t require a stop sign?  Residents cheer leading for the stop sign think of other ways to control traffic.  But this raises the question: why are people everywhere so obsessed with trying to erect stop signs where they don’t belong?

Study puts stop on stop signs

An inspection by Syracuse city engineers finds that four poles that hold up traffic signals downtown are defective. That means they could come crashing down. This comes after one pole fell at Salina and Washington Streets on Wednesday.

Traffic Light Poles Deemed Dangerous

I was wondering if other drivers have any traffic-light quirkiness about them. So I’ve been spending much of today’s journeys paying close attention to how others act at traffic lights. Here are the things I noticed: I’m not the only one who has that momentary panic-filled look of “What do I do?” when at the “point of no return.” That’s the point when you have to decide whether to (A) stop suddenly or (B) keep going through a yellow light.

Traffic lights bring unique reactions

Thirty-five-watt light bulbs may become the Police Department’s biggest ally in catching red-light violators at two troublesome Burnsville intersections. Police and state transportation officials plan to install “white lights” on traffic signals at Highway 13/ County Road 5 and Highway 13/County Road 11. The white light is wired into the red circuit of the signal head and activated when the traffic light turns red. The white light is behind the signal light. From various “downstream” vantage points, officers can see vehicles going through the intersection when the white light is on. Busted.

‘White lights’ will give cops new tool for catching red-light violators