why do blinking yellow arrows exist on traffic lights?

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(USA specific) When a traffic light turns green and there’s a left turn lane, why does the light need the blinking yellow arrow? Isn’t it already implied that you can turn left as long as you yield to oncoming traffic? I understand why a red and green arrow are necessary for a turning lane, but the yellow seems redundant.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

The blinking yellow is redundant. It functionally means the same thing as if it were just green and none of the arrow lights were lit.

But from a practical sense, it reminds people that they *can* go, but should maybe be a bit more careful about it. So this is done where the traffic control folks want you to be more deliberate about it.

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