(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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Generally you will see a blinking yellow arrow at an intersection where sometimes there is a green arrow. The green arrow indicates you have right of way to make a turn, while the blinking yellow means you have to yield. The blinking yellow is there as an additional warning that you no longer have right of way to turn.
Part of the reason for the layout of lights is behavioral. If they observe certain bad behaviors are common at an intersection, they may add an extra light as warning against that behavior. A blinking yellow light for a turn might be the result of a history of accidents at that light due to failure to yield while turning.
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