New signal system may confuse motorists

Saturday, September 26, 2009

There have been three wrecks at intersections where the Missouri Department of Transportation has recently installed new lights; and Nevada Chief of Police Gary Herstein wants to make sure motorists are aware of the changes, to avoid confusion, and, hopefully, to avoid future collisions.

Currently the signals with the left turn signals causing the confusion are located at Osage and Austin, Centennial and Austin and Barrett and Austin. Motorists are urged to pay closer attention at the new signals and make sure they have the right-of-way before turning.

"The light stays green and people are turning in front of on-coming traffic," Herstein said. "We've had several wrecks because of it."

Lori Harter, advertising director for the Daily Mail, drives around Nevada every day and said that she has seen the confusion the lights are causing.

"I saw an elderly lady almost get hit," Harter said. "The lights are confusing and people really need to pay attention at them."

The new lights feature two sets of signals for left turns in a configuration called a five-head signal. The first set is just the way it used to be for many years -- the left turn arrows that cycle through red, green and yellow, allowing cars in the left lane to have the right-of-way over on-coming traffic when the green left turn arrow is lighted. The second set features a regular set of lights and a sign beside it warns left-turners that they must yield the right-of-way to on-coming vehicles.

Herstein said it appears people aren't heeding the signs and are turning left when they should wait.

"They see that green light and don't read the sign -- they just go," Herstein said.

Herstein said he beleives educating the public is the best way to combat the problem.

"I think the traffic pattern with the new signals is probably a good thing and will improve traffic flow but people need to be sure they aren't turning in front of someone who isn't going to stop," Herstein said.

Wendy Bruner-Lewis, Missouri Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said that the signals were changed because vehicles were stacking up in the left turn lanes and the new signals allowed left turners more opportunity to make a turn, when safe.

"We really need to stress that the left-turn arrow is protected, people can safely turn when it is lit; and the green ball is for when no one is coming, left-turners need to yield if there is traffic in the other direction," Bruner-Lewis said.

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