ALDOT considering locations for more four-arrow lights

The Alabama Department of Transportation is working to replace left turn signals with a four-arrow turn signal.

A four-arrow turn signal was installed at Highway 280 at Overton Road in December, but there is no set timeline for more along Highway 280. There are plans for 17 four-arrow lights to be installed in southern Alabama, along Highway 98.

“At this time, we only have that one, and we’re still monitoring its operation,” said Dejarvis Leonard, regional engineer for the East Central Region. “We are reviewing other locations.”

Leonard said ALDOT is looking at other locations to see if a new traffic light would be beneficial as well as to see if the light at Overton Road works well enough to consider changes elsewhere. This is standard for changes in traffic signal, he said.

The traffic lights include a green arrow, flashing yellow arrow, solid yellow arrow and a red arrow. Drivers can turn as usual on a green arrow, and the flashing yellow arrow indicates turning with caution. When there is a break in oncoming traffic, the driver can make a left turn. One the arrow stops flashing, however, drivers should be prepared to stop. This means the light is about to turn red.

These signals are the result of the recently-adopted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidelines, according to DriveSafeAlabama.com. A study by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and Federal Highway Administration found a flashing yellow light was better for drivers.

“The study found the flashing yellow arrow was safer, more effective and easier for drivers to understand than the standard green light which most Alabamians currently see when making unprotected left turns,” according to Drive Safe Alabama.