Flashing Yellow Right Turns

Image Source: City of Auburn, Washington

DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION

Flashing yellow arrows (FYAs) for right turns may be used at signalized intersections to alert drivers they need to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk or simply as a means of providing a signal head per lane for the entire approach.

Implementation Categories

CONSIDERATIONS

• Requires an additional signal head.
• In order to provide an MUTCD compliant signal face for this application, FYAs for right turns can only be used if an exclusive right turn lane is present for vehicles turning right.
• Similar to FYAs for left turns, which are familiar to most drivers.

APPLICATION

• Evaluate the need for right-turn FYAs at intersections with pedestrian activity.
• May also be used at locations where there is a need for a right-turn overlap (4-section FYA). Note: right-turn overlaps require approval from the Division of Traffic Operations.
• When having a signal head over each lane is desired and a conflicting pedestrian movement exists, a FYA over the right-turn lane will often be the most appropriate arrangement.
• See MUTCD Sections 4F.11 and 4F.15 for signal information.

example

Image Source: MUTCD 11^th Edition

Complimentary Countermeasures

• Leading Pedestrian Intervals