Caution: Driver doesn't give a ****

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:45:34 -0700, Tomes spat out the following

> Actually, most times if it has a left turn lane, it has a
> green arrow that makes the left turn go in protected mode before oncoming
> traffic goes green (although in rare cases it allows the left turn to go
> last instead of first).
> Tomes


Here in the Tucson area the latter is the rule: The protected left turn arrow
goes last, after the light for oncoming traffic has turned red and before the
light for crosstraffic turns green. At a rare few intersections the left turn
arrow goes first, as you describe, and there is typically a sign indicating
the same.

The idea is that with a left turn arrow that goes first the driver who runs a
yellow/red light will come at you from the side, where you are less likely to
notice.

But with a left turn arrow that goes last, the driver who runs a yellow/red
light will be coming right at you, which gives you a better chance to spot
the aberrant vehicle.

Or so the theory goes. I don't have any data on T-bone collisions, it would
be interesting to see which system actually has the smaller number.

Most places I've lived have the system you describe, which made my first few
months here in Tucson a real adjustment.


Desert Guy