Left-Turn Arrow
All over the ATL, I’ve encountered this strange phenomena: cars, trucks and taxis sitting still in the face of a shining green arrow. Motionless. When that mysterious arrow finally vanishes, the driver pulls into the intersection to wait for his turn. Thus, only two or three cars manage to turn left through any cycle of lights, and thus Atlanta is the most automotively congested city in the galaxy. Folks, even if we get the protected left turn at Briarcliff and Ponce, it ain’t gonna matter.
So’s we’re clear, let’s review this item from our Driver’s Test:
#33. A protected left turn is any left turn made at an intersection with a dedicated left-turn arrow illuminated. When a left-turn arrow is illuminated, you should…
a) turn left
b) turn left
c) turn left
Oh my gosh, yes, please turn! Add to your intersections that seem to attract ppl who are unaware that green means go: Peachtree and Piedmont….and even worse, the 2 left lanes from Lenox onto Peachtree. There are 2 turn lanes, and 2 left arrows….and yet 4 cars wil get through. Everyone, get a freakin hands free device and turn that wheel in a left-wise direction!
I feel a bit better now. Until later when I’m gonna have to go thru those intersections. On a Friday afternoon. Ugh.
While we’re teaching the drivers of Atlanta that green means go, can we also teach them the meaning of a red flashing light? To my great frustration, I’ve encountered cars merely slowing down at the intersection of E. Lake and Ponce de Leon, in the face of this obviously very confusing heretofore unseen traffic signal (either that or yellow and red are similar enough?). During most hours there is a functioning traffic light, but in the early hours there is only the red flashing light. If you’re coming from Oakhurst, down E. Lake, as I do, you have to be damn near aggressive to turn left on Ponce. Lucky for me I have very little problem with mustering up aggressive, if necessary. I’d rather not risk life and limb (and car), though, every morning.
Sorry again.
I honk, it usually gets them to move.