Flashing Yellow Arrow Traffic Signals

As the City continues making strides in intersection and traffic signal safety, some confusion has arisen around the question: “Why am I not getting a green left turn signal?” To help explain, here are the types of left-turn phases used at traffic signals:

1. Permissive left turn phase: Drivers may turn left when the traffic signal is green after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. No green arrow is displayed.
2. Protected left turn phase: Drivers may only turn left when a green left-turn arrow is displayed. Oncoming traffic receives a red signal during this phase.
3. Permissive/protected left turn phase: This is a combination of both phases. Drivers may turn left during the green arrow phase while oncoming traffic is stopped. After the arrow turns red and disappears, drivers may continue turning left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

The City's Traffic & Transportation Unit has received questions from residents wondering why they are not receiving a green left-turn arrow at some newly upgraded intersections, such as Mount Vernon Highway at Dupree Drive/Powers Ferry Road. This intersection operates with a permissive left-turn phase rather than a permissive/protected left-turn phase.

As traffic signal technology advances, the City of Sandy Springs is replacing older five-section signal heads with the safer, proven Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) system. Flashing Yellow Arrows may be used for either permissive left-turn phases or permissive/protected left-turn phases.

A common misconception is that if an intersection has a Flashing Yellow Arrow, it must also include a green left-turn arrow at some point in the signal cycle. However, that is not always the case. The presence of a Flashing Yellow Arrow does not guarantee a protected green arrow phase. Whether a green left-turn arrow is provided depends on traffic demand and left-turn volumes at a specific intersection.

Examples of intersections where drivers may see a Flashing Yellow Arrow but will not receive a green left-turn arrow include:

• Mount Vernon Highway at Dupree Drive/Powers Ferry Road
• Mount Vernon Highway at Blue Stone Road
• Vehicles turning left from Belle Isle Road onto Roswell Road

If you have additional questions, please contact transportation@sandyspringsga.gov .