Why are so many left hand turn signals unused?

[bobbob911]

Or so lightly used? Like for example a left hand turn signal that is on for 2 seconds before turning yellow, and meanwhile there is a queue of 40 cars waiting to turn.

Is there any coherent strategy city wide for left hand turn signals? Or are these basically set ad-hoc and forgotten about.

Whenever I drive in the US I rarely if ever see a left hand cycle unexercised or under exercised.

Sorry for the old man rant

 

[Admiral Beez]

If it were up to me there would be no left turns allowed at any signaled intersection unless there was a left turn lane. And the left turn signal should be timed to clear that lane.

 

[bobbob911]

I am not aware of any left hand turn signal/cycle at any intersection in the city without a dedicated left hand turn lane, although I’m sure there are some (and construction has no doubt messed with this severely)

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Depends on the day of the week or time of day.

Sometimes they have loop detectors in the left turn lane before the stop line. IF the vehicles is over the loop. Seen drivers stop over the crosswalk, past the stop line and ending up past the loop detector. We see the countdown on the pedestrian signals, then return to "walk" because the vechicle is no longer over the loop. They are changing to overhead motion detector, but should include motion detectors for pedestrians.

Bicycle is over the loop detector, so will get a left turn signal.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I am not aware of any left hand turn signal/cycle at any intersection in the city without a dedicated left hand turn lane, although I’m sure there are some (and construction has no doubt messed with this severely)

River at Dundas, SB and WB. It’s infuriating to wait behind a left turning car while cars behind me cross into the bike lane and around me.

 

[micheal_can]

In short, it is in part due to existing infrastructure. If there is no left turn lane, then they cannot put a left turn signal. They could have an advanced green if only one way is the one creating most of those left turns. For the places that do have left turn lanes and no signal, that is due to the owners of the roadway being cheap. There is a slightly higher cost of equipment to have a left turn signal exist. I have learned that in most cases, if there is no left turn signal, then I do not turn left there.

 

[bobbob911]

This is not what I’m asking. I’m asking about intersections with a left turn signal and with a dedicated left turn lane, and yet the left turn signal either doesn’t come on or comes on for such a short period of time it’s almost worse.

Why are they set this way? Is it a traffic flow strategy or just nobody cares?

 

[Leo_Chan]

Depending on the left turn signal, there might not be sufficient road detectors to know how long it should last for and only detect right on the stop light.

As for the installation of new left turn signals, as others have mentioned it might not be done due to costs, but there is the additional variable of the traffic computer at the intersections not supporting additional signal phases. That could be due to their age and require a full replacement for additional features.

As a side note, there a left turn signal near me never turns on. I've emailed York Region transportation and staff said it was installed as part of initial construction and for future use which were never activated.

 

[ShonTron]

In short, it is in part due to existing infrastructure. If there is no left turn lane, then they cannot put a left turn signal. They could have an advanced green if only one way is the one creating most of those left turns. For the places that do have left turn lanes and no signal, that is due to the owners of the roadway being cheap. There is a slightly higher cost of equipment to have a left turn signal exist. I have learned that in most cases, if there is no left turn signal, then I do not turn left there.

This is not true in the slightest. There are advanced left turn signals on many streets in central Toronto where there is no dedicated left turn lane. Jarvis at Adelaide and at Richmond. Plenty on Bathurst Street too.

 

[bobbob911]

Depending on the left turn signal, there might not be sufficient road detectors to know how long it should last for and only detect right on the stop light.

As for the installation of new left turn signals, as others have mentioned it might not be done due to costs, but there is the additional variable of the traffic computer at the intersections not supporting additional signal phases. That could be due to their age and require a full replacement for additional features.

As a side note, there a left turn signal near me never turns on. I've emailed York Region transportation and staff said it was installed as part of initial construction and for future use which were never activated.

Are you saying that left hand turn signals are typically sensor based and not timer based? I don’t think this is true, certainly not in my experience. And when I’m sitting 20 cars back and only 2 get through in time each light it’s definitely not true.

Does anyone know who in the city to reach out to on this sort of thing?

 

[micheal_can]

This is not true in the slightest. There are advanced left turn signals on many streets in central Toronto where there is no dedicated left turn lane. Jarvis at Adelaide and at Richmond. Plenty on Bathurst Street too.

I see where you mean.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Seen left turn traffic signals operate but there are no automobile, no truck, no SUV, no motorcycle, no bicycle, not even a pigeon in the left turn lane. Seems to be based on the time of day.

 

[nfitz]

This is not what I’m asking. I’m asking about intersections with a left turn signal and with a dedicated left turn lane, and yet the left turn signal either doesn’t come on or comes on for such a short period of time it’s almost worse.

This is what some have asked, and answered. Multiple reasons.

Some are simply time of day. Front and Sherbourne for example, simply don't turn mid-day and evenings (though I've not been there for a while). Others seem to turn every second cycle. Lots of reasons.

 

[Dan416]

In Mississauga I don't think I've ever seen a left turn signal activate without a vehicle present. Although I have seen them not activate when there was just one or two vehicles in the left turn lane (some left turn lanes in Mississauga are quite lengthy).

 

[Towered]

River at Dundas, SB and WB. It’s infuriating to wait behind a left turning car while cars behind me cross into the bike lane and around me.

If you can't beat them, join them...