ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

Drivers urged to brake on yellow for safety’s sake

  Feb. 20, 2009

  Contact: Sgt. Mark Clark, Police public information officer, (480) 312-1910

  Drivers urged to brake on yellow for safety’s sake

Too many drivers are running red arrows when making left-turns, making a difficult traffic movement more dangerous, according to Scottsdale Police.

That’s the conclusion drawn from statistics compiled since August when the city began operating left-turn photo enforcement cameras at intersections.

Statistics indicate up to five times more motorists are running red left-turn arrows in Scottsdale than are running red lights in through traffic. Police are asking drivers to remember that a yellow traffic light means “prepare to stop,” just as a red light means “stop” -- whether a motorist is turning or going straight.

Scottsdale will begin issuing photo enforcement citations at a fourth left-turn arrow location beginning March 1. The new location will monitor northbound left-turn traffic on Scottsdale Road turning west at the Thomas Road intersection.

Scottsdale launched its first left-turn photo enforcement site last August at the intersection of Shea and 90th Street. Scottsdale plans to eventually operate left-turn cameras at six intersections.

All six intersections already have cameras for through traffic. They flash drivers who run red lights or travel through the intersections at speeds of 11 mph or more above the limit.

The left-turn cameras are positioned to photograph drivers in left-turn lanes when they run red lights or red arrows.

Police are emphasizing that cameras will not flash drivers who enter an intersection on a green or yellow light and wait for traffic to clear before they complete a safe left-hand turn. Only drivers who enter the intersection after the light has turned red will be flashed.

For a violation to occur, the light must be red when a vehicle crosses an imaginary line extending from the nearest curb of the cross-street. A diagram is available on the city’s Web site at www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Click on “Photo Enforcement” under “Hot Topics.”

For questions about photo enforcement, residents may call (480) 312-7014 or e-mail photoenforcement@scottsdaleaz.gov.