In light of the crash on U.S. 30 West that left a man in critical condition on Monday, there are mixed feelings about the new turn lights that are showing up around town.
The flashing yellow turn lights allow drivers to turn left at certain intersections, instead of waiting for a green arrow. Some citizens like the idea of the new lights and said they will help with traffic flow.
“I think it's a great idea. Personally sitting there at the light when no one is coming, I think it helps traffic move a little bit better on 30,” Joline Lock, of Warsaw said before expressing some concern about the light by Medtronic.
“I haven't used them personally, but I think they're a good idea for the traffic flow on 30,” Nick Gensch a Warsaw citizen said in regards to the light. “If people yield like they're supposed to, because it says on the sign right next to the yellow light they're supposed to yield before they turn, I mean if they're following the law, there's no problem.”
But others have expressed safety concerns. Jon Mentzel, who works in Warsaw, said older people in particular may be confused by the new lights and could cause some safety issues.
“I think there's a lot of safety concerns with the education of people that have been driving for 40 or 50 years and not know what it means,” Mentzel explained.
The Indiana Department of Transportation is responsible for the placement of the lights. According to Public Information Officer, Chad Hill, from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the cause of Monday's accident is still under investigation and officials have not confirmed whether or not the turn light played a roll in the incident.
