BOISE, Idaho — Starting Tuesday, drivers and pedestrians could see some changes at the intersection of Adams and Veterans Memorial Parkway.
This comes just one day after the Ada County Highway District announced it was upgrading its software affecting flashing yellow arrows at intersections.
“When you push that button at the crosswalk, it will tell the traffic signal that a pedestrian wants to cross, and if that traffic signal has a flashing yellow arrow it will know that when the pedestrian signal is activated that the flashing yellow arrow will not be,” said Ada County Highway District spokeswoman Natalie Shaver.
Instead of seeing a flashing yellow arrow, drivers will get a red arrow and won't be able to turn when the pedestrian signal is activated.
“Anything that can protect a pedestrian at a signal is best, especially when it comes to turning drivers,” said Don Kostelec with the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance.
It's a move the Idaho Walk Bike Alliance supports.
“A lot of highway agencies have jumped on the flashing yellow arrow since it was allowed and who can blame them, we shave off a few seconds off of a driver's wait but we have to measure it against other consequences," Kostelec said. "Pedestrian fatalities in the United States are rising and there are a lot of different factors, so everything we chip away at can make things safer for them.”
ACHD will upgrade four more intersections over the next few weeks around Parkcenter Boulevard.
"Then, throughout the year every traffic signal that has a flashing arrow and pedestrian crossing will have this technology," said Shaver.