It is often the little things that make or break a day. It could be an unexpectedly good cup of coffee, running into an old friend or grabbing that left turn at that ugly intersection just before the light turns red again.

The arrival of those flashing yellow left turn arrows at intersections throughout the Eastside is nothing short of magical. The new signals reduce wait times compared to traditional left turn signals on busy intersections.  Drivers are actually empowered to make their own decision when it is safe to turn left.

While it seems that the arrows are fairly new, the city of Bellevue began installing them in 2010. Flashing arrows at seven key intersections around Issaquah were installed last fall. But now, it seems they have reached a critical mass.

It is the most helpful signal ever. The arrow tells the driver that if it is safe, you can go. The bright yellow reminds us to carefully judge the speed and distance of oncoming traffic before we turn.

It feels almost thrilling to push the pedal and crank  that wheel hard to the left.

But will those golden arrows  encourage motorists to venture into the intersection prematurely?  Will drivers become reckless or even more entitled than they are now?

Apparently not. Studies by the Federal Highway Administration suggest the yellow arrows  increase safety because they are more effective at getting drivers to actually yield to oncoming traffic.

Such a simple idea. Instant results. Everyone benefits. Time in this life is very short. Saving a minute or two by avoiding sitting at a stop light adds up.

And the arrows are not just for those of us commuting to work or late for an appointment. Having the extra signal gives traffic engineers the flexibility to use specific signals when necessary.

In that case, I’ll wait my turn.