Traffic Flows in London - What's Happened????
Discussion
I've not been driving in Central London for about four/five years but on Saturday went in twice (midday and 8pm from Muswell Hill).
And all I can say is what's happened to the traffic flow system????
Once my light turned green, the one 200m down the road turns red, therefore the group of cars move off only to brake again 15 seconds later?
I also noticed it added to congestion as people tended to block intersections more frequently and I could plainly see how. You just don't expect to stop 10-15 seconds after your direct light turns green.
This happened countless times driving through the capital.
Does anyone know why the lights have suddenly got "mucked up"?
And all I can say is what's happened to the traffic flow system????
Once my light turned green, the one 200m down the road turns red, therefore the group of cars move off only to brake again 15 seconds later?
I also noticed it added to congestion as people tended to block intersections more frequently and I could plainly see how. You just don't expect to stop 10-15 seconds after your direct light turns green.
This happened countless times driving through the capital.
Does anyone know why the lights have suddenly got "mucked up"?
I've noticed a similar thing since moving to Northampton.
If you come to a stop at one set of lights and move off as they turn green, as you're nearing the next set, they turn red. Move off from them, the next set turns red... It's not just a random occurance either, it's the same every single time you go through the town centre.
Bedford is different, if you catch one green a good number of lights often turn green just as you approach.
I remember a conversation with a friend of a friend, who worked for the road safety/traffic calming department in the local district council down in Wiltshire. It's apparently all to do with average vehicle speed through the town. A lower average speed equals a "safer" town centre, and helps with councils meeting their road safety targets.
If you come to a stop at one set of lights and move off as they turn green, as you're nearing the next set, they turn red. Move off from them, the next set turns red... It's not just a random occurance either, it's the same every single time you go through the town centre.
Bedford is different, if you catch one green a good number of lights often turn green just as you approach.
I remember a conversation with a friend of a friend, who worked for the road safety/traffic calming department in the local district council down in Wiltshire. It's apparently all to do with average vehicle speed through the town. A lower average speed equals a "safer" town centre, and helps with councils meeting their road safety targets.
Ken did it. Boris has ordered that the traffic lights be re-phased to as to improve traffic flow; he recognises that cars sat idling at red lights produce far more pollution than those moving freely.
Transport for London (TfL) is the Ken-created body that is responsible for implementing the mayor's orders. Unfortunately it's staffed by car-hating ideologues and it may be the case that they have intepreted his instructions for lights to spend less time on red literally, without considering the spirit (phase them so traffic actually moves).
I've lived and driven in London since the year Ken came to power and I haven't yet noticed a consistent improvement in traffic flow since Boris started. I'll give Boris the benefit of the doubt for now. There has been a simply incredible amount of road digging since he took office and his plans won't have had time to be fully implemented yet.
Transport for London (TfL) is the Ken-created body that is responsible for implementing the mayor's orders. Unfortunately it's staffed by car-hating ideologues and it may be the case that they have intepreted his instructions for lights to spend less time on red literally, without considering the spirit (phase them so traffic actually moves).
I've lived and driven in London since the year Ken came to power and I haven't yet noticed a consistent improvement in traffic flow since Boris started. I'll give Boris the benefit of the doubt for now. There has been a simply incredible amount of road digging since he took office and his plans won't have had time to be fully implemented yet.
timbob said:
I remember a conversation with a friend of a friend, who worked for the road safety/traffic calming department in the local district council down in Wiltshire. It's apparently all to do with average vehicle speed through the town. A lower average speed equals a "safer" town centre, and helps with councils meeting their road safety targets.
Ah, that has some twisted government logic. However surely you are actually causing (trapping) more cars for longer in built up urban areas, thus increasing risk of accidents pedestrian or otherwise to occur??
or maybe more joined up thinking from the alcoholic lunatic that used to run londonMatt_N said:
To create artificial congestion that justifies the Congestion Charging.
^^^ This.Ken f
king Livingstone.The re-phasing of the traffic lights near me to f
k everything up was so blatant it was almost laughable. It's got better since Boris, though it isn't there yet, so more power to him.timbob said:
I've noticed a similar thing since moving to Northampton.
If you come to a stop at one set of lights and move off as they turn green, as you're nearing the next set, they turn red. Move off from them, the next set turns red... It's not just a random occurance either, it's the same every single time you go through the town centre.
Bedford is different, if you catch one green a good number of lights often turn green just as you approach.
I remember a conversation with a friend of a friend, who worked for the road safety/traffic calming department in the local district council down in Wiltshire. It's apparently all to do with average vehicle speed through the town. A lower average speed equals a "safer" town centre, and helps with councils meeting their road safety targets.
Indeed, Bedford isn't actually a bad town to get through, much, much better than Northampton.If you come to a stop at one set of lights and move off as they turn green, as you're nearing the next set, they turn red. Move off from them, the next set turns red... It's not just a random occurance either, it's the same every single time you go through the town centre.
Bedford is different, if you catch one green a good number of lights often turn green just as you approach.
I remember a conversation with a friend of a friend, who worked for the road safety/traffic calming department in the local district council down in Wiltshire. It's apparently all to do with average vehicle speed through the town. A lower average speed equals a "safer" town centre, and helps with councils meeting their road safety targets.
The phasing of lights around Moorgate is appalling. It can only be the work of an idiot or it's got the intention of reducing trafic flow. Brilliantly there are islands halfway accross for pedestrians however thegreen man will only appear when all trafic lights are red. It's designed to slow everyone down.
Communists dislike personal freedom / freedom of movement. They'll do anything to impede it, no matter that it wastes fuel, time and creates additional pollution. Boris is trying to reverse Livingstone's destructive time in office, but I imagine there are Livingstone supporters still in jobs trying to make attempts at efficiency improvements as difficult as possible.
Perhaps they are still operating the old government policy on traffic light phasing. It will be OK once they catch up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7998182.stm
Motorists should face fewer red lights following the relaxation of government guidance on the flow of traffic.
Local councils can adopt "green wave" systems of sensors, where vehicles at or just below the speed limit trigger a succession of green lights. Environmental and motoring groups say carbon emissions will be reduced.
Previously the Department for Transport (DfT) had discouraged the systems, which reduce fuel use, resulting in less tax being paid to the Treasury, but now, rather than seeing green wave systems as a "cost" to the public purse, the DfT views them as a "benefit".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7998182.stm
Motorists should face fewer red lights following the relaxation of government guidance on the flow of traffic.
Local councils can adopt "green wave" systems of sensors, where vehicles at or just below the speed limit trigger a succession of green lights. Environmental and motoring groups say carbon emissions will be reduced.
Previously the Department for Transport (DfT) had discouraged the systems, which reduce fuel use, resulting in less tax being paid to the Treasury, but now, rather than seeing green wave systems as a "cost" to the public purse, the DfT views them as a "benefit".
Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 28th July 00:25
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