Traffic lights could be switched off at night
Discussion
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8404278/T...
Telegraph said:
The Department for Transport is carrying out research to see whether the existing use of traffic lights around the clock is justified.
One council, Portsmouth, has applied to the DfT, volunteering to carry out the trials on behalf of the Government.
"It can be extremely frustrating if you are on the road at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and forced to stop at a red light when no other cars are around,” said Barry Rawlings, senior traffic systems engineer at Portsmouth City Council.
“Turning the lights to flashing amber in these quiet periods would allow motorists to stop and go as they wish and keep delays to a minimum.”
But it is understood that Portsmouth will have to wait until the DfT has completed its own research and even then legislation would be needed before the council would be allowed to turn off the lights.
"The Department is currently investigating new options for the use of traffic signals when traffic volumes are low,” said Norman Baker, the local transport minister.
“However, in the interests of safety, it is important to ensure that any signalling technique provides a consistent and unambiguous message to all road users."
Flashing amber lights are commonplace in other countries including France and Spain. In opposition the Tories had voiced concern at what Theresa Villiers, then the party’s transport spokesman, called the proliferation of traffic lights.
But Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA, voiced concern at the proposals. "It sounds like a great idea but I have concerns about how a trial can be implemented safely,” he said.
"By switching lights to flashing amber you may improve traffic flow, cut journey times and reduce pollution but it is not without its faults.
"First, there is the issue of who has priority if two cars reach the junction at the same time.
"The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
One council, Portsmouth, has applied to the DfT, volunteering to carry out the trials on behalf of the Government.
"It can be extremely frustrating if you are on the road at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and forced to stop at a red light when no other cars are around,” said Barry Rawlings, senior traffic systems engineer at Portsmouth City Council.
“Turning the lights to flashing amber in these quiet periods would allow motorists to stop and go as they wish and keep delays to a minimum.”
But it is understood that Portsmouth will have to wait until the DfT has completed its own research and even then legislation would be needed before the council would be allowed to turn off the lights.
"The Department is currently investigating new options for the use of traffic signals when traffic volumes are low,” said Norman Baker, the local transport minister.
“However, in the interests of safety, it is important to ensure that any signalling technique provides a consistent and unambiguous message to all road users."
Flashing amber lights are commonplace in other countries including France and Spain. In opposition the Tories had voiced concern at what Theresa Villiers, then the party’s transport spokesman, called the proliferation of traffic lights.
But Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA, voiced concern at the proposals. "It sounds like a great idea but I have concerns about how a trial can be implemented safely,” he said.
"By switching lights to flashing amber you may improve traffic flow, cut journey times and reduce pollution but it is not without its faults.
"First, there is the issue of who has priority if two cars reach the junction at the same time.
"The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
A fantastic idea.
It can't happen to all lights, obviously, because some junctions are blind or have no obvious give way (like a t-junction). But minimal road signage (for example give way markings) would be absolutely fine.
Edit: I wrote to my local council a few years ago suggesting exactly this. No reply at all.
It can't happen to all lights, obviously, because some junctions are blind or have no obvious give way (like a t-junction). But minimal road signage (for example give way markings) would be absolutely fine.
Edit: I wrote to my local council a few years ago suggesting exactly this. No reply at all.
Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA, voiced concern at the proposals. ~snip~
"The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
Wow. What a goon...nothing like standing in the way of progress!
Surely drunk drivers aren't going to take much notice of lights ANYWAY and what's his problem with young drivers?! Clearly all 'young' drivers are inconsiderate plebs and even if they weren't, the training isn't good enough according to the AA!
"The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
Wow. What a goon...nothing like standing in the way of progress!
Surely drunk drivers aren't going to take much notice of lights ANYWAY and what's his problem with young drivers?! Clearly all 'young' drivers are inconsiderate plebs and even if they weren't, the training isn't good enough according to the AA!
4Q said:
Andrew Howard, Head of Road Safety at the AA, voiced concern at the proposals. ~snip~
"The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
Wow. What a goon...nothing like standing in the way of progress!
Surely drunk drivers aren't going to take much notice of lights ANYWAY and what's his problem with young drivers?! Clearly all 'young' drivers are inconsiderate plebs and even if they weren't, the training isn't good enough according to the AA!
Indeed. Clearly drunks and young drivers can be relied on to obey red lights, but this? No."The idea that drunks and young drivers are going to get to the flashing lights after midnight and say 'after you' is nonsense.”
Wow. What a goon...nothing like standing in the way of progress!
Surely drunk drivers aren't going to take much notice of lights ANYWAY and what's his problem with young drivers?! Clearly all 'young' drivers are inconsiderate plebs and even if they weren't, the training isn't good enough according to the AA!
I like this idea. I've had the opportunity to observe a very busy Bristol roundabout when the traffic lights were out, and it undoubtedly flowed far better. In fact, other than "peak time" adjustments when one direction is significantly busier than others, I think it's completely un-necessary to have traffic lit roundabouts, kind of defeats the point.
carreauchompeur said:
I like this idea. I've had the opportunity to observe a very busy Bristol roundabout when the traffic lights were out, and it undoubtedly flowed far better. In fact, other than "peak time" adjustments when one direction is significantly busier than others, I think it's completely un-necessary to have traffic lit roundabouts, kind of defeats the point.
Theres a round-a-bout near me thats only "Peak Controlled". I'm not really sure when peak time is for a round-a-bout but it seems to work.Exactly- They work perfectly well most of the time, although if there is a peak flow from one direction to another a little bit of control is needed otherwise they tend to back up from the other directions since cars can't find space to pull out. Having said that, a really bad motorway junction roundabout now has lights, and as a result flows a lot better, it's swings and roundabouts, literally 
Fartgalen said:
Why don't they just use traffic sensitive lights ?
In Sweden the lights turn green straight away, as you approach, when there is no traffic coming in the other direction.
In places this already seems to be the case - recently they replaced a 4-way junction in a village here's lights with a new set that had pedestrian crossings, and since then when there's nothing about and you roll up to the red light at 2am, it goes green. I guess the reason they're not doing it more is cost.In Sweden the lights turn green straight away, as you approach, when there is no traffic coming in the other direction.
Anyone ever used the M1 northbound J5 exit at night time? There are traffic lights at the top and you can be sat there waiting for them for what feels like a good five minutes. I used to see vehicles in front of me wait for a while then drive straight through them on red. Why on earch they aren't part time lights I do not know.
For utter stupidity with traffic lights you only have to look at Junction 14 on the M5. This is a T-junction type exit and the council spent a huge amount of cash putting in a set of lights and modifying the road markings.
On the first day of operation huge queues were created on the motorway itself, causing chaos, with the same thing happening the next. As an experiment the council turned the lights off and the queues disappeared. Rather than admit defeat and remove the lights they now operate on a part time basis, but are switched off at peak times, and on for all others.
On the first day of operation huge queues were created on the motorway itself, causing chaos, with the same thing happening the next. As an experiment the council turned the lights off and the queues disappeared. Rather than admit defeat and remove the lights they now operate on a part time basis, but are switched off at peak times, and on for all others.
AlexS said:
For utter stupidity with traffic lights you only have to look at Junction 14 on the M5. This is a T-junction type exit and the council spent a huge amount of cash putting in a set of lights and modifying the road markings.
On the first day of operation huge queues were created on the motorway itself, causing chaos, with the same thing happening the next. As an experiment the council turned the lights off and the queues disappeared. Rather than admit defeat and remove the lights they now operate on a part time basis, but are switched off at peak times, and on for all others.
Shepherd's Bush roundabout. Drove round it daily for 15 years. No queues. Lights went on 12 years ago. Massive and permanent queues every single day.On the first day of operation huge queues were created on the motorway itself, causing chaos, with the same thing happening the next. As an experiment the council turned the lights off and the queues disappeared. Rather than admit defeat and remove the lights they now operate on a part time basis, but are switched off at peak times, and on for all others.
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