RED LIGHT spells ?
- Thread starter stu
- Start date
That's probably a good idea Stu - if you wait for green, you might get hit by you coming across the other way
The government's latest intention is to have longer pedestrian crossing phases to allow for the slowness of the elderly.
I can see that leading to many itching to cross at red when there's no elderly person crossing, since the "dead" period could become considerable. That will be especially true when a button-pushing pedestrian has already crossed in a traffic gap before the lights changed in their favour, something that frequently happens already.
I can see that leading to many itching to cross at red when there's no elderly person crossing, since the "dead" period could become considerable. That will be especially true when a button-pushing pedestrian has already crossed in a traffic gap before the lights changed in their favour, something that frequently happens already.
I've always thought the 'pelican' (I think it's the right monicker) crossing, with the amber flashing period where road users can proceed if the crossing is clear of pedestrians, is a better system, but they don't seem to install them anymore
The DfT still speak of them as current, but the newer Toucan crossings (bikes and pedestrians) use the conventional cross signals. There is talk of possibly having sensors to detect if anyone is actually crossing, and that would be a big improvement. In my area for pedestrians elsewhere from traffic lights, a new flush of zebra crossings with LED-ring lights on the beacons have been appearing in various locations, better for vehicle users of course since there are no intrinsic delays.
Indeed, the technology now exists to make all light systems far more 'intelligent' at relatively low cost. The gain being less frustration, which just breeds the sort of contempt for obeying red lights that appears to becoming common.
The French system of switching less busy traffic light controlled junctions to flashing amber has always struck me as eminently sensible for that very reason.
The French system of switching less busy traffic light controlled junctions to flashing amber has always struck me as eminently sensible for that very reason.
I will disagree with you on that flecc. Oxford Street in the west end pedestrians there tend to cross over at all times even when the lights are showing green for motorists. Maybe the government should scrap the idea of traffic lights all together and concentrate on opening a new lolly pop wing department
.MS.
Oxford Street should be completely pedestrianised, all road vehicles removed. A central low speed small tram-style tracked system could be used to carry people along it's length when longer stretches are to be covered.
That road is so chaotic and that will never change. I'll have a word with Boris and see what we can come up with.
MS.
There are two Toucan crossings near my home that I use regularly, one of which is on a dual carriageway, so in effect, two toucan crossings. My pet hate is that when you press the button, there is an enormous delay until something happens. I cannot see how this serves any useful purpose.
This would be understandable if the crossing had been used in , say, the previous three minutes, but the delay is the same if it has not been used for half an hour. With modern electronics, the length of the delay could be varied, depending on the elapsed time since the crossing was last used.
This would be understandable if the crossing had been used in , say, the previous three minutes, but the delay is the same if it has not been used for half an hour. With modern electronics, the length of the delay could be varied, depending on the elapsed time since the crossing was last used.
That's certainly not necessary Neptune, the pair of Toucan crossing near to me operate instantly at all times. One crosses a dual carriageway, the second shortly after crosses a single carriageway.
Those are on Kent Gate Way and Lodge Lane respectively, in the Borough of Croydon if you want to complain to the local authority about this, using it as an example of best practice.
Those are on Kent Gate Way and Lodge Lane respectively, in the Borough of Croydon if you want to complain to the local authority about this, using it as an example of best practice.
What do you mean that you are not convinced?
Red lights are not optional