| |
Critics see red on traffic lights tests
Safety fears over ‘switch-off’experiment
DOZENS of traffic lights in central London will be switched off in an “experiment” to improve road safety and ease congestion.
Transport bosses at Westminster City Council and Transport for London have agreed to begin a six-week trial next month that will see a set of lights by Westminster Abbey at the junction of Victoria Street and Strutton Ground the first to be shut down.
Drivers would be expected to negotiate the right of way at the junction for themselves, a move branded “crazy” by opposition leaders in City Hall, who claim it will lead to more accidents.
The junction will be monitored by 12 CCTV and number plate recognition cameras.
For the first two weeks, the lights will work normally before being shut down for two weeks, and then being switched on once more for a further two weeks.
The council is also planning to remove traffic lights from a busy junction in Belgravia, near Victoria station. Should it be a success, the council says it hopes to remove as many as 20 per cent of the 400 traffic lights it is responsible for.
Martin Low, its director of transport said: “We will be creating a bit of indecision in all road users’ minds to create a safe environment.
“When lights are out we have noticed that drivers are far more considerate and show more care and attention than they do when they have the reassurance of traffic lights.
“We think there is a huge potential to make our roads safer for pedestrians and to also reduce delays for drivers in Westminster.”
Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group said: “How are pedestrians going to cross the road if the traffic is flowing without a break?
“There are already too many accidents on the roads and these latest plans will increase the risks for pedestrians further. If the council wants to experiment by scrapping traffic lights then I hope that those councillors and council officers responsible for the experiment will be the first to volunteer to try to cross the road.”
Residents are also sceptical of the need for the experiment.
Carl Upsall, chairman of the Marylebone Association said: “I’m keen on any initiative which proves to redress the balance between motorist and pedestrian.
“However, we already have a problem at many junctions where pedestrians are given the green light for too short a period, creating the impression that only the fleet-footed are safe to cross. I would not want to see this situation made worse.”
London mayor Boris Johnson is hoping to extend the experiment.
Talks are already underway to trial the initiative, part of the mayor’s Smoothing Traffic Flow policy, to other areas. |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
