10 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

I live and work in outer London /Surrey and have been driving the same commuter route for 15 years.....in that time many junctions on my journey have had traffic lights installed during so called road junction 'improvements'........now there are long queues of traffic where once there were none. On several occasions when the traffic lights have gone wrong recently and are switched off for a few days, motorists seem to go back to using their common sense and even during the daytime peak rush hours the traffic appears to flow freely again with no sign of the usual traffic queues in any direction !

 

London traffic lights switch off 'could save £40m'

A new report, Green Light, calls for transport bosses and local authorities to assess traffic flows and, if safe, turn off traffic lights in London between midnight and 06:00 GMT.

The report estimates road congestion costs the economy £4bn a year and by switching off lights overnight on 80% of 2,532 relevant junctions would cut delays across the city by 2,251 hours everyday, the report said.

The move could save motorists £40m by 2020 in time and fuel, the report said.

Assembly Conservative transport spokesman Mr Tracey said: "Turning off traffic lights at night, like they do in parts of Europe and North America, is one measure which would boost the economy and help the environment.

"A common sense approach in the right places would cut idling and therefore vehicle emissions, motorists would save cash as less fuel is wasted, and journey times would be slashed meaning deliveries are completed quicker and cabbies are able to take on more jobs."

http://www.bbc.co.uk...london-29835494

Edited by mab01uk, 30 October 2014 - 11:58 PM.

[Miniminx71]

We already have part-time lights in Swindon which only operate during rush hours. It works really well on one big roundabout where, before there were lights, the roundabout was constantly blocked by people coming from the right that wouldn't leave any space for people to pull out so it caused gridlock. They then put lights in, but people being idiots often ran them on a red and still ended up blocking people in. They then regulated them really well to stop that happening and it worked. They turn them off when the flow has eased up and everyone more or less keeps moving. Works a treat on big roundabouts, but I guess it may be a different story for junctions. 

[Daniel_moody25]

We already have part-time lights in Swindon which only operate during rush hours. It works really well on one big roundabout where, before there were lights, the roundabout was constantly blocked by people coming from the right that wouldn't leave any space for people to pull out so it caused gridlock. They then put lights in, but people being idiots often ran them on a red and still ended up blocking people in. They then regulated them really well to stop that happening and it worked. They turn them off when the flow has eased up and everyone more or less keeps moving. Works a treat on big roundabouts, but I guess it may be a different story for junctions.

You say that but the amount of times I've almost been hit on manington roundabout coming from either town or great Weston way going up towards Tewkesbury way, the people coming down the dual carriageway just don't want to stop and just seem to pull out on me as I'm going round

Edited by Daniel_moody25, 31 October 2014 - 12:23 AM.

[Miniminx71]

Daniel_moody25, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:21 AM, said:Daniel_moody25, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:21 AM, said:Daniel_moody25, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:21 AM, said:

 

Miniminx71, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:11 AM, said:Miniminx71, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:11 AM, said:Miniminx71, on 31 Oct 2014 - 12:11 AM, said:

We already have part-time lights in Swindon which only operate during rush hours. It works really well on one big roundabout where, before there were lights, the roundabout was constantly blocked by people coming from the right that wouldn't leave any space for people to pull out so it caused gridlock. They then put lights in, but people being idiots often ran them on a red and still ended up blocking people in. They then regulated them really well to stop that happening and it worked. They turn them off when the flow has eased up and everyone more or less keeps moving. Works a treat on big roundabouts, but I guess it may be a different story for junctions.

You say that but the amount of times I've almost been hit on manington roundabout coming from either town or great Weston way going up towards Tewkesbury way, the people coming down the dual carriageway just don't want to stop and just seem to pull out on me as I'm going round

 

But, really, that's just drivers being assholes - happens everywhere . The one I hate is coming down Wootton Basset Road and having a regular fight on the lane merge under the bridge, and then passing DFS to go straight over and down Tewkesbury and being cut up because it's got another daft two lane merge. Lane merges should be banned everywhere. Just causes roadrage.

Edited by Miniminx71, 31 October 2014 - 12:41 AM.

[nicklouse]

I still wonder why all the street lights are on all night.

In Sweden they turn every other street light out after a certain time.

[firstforward]

Funny you post this, there is a ring road in Norwich city, with a large roundabout and there are always holdups sometimes considerable. For the last 2 weeks all the traffic lights are switched off because they are doing road repairs to the road in the actual roundabout, so if anything the traffic conjestion should be severe. I have visited this roundabout 3 times in the last 2 weeks and not had to que up at all, indeed the entrances and exits had no cars stopped at all, it was free flowing.

 

My last visit was on Sunday and it got me thinking why have lights there at all. The end of the day nobody wants to damage their car, but I must conceed if 2 cars entered without much care and drove very bullish as if it is their right of way so get out of the way attitude, there might be a few accidents and what about predestrians?

[Black.Ghost]

Those people exist all over the place. But the people making the decisions can't take that into account, but should look at whether it is an accident black spot.

Some traffic may be skewed this week as its half term. Which really shows just how many kids get a lift to school. Get the sodding bus or walk!

[Guess-Works.com]

Think it's all ******** if you ask me...

 

It seems a bit of a non report if it's there to state while the traffic volume is low switch the lights off to prevent congestion, but if the traffic is low, then there's no congestion anyway... numpties..

 

If the priority is given to the major road on a junction, so primarily green, then most traffic will not slow down for the junction. If the lights are off, every vehicle, which ever direction it is coming from will have a need to slow down and take caution crossing an open junction, therefore increasing travel time.

I'm sure these people who think up these reports have no common sense at all  !!!

[jamesmpi]

There seems to be very little thought to the layout of most junctions / roundabouts, so as mentioned in many posts above, if traffic lights are installed, the flow of traffic is hampered causing more delays.
Oxford is redeveloping all of it major roundabout on the ring round by creating "through" lanes for traffic that want to continue up or down the ring road. If you want to turn off the you can use the roundabout. Make sense, but there are far to many cars nowadays so the bottle neck moves to the next restriction in the road network...

[blacktulip]

I still wonder why all the street lights are on all night.

In Sweden they turn every other street light out after a certain time.

ours go out at midnight

[mini93]

All side road street lights get turned off at 12pm here, 1pm on friday/sat nights

 

Makes getting back after late shift a bit annoying when I can see which key im selecting...I end up driving around with my fog lights on (like a chav) because the light spread is better