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This is the worst jam in London say taxi drivers
David Williams, Motoring Editor8 Aug 2008
This line of stationary vehicles was today branded London's worst traffic jam by taxi drivers.
They urged Mayor Boris Johnson to step in after rephasing of traffic lights at a vital West End junction last month led to lengthy delays at the intersection of Holborn and Procter Street.
Instead of allowing traffic on different legs of the major gyratory to move in turn, an "all-red" phase was introduced, when the lights show red simultaneously.
This puts traffic on approach roads at a standstill while pedestrians cross, trapping drivers in tailbacks often stretching back to Holborn Viaduct.
Cabbies said the new system had added more than 20 minutes to crosscapital journeys, and effectively cut off one of the last few remaining east-west routes across London following the redesign of Trafalgar Square.
It had also gridlocked a swathe of local roads in central London.
Steve McNamara, of the London Taxi Drivers Association, said: "Before the lights were changed at Procter Street there was never more than a handful of vehicles waiting to cross. By the time it finally goes green motorists absolutely surge through in desperation - there will be an accident soon and some drivers simply run red lights.
"It is absolute chaos and it must be costing London millions of pounds in delays, all for no gain. We all understand the need for pedestrians to be able to cross in safety but whoever thought this up is insane."
When the Evening Standard visited the junction yesterday, traffic moving west on Holborn had between 10 and 16 seconds of green time.
It was then held back on red for between one minute and 20 seconds and one minute and 40 seconds. The phasing changes throughout the day in line with traffic conditions. Transport for London said it had been requested to make the changes at Procter Street by Camden council and that it was obliged to co-operate. But a spokesman for Camden-insisted: "We do not deal with traffic-lights." He refused to give any further explanation.
Kevin Delaney, head of road safety for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "The whole idea that one borough can go off on a frolic of its own and create chaos is a disgrace.
"As soon as the Mayor hears about it he should flex his muscles, show what he is made of and bring Camden to heel. This is a vital east/west route and if it is not working properly, neither can London."
The taxi drivers' appeal to the Mayor comes days after TfL revealed that congestion in central London is now back to levels last seen before the C-charge was introduced in February 2003.
TfL blamed roadworks and "traffic management measures" for the slowdown. But Mr Johnson announced urgent measures to speed up traffic, including instructing TfL to rephase traffic lights in a bid to avoid jams.
Reader views (23)
Schwarz, Camberwell comment is not strictly true, this kind of system operates only in some German cities (not all) and is only effective in low traffic periods, mainly during the night, which in most cases still does not make much difference as non vital traffic lights (ampel) are turned off anyway. Also to note that London would not be able to support a constant speed throughout as there are always people turning in and out of lanes which would alter the whole queue of traffic's average speed and would therefore cause them to run into just as many red lights!
- Matt Yabsley, Berlin, 11/08/2008 08:02
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This junction is next to Holborn Tube station which is located at street level and therefore large numbers of users of this station have to cross the road here to reach the station. One solution would be to build a new entrance opposite or even below the surface.
Ken had plans to divert some bus routes from this junction (e.g 19,38,55) by introducing a contra-flow bus lane from Theobalds Road towards New Oxford Street if this was done the number of buses at this junction would be reduced. Will this fall victim to Boris "Scooge" Johnson who talks of saving money while wanting to waste 100's of millions of pounds replacing nearly new artic buses.
As for Taxis its time they spread themselves out around London and perhaps a limit on the number in zone 1 was introduced.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 10/08/2008 18:56
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Kevin Delaney: "The whole idea that one borough can go off on a frolic of its own and create chaos is a disgrace.
"As soon as the Mayor hears about it he should flex his muscles, show what he is made of and bring Camden to heel"
Er how does that fit in with Boris' plans to devolve more power to the councils and leave them to their own devices?
- Dave, London, 09/08/2008 08:38
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To: Gladiatrix You making the wrong conclusions by saying "Whoever at TfL was responsible for this should be sacked." What will happen is that he will get a nice bonus at the end of the year for it. This is how it works screw something up and get a bonus, see BA, TfL, Rail etc.
- Schwarz, Camberwell, 09/08/2008 01:15
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These people should just copy the German system were drivers on a main road have right of way and if they drive at 30mph (the speed limit) they will hit green at every junction. The lights are timed between junctions if you drive 35 or 25 you hit reds at some point.
It's not rocket science, distance X speed = time driven between lights so if the first light goes green then 2 min later the next light should turn green. the point being, it takes 2 min at 30mph to reach the next set of lights... and aid the system by signing the "green on 30mph" section of the routes.
- Rob, London, 08/08/2008 23:06
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Typical... A taxis driver complaining about pointless "all red" pedestrian facilities, which are designed to help people to cross the road safety. Maybe he should think about the pedestrian who was killed in 2006 trying to cross the road? I am sure the family members would welcome his concerns, particularly his comments about "It is absolute chaos and it must be costing London millions of pounds in delays, all for no gain. We all understand the need for pedestrians to be able to cross in safety but whoever thought this up is insane."
- John Rafferty, London, 08/08/2008 20:13
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What has happened regarding the promises Boris made to relook at the Western Congestion Charging scheme. Kensington and Chelsea is miles away from the City of London which initially was the only area to be charged. Of course, Livingstone couldn't put the 2nd charging zone in the areas next to the City i.e. Left controlled Islington but he took great pleasure in charging Conservative Kensington and Chelsea. Come on Boris, do as you promised, revisit the congestion charge for West London - it has been a disaster for businesses in the area and was a nasty ploy by Livingstone to raise money from the very people he despised.
- Bwdi, London, 08/08/2008 18:38
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Whatever the rights and wrongs of this topic, it seems clear that one salaried public official or another is knowingly lying: this is an outrageous cultural change that has grown up over the last 20 or so years, and is now endemic.Last year TfL officials told me a variety of conflicting lies to justify a parking ticket they finally backed down from when it was clear I would insist on their presence at the appeal, or sue them as individuals for my wasted time.
This impunity of public servants has to be destroyed: it is not a question of party politics - nothing can work if the bureaucrats are making the rules to suit themselves.
- Mdj, Leyton, London, 08/08/2008 16:50
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This is an everyday occurrence on the Old Kent Road which has been constantly dug up for the last two years and has some of the worst transport planning in the world….
- Ade, London, 08/08/2008 16:38
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It's time someone in charge realised that all of these "Traffic Management" & "Road/Lane restriction" measures that have been dreamt up, are either the work of a complete amateur or of someone who wants to bring London to a standstill!
EVERYTHING gets trapped/delayed in the jams including Buses, Police, Ambulance, Fire, emergency service vehicles etc. It just creates more pollution too.
Stop narrowing the roads and get London moving again!
- Chauffeur Kevin., London, 08/08/2008 15:58
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What a surprise! They've been fiddling the lights for years, to justify the Comgestion Charge, because it suits their political agenda. It's an old political trick, cause a problem yourself and then offer to fix it - and if you haven't figured by now why a reduction of 100,000 vehicles in London has resulted in no decrease in journey times, you never will. Traffic light rephasing was done deliberately to back up Ken Livingstone's anti-car prejudices.
- Dave Markham, London, 08/08/2008 14:35
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Mayor Boris Johnson should be urged to step in after rephasing of traffic lights; the problem goes back a few months before congestion charging was introduced, I would suggest in order that further justification could be given for these stealth taxes. Traffic move a lot better then, so please Major have ALL traffic lights in London rephrased and let’s move forward.
- Jdf2, Salisbury, 08/08/2008 14:06
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This story is no surprise. Years ago the sight of boffins from the DoT etc monitoring a bad junction was something to rejoice as it would probably lead to adjustments to make the traffic flow faster/better. Now one's heart sinks as the only reason for these people to fiddle with traffic lights and junctions is to make the traffic go slower.
- Crest, st peter port, 08/08/2008 12:28
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Keep your promise Boris, motorbikes and scooters in the bus lanes and you'll take another 10-15% of cars off the London roads.
- Ken, Chelmsford Essex, 08/08/2008 12:26
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The Holborn debacle is designed to trap drivers in the yellow box. Nice bit of revenue.
- Teddy Picker, London, 08/08/2008 12:22
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The light phasing has just changed today at Hyde Park where Exhibition Road meets Kensington Gore following a new road layout. Without even a box junction - cars trying to do a quick left from Kensington Gore into the Park before turning right along South Carriage Drive get stuck and completely block all the traffic trying to enter the park from Exhibition Road when the lights change.
This isn't just a car issue - this is a major cycling route and I was blocked from entering the park on my bike. It looks like the traffic flow has been completely screwed.
It can't be that hard to plan ahead - can it?
- James, London, 08/08/2008 12:05
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The phasing of the traffic lights and the number of traffic lights on the Strand make this one of the worst jams in London. Try using a bus to travel along the Strand at lunchtime. I have never experienced anything like it. Whoever at TfL was responsible for this should be sacked.
- Gladiatrix, London, England, 08/08/2008 11:52
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Nobody needs a private car in London.
- Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland, 08/08/2008 11:52
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I work in Russell Sq and I can attest that the traffic yesterday was horrendous. Southampton row whilst full of traffic normally moves fairly continuously. On my way down from Euston where my bus stops I over took 5 buses trying to move south down Southampton Row.I was wondering what was going on.
- Fraser Steen, London, 08/08/2008 11:45
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I've experienced the effect of this change at Holborn as a bus passenger, and it is insane. I've also been a pedestrian on that junction and had no problems crossing the road before. However, the worst jams in the West End (at least in terms of gumming up the buses) are Gower Street, approaching New Oxford Street; and Shaftesbury Avenue westbound approaching Charing Cross Road.
- Daniel Owen, Islington, London, UK, 08/08/2008 11:45
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Actually the worst traffic jam in London is at Piccadilly circus; even the bus drivers asks passengers to alight at the end of regent's street and carry on on foot to haymarket. As we were early for an afternoon matinee, we decided not to take his advice and sat in utter disbelief for more than 30 minutes, before the bus managed to get through the lights to turn down round eros and down to haymarket! Unbelievable, you have to sit through it to believe it!
- P, london, 08/08/2008 11:11
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When has Camden council or TFL done anything for the benefit of the driving public on our roads.
Camden has the worst roads in the capital by far, pot holes, humps and all sorts of other monstrosities to hinder, prevent and deter us from using there road space. And TFL well they are not a car friendly organisation full stop and would like nothing better than to force everyone onto public transport.
Right now I can see transport officials at these two offices congratulating themselves and patting each other on the back for another job well done at this Holborn junction. My biggest fear is what are they planning next.
- Mr S.Port, London, 08/08/2008 11:01
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What about all the other relics of Ken-gestion such as Admiralty Arch coming out of the Park, Piccadily Circus going East and finally the disgraceful timings and layouts that cost northbound traffic on Sloane Street at least ten minutes at Knightsbridge at any time day or night and seem mainly intended to make life easier for the huge Candy site opposite.
- Jimmie Kern, London SE6, 08/08/2008 10:33
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