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Prepare for the red light revolution
David Williams, Motoring Editor16.10.08
ALL traffic lights in London are to be rephased in a drive to get the city moving again, transport chiefs have revealed.
New hi-tech facilities to help pedestrians cross busy roads could also be installed.
Boris Johnson demanded rephasing of traffic lights in May, in one of his first acts after becoming Mayor.
He ordered Transport for London chiefs to improve traffic flow after soaring complaints from motoring organisations that badly-phased lights were congesting traffic.
London transport commissioner Peter Hendy has now reported to the TfL board that an average of two seconds of extra time on each cycle of traffic lights could be found.
Motoring organisations say it is sufficient to make a significant improvement to congestion.
Two years ago former mayor Ken Livingstone was accused by the RAC Foundation and the Tories of rephasing lights to slow down traffic and force people out of their cars and onto other forms of transport.
TfL said the move was to assist pedestrians and ensure the smooth introduction of the extension to the congestion charge zone.
Now Mr Hendy, in his report, said the re-timings could be achieved "without affecting pedestrians" .
Traffic signal adjustments had already begun, he said, focusing on the capital's "most important signals". Timings at about 150 sets of traffic lights had been altered since July, giving "significant extra capacity".
Junctions that have already been improved include those at Peckham High Street, Clapham High Street and Tower Bridge Road.
Mr Hendy said all traffic lights would be adjusted over six years at a rate of 1,000 a year. Improvements at some traffic lights however were awaiting approval from the Department for Transport.
He confirmed that motorcycles will be allowed into all TfL bus lanes from the start of next year, following a pledge in Mr Johnson's mayoral manifesto. The 18-month experimental traffic order would provide an opportunity for evaluation.
Smaller traffic schemes around London believed to include traffic calming initiatives installed under Mr Livingstone were also being reviewed to ensure they did not needlessly hold up traffic.
TfL's new "motorist friendly" approach revealed in the Standard in July was also proving successful, said Mr Hendy.
Twenty per cent fewer traffic enforcement and 15 per cent fewer congestion charging fines were being issued compared to last year.
The drop in enforcement income was being offset by reductions in operating costs with "headcount reductions being pursued".
The RAC Foundation said the moves were "good news". Spokeswoman Elizabeth Dainton said: "Rephasing traffic lights is long overdue as many signals in the capital have had their red phase increased and the green phase reduced over the years, causing increased delays for motorists."
She said that rephasing that created "green waves" where drivers are met by a succession of green traffic lights if they travel along major roads at the correct speed complemented by countdown signals, were "ideal ways" to create extra capacity while reducing congestion, without compromising safety.
A TfL spokesman said: "The Mayor made a commitment in his manifesto to smooth traffic flow in London and TfL is working hard to meet that pledge."
He added that altered timings at 150 sites meant extra capacity "and smoother traffic flow without detriment to pedestrians".
Reader views (24)
Did Ken Livingston (in his miss-guided wisdom) not realise that by implementing some of his so called 'traffic calming' policies in the city, he was actually aiding increased pollution?
One of the points of the congestion charge was to reduce traffic congestion (obviously) and thereby reduce pollution from exhaust fumes (naturally)......but by deliberately and in many cases (needlessly) phasing traffic lights to slow and stop traffic....the result has been stationary vehicles with their engines idling.....pumping out exhaust fumes...waiting at red lights (needlessly) in many cases.
One of the most ridiculous phasing of traffic lights has to be Hammersmith Bridge (coming into London) in the morning, whereby it is deliberately kept on red for a long period (with virtually no traffic coming in the opposite direction).Where is the logic?
To aid the economy of London (and Londoners) I thought it would make sense to allow traffic in as speedily and efficiently at the beginning of the day....and equally so at the end of it! But it appears geared to slow us down as much as possible to get in at the start of the working day........and to stop us getting away at the end of the day!
- Melvyn Vincent, London, UK.
If lights in one direction are longer on green this will mean those in another direction will be longer on red! I suppose different motorists will then complain as their journeys become slower.
As for cyclist doing left(right USA) turns on red this is often the crossing phase for pedestrians.
As for pedestrians I suppose Boris will be issuing wings as with these anti-pedestrian measures that it what more will end up with, especially at junctions like the Angel, Islington and Edmonton.
London's problem is to many junctions we need to close off many small side streets and thus reduce the need for so many traffic lights.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex.
I live in Grove Park South London, and traffic lights by Grove Park Station are not well phased. It can take at least 20 minutes quite often in rush hour to travel about half a mile.
- Angela, London, UK
I thought that Livingstn told us that they were notset to restrict traffic flow. Another out and out lie which he should be held to account for. Well done Boris keep up the good work and abolish the congestion charge.
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand
They should consider whether some lights could be abolished and replaced with give-way lines, mini-roundabouts, or Y-junctions with an alternating vehicles rule (and a camera to fine those who won't take their turn!). They should also investigate allowing left turns through all red lights.
Yes, I know that the last two have never been used in the UK. So what? They work elsewhere.
- Nigel, London
I often wonder why Britain does not allow a left turn on
a red light as we do in Canada and the U.S. In our case it is a right turn of course. Apparently, this saves millions of litres of petrol and cuts down considerably idling emissions.
- Malcolm, Bowmanville. Canada.
"It isn't just drivers who are inconvenienced, its cyclists too."
you must be the only one that doesn't jump lights then!
- Panagiotis, London
As long as there's also cameras to stop motorists blocking pedestrian crossings - last week I saw some poor kid in a wheelchair have to wait for three cycles of lights before he could cross because of selfish drivers.
- Paul R, London
Any sensible person walks, drives a car or gets on a bus. If you chose to ride a bike in central London you are asking for trouble. The rest of us normal people shouldn't have to be bothered to accommodate your nonsense. This is not Holland. Get over it.
- Jimmy, Fulham, London, England
Good news, hopefully they will also review whether some of the traffic lights are even required, there have been many new sets added at previously free flowing junctions. Also, the automatic green phase for pedestrians should be reviewed at many junctions, agreed they should have priority but only when they're there to press the button!
- Chris, London
Excellent! Does this new policy also suggest that taxi journeys will become cheaper as the timing of trips becomes quicker?
yes it will
- Steve, braintree ,essex
Thank goodness for this. It isn't just drivers who are inconvenienced, its cyclists too. There are three sets of lights on Picadilly Circus that go to red immediately after the previous one went green, and it takes three minutes just to do 100 yards.
Perhaps with proper light phasing the anti-cycling grouches might be happier as there won't be the need to either run red lights OR ride on pavements.
I drove in Prague a few weeks ago, and drove on one road that took me from the centre to the airport in minutes as every single light was green.
- George, London
Any time I've seen any traffic lights out of action, the traffic moves much better and there's never any congestion - I've never seen anyone splattered on the road either!
- Jan, Loughton
Excellent! Does this new policy also suggest that taxi journeys will become cheaper as the timing of trips becomes quicker?
- Martin Sands, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
I hope they're going to sort out the one that routinely gives the traffic a green light just seconds after giving us poor pedestrians a green man. Mind you, it gets us running!
- Suzanne, London
What impunity ! to tinker with a well devised system to make life so miserable for drivers that they are forced onto public transport where prices go up at least 10% a year...at last a measure not designed to make Londoners life a little harder...jb
- Javier Benavides, London
It's not just the relative length of red/green phases: at many junctions there are visibly all-red phases (including pedestrians) of anything up to fifteen seconds. Whoever thought this was a good idea should be identified and sacked. There is nothing anti-public transport in what is being proposed.
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
This will be interesting they often can't get "one" set of lights to work correctly.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
Lets hope this isn't just a central London thing,
outside the north & south circular the situation where
car is king needs to sorted out, there are too many
places where pedestrians and cyclist are just treated as
2nd class citizens.
- Tony, London
Hurray! Common sense is at last prevailing!
- Dannyp, Egham
At last! Many major cities like NYC already have phased lights
- Ad, london
About time. They were all fiddled with by Ken Livingstone to support his congestion charge theories and we've all been suffering ever since. And greta news about motorcycles in bus lanes too. Well done Boris.
- Peter Haldane, London
Best news of the year! Hurry up and get London traffic moving before 2012!
- Mrs. L Grey, London - UK
Set them all to green. That'll take a few vehicles off the road...
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
