German town abolishes traffic lights

[Colin James]

German town abolishes traffic lights and codes. Accidents are now almost non-existent!

 

In this fascinating public experiment, a German town wanted to see what would happen to traffic flow if they got rid of street signs, lights and other restrictions.  The results are intuitive, but not what you would expect!  Everything got safer and faster.  Would this model hold true for other areas of infrastructure?  Drivers must give way to the left and not drive too fast.  That's the only rule.  Even the police love the new system, and best of all, people are safer on the road.  Drivers are much more aware and use eye contact and instincts.  People WANT to stop for other people and help things move more efficiently.

 

 

 

Full details here

[Biomech]

It's quite funny Colin, people of the council are bashing your idea because "the lights are off and it's utter chaos". They seem to think that turning half of the lights off equates to turning them all off and so builds their defense for "you can see it doesn't work"

[Colin James]

It's quite funny Colin, people of the council are bashing your idea because "the lights are off and it's utter chaos". They seem to think that turning half of the lights off equates to turning them all off and so builds their defense for "you can see it doesn't work"

 

You are absolutely correct but you will notice that the direction where the traffic lights are off is where the traffic flows beautifully, the current traffic jams in Edgar Street are ONLY in the direction where the temporary lights are on (southbound) the ONLY way to get a true reflection is to turn them all off.

[Alex]

I clearly works Colin, keep up the good work with your traffic lights campaign, hopefully the council will see sense at some point and will at the very very least give it a trial as above or by turning them off for a few months. I totally and utterly agree that the main city traffic lights all round the ring roads could be made part-time like you have suggested and turned off at 7 or 8pm until 6am, thats a no brainer for me. 

[megilleland]

From H&W local radio website today:

 

Traffic lights: let's bin 'em, says Worcester councillor

 

By Tom Edwards

 

Cllr Cronin says drivers are fed up with traffic lights across Worcester

 

Worcester City Councillor Simon Cronin, who also runs the Plough Inn, at Lower Broadheath, says drivers are fed up with lights littering the landscape, insisting it worsens congestion, hits motorists in the pocket and infuriates people.

 

However, the county council says traffic lights play an important role in controlling traffic in the city.

 

But Labour politician Coun Cronin says two out of every three lights could be removed without any problems, saying it would only benefit the city. “It’s absolutely ridiculous and has got to the stage where you begin to think someone must be on some sort of bonus for switching the blasted things on,†Coun Cronin said.

 

“It absolutely infuriates me because you drive through the city and run into one set after another, I believe we could get rid of two out of every three and put the rest in a skip.

 

“We all know we are living in straightened times and we accept one cut after another to public services, but at the same time you’ve got a highways department putting up light after light willy-nilly.â€

 

He also highlighted what he considers one of the county’s worst journeys for traffic lights - the route from London Road to Lower Broadheath, the drive he makes home.

 

The four-mile drive, including the A44 and Martley Road takes in 20 lights, with Coun Cronin saying all but three or four are useless.

 

“On my journey back from the pub only around one or two are on red, which gives you an indication of the genuinely useful ones,†he said.

 

“You could probably eliminate 16 or 17.

 

“From the river bridge to the cathedral you hit seven lights alone.â€

 

He says some of the “needless†lights include the junction of Comer Road and Bromwich Road, and off Bromyard Road in St John’s, near the new medical centre development.

 

He says the sprawling lights across Worcester are costing people money in fuel and damaging the air quality.

 

However, Worcestershire County Council has defended traffic lights as an “important measure†in keeping people safe.

 

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “The council views the use of traffic signals as an important measure in keeping vehicles moving safely at junctions and dealing with large volumes of traffic.

 

“Decisions to install traffic signals are made with due diligence to a number of factors, including helping aid large flows of traffic from new developments and reducing junction accident problems.

 

“They are also an important way of assisting sustainable transport methods, such as aiding pedestrian and cycle movements at junctions and giving priority to public transport to improve journey times.â€

 

They are running a vote on the article above. Here is the latest result at 9am today. The result gives a clear message and endorses Colin's Lights Out campaign in Hereford

 

Are there too many traffic lights in Worcester?

Yes, many are not needed:  71%

No, we need more: 7%

Yes, but they're necessary: 20%

I don't know: 2%

[Colin James]

Thanks for the update Martin it will be interesting to see what happens in Worcester. I know that they have been campaigning over there too for quite some time. I have emailed Simon Cronin (Worcester City Councillor) who is behind this campaign.

 

Yes, many are not needed: 72%

No we need more: 5%

Yes, but they are necessary: 21%

I don't know: 1%

[Biomech]

You are absolutely correct but you will notice that the direction where the traffic lights are off is where the traffic flows beautifully, the current traffic jams in Edgar Street are ONLY in the direction where the temporary lights are on (southbound) the ONLY way to get a true reflection is to turn them all off.

 

 

Absolutely this ^^

 

Also ref Megilellands post, I'm only too familiar with this scenario and, no doubt, Colin will fall victim to it as well - come up with a fantastic idea that benefits everyone and get verbally abused and bashed for it. Roll on a year or two and suddenly upper management have "come up" with a great (same) idea that they push forward with taking all the credit for whilst completely failing to acknowledge your efforts.

[Frank Smith]

Absolutely this ^^

 

Also ref Megilellands post, I'm only too familiar with this scenario and, no doubt, Colin will fall victim to it as well - come up with a fantastic idea that benefits everyone and get verbally abused and bashed for it. Roll on a year or two and suddenly upper management have "come up" with a great (same) idea that they push forward with taking all the credit for whilst completely failing to acknowledge your efforts.

 

Yes you are dead right.