Westminster City Council will switch off dozens of traffic signals in an ‘experiment’ to improve road safety and help improve traffic flow in the capital.
The council will work with Transport for London on the six-week trial, which is due to start in late October, with a set of signals at the junction of Victoria Street and Strutton Ground – the first to be switched off.
The junction will be monitored over the period with 12 closed-circuit television cameras and eight automatic number plate-recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The lights will work normally for two weeks, be switched off for a fortnight, and then put back on again for a further two weeks. During this time, the behaviour of motorists and pedestrians will be monitored.
Martin Low, Westminster City Council’s director of transportation, 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.’
If the pilot is successful, the council could remove one-fifth of its 400 traffic signals. The move follows a number of similar initiatives across Europe – most notably in the Dutch town of Drachten – and the US, where engineers found that the absence of traffic regulation forced drivers to travel slower and more responsibly.
The council is also planning to completely remove traffic signals from a junction at Elizabeth Street and Ebury Street, near Victoria station, next year.
Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly, voiced her concern that pedestrians and cyclists’ safety would take a ‘back-seat role’ during the trial. Ms Jones told Surveyor: ‘If some kind of protection was put in place, such as zebra crossings and cycle lanes on every road, then it would be a good idea. ‘However, I fear that this will not be the case and the only way this will improve the safety of roads is by making them so dangerous that people will not want to cross them.’
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
