Closed
Dangerous and inefficient light sequence
Reported via Android in the Traffic Lights - Permanent category by Nicholas Kotarski at 09:37, Sat 28 January 2023
Sent to Central Bedfordshire Council less than a minute later. Council ref: 382809.
The new traffic light sequencing introduced last year is dangerous, inefficient and increases pollution. It should be changed so that traffic comes from one of the entrances at a time like traffic light controlled junctions in central Milton Keynes. Traffic coming from High Street South turning right into Church Street is blocked by South bound traffic moving at same time only 2 to 3 cars a time get to turn right. If traffic coming from West Street, which is now single lane, want to turn right into High Street South they can't as there is on coming traffic which then holds up all traffic behind them. Similar for traffic coming south down High Street North. Left lane is left only with right lane for straight on and right. If vehicle wants to turn right it holds up all vehicles behind due to the oncoming vehicles coming North. Drivers behind then try using the left only lane to go straight ahead and risk being hit by cars coming North bound turning right into Church Street thinking it is clear to do so. Furthermore the cars turning right into West Street having moved forward in to the junction take time to realise North bound traffic has stopped they then complete the right turn by which time pedestrians in West Street have green light to cross. My wife has nearly been knocked down twice by late turning vehicles in this scenario. Coming from Church Street like High Street North straight on traffic has been merged with right turning traffic which then holds up most of the traffic, or cars then try to get into the left only lane to go straight on again risking collisions with cars already in the lane or oncoming vehicles turning right onto High Street South. Although, the pedestrian crossings are better placed and apart from above issue are timed with no traffic moving but why is there no second diagonal crossing from east side of high street south to North side of West Street? As stated initially due to the traffic being stopped by oncoming traffic from all directions there are continual traffic jams stretching back in the case of northbound traffic to traffic lights at Mayfield Road 0.75 miles away, Church Street back to Sainsburys 0.5 miles, High Street North can be back to French's Avenue at worst times 1.0 mile. West Street back about 0.5 miles. This means there is unnecessary additional pollution and it forces drivers to use residential roads for through traffic increasing pollution for residents and greater traffic volumes especially in roads like Great Northern Road. I certainly use the residential roads to avoid the main crossroads even at relatively quiet times. Please seriously review this traffic light sequencing for safety and health reasons. Try experimenting with temporary traffic lights before reprogramming existing lights.
Updates
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Still waiting for Central Bedfordshire Council to investigate.
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 20:38, Sat 25 February 2023
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Still waiting for Central Bedfordshire Council to investigate.
Posted by Nicholas Kotarski at 20:38, Sat 25 February 2023
Still open, via questionnaire -
PLEASE CAN WE PASS THIS TO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
State changed to: In progress
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 10:45, Tue 7 March 2023
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Thank you for contacting us. This issue does not come under the responsibility of our Highways Department, however we have forwarded this report to be reallocated to another service within the council.
PASSED TO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire Council HighwaysState changed to: Internal referral
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 10:46, Tue 7 March 2023
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Hi,
We are contacting you to notify you that your report has been closed from our system. We have recently begun our partnership with a new Highways contractor and as a result we need to close previous cases that were outstanding with the previous contractor, this is part of an ongoing administrative process.
If the issue is outstanding and you believe it to be an emergency, such as exposed electrical wires, please contact us on 0300 300 8049.
If you see issues on the highways network, please continue to report these directly through Fix My Street.
Many thanks,
Central Bedfordshire CouncilState changed to: No further action
Posted by Central Bedfordshire Council at 12:31, Tue 17 October 2023
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.