Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London is hoping to reduce congestion and road accident injuries in London by removing traffic signals, signs and markings.

He announced that he wants to move the London traffic system towards the "naked streets" principal used successfully in reducing road accidents in the Netherlands.

The "naked streets" principle takes away all traffic controls and pavements which makes drivers more aware of pedestrians because they are unsure where the road ends and the walkway begins, as pedestrians are more aware of vehicles because it is not defined where the vehicles must stop.

Likewise drivers are found to be more aware and considerate at junctions where traffic controls are removed.

The "naked street" philosophy was found to reduce significantly pedestrian accidents and vehicle road accidents when it was introduced in Drachten in the Netherlands.

Boris is not going as far as removing all traffic controls from London, in fact not very far at all, but he is altering traffic light timings in an attempt to get traffic moving, and 16 miles of guard rails will be removed over the next three years.

There is also the possibility "naked streets" may become even closer to reality after Daniel Moylan was appointed deputy chair of Transport for London (TfL), as it was he who helped deliver London’s first almost "naked street" at the High Street, Kensington.