Traffic lights removal to make roads safer

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FiT Roads claim removing traffic lights would make Britain's roads safer for motorists and pedestrians - 4th August

Fit Roads charity is promoting a campaign to remove traffic lights from Britain’s roads; they claim that many road accidents are caused by the rules of the road which allow priority to vehicles on main roads.

FiT Roads want to promote safe travel on roads for all road users including pedestrians.

The DfT recently announced that in 2007 the number of road fatalities fell 7% on those in 2006, but many still believe that more can be done.

Professor John Adams of University College London said: “Today’s child road-death rate is not evidence that roads are safer,” adding: “Roads are seen as so dangerous that children are not allowed out anymore.”

Fit Roads oppose the regulations that cause conflict and dictate how drivers should behave depriving road users of there own choices. It hopes to see a replication of the Channel Isles system where vehicles filter in the order that they arrive at junctions, claiming that this creates a more natural flow.

Martin Cassini of Fit Roads writes that most 'accidents’ are not accidents at all. They are events contrived by the rules of the road. He believes that the problem at the centre of the current system is that it is based on priority.

He argues that traffic lights cause conflict as motorists rush to beat lights turning red, which distracts them from other road activities and so increases the chances of a road accidents occurring.

Traffic lights are also responsible for increased fuel consumption causing vehicles to stop and then pull off again, often adding to a drivers frustration because the route is clear.

The system of priority puts the onus on pedestrians including children to look out for vehicles. By putting the most vulnerable at the top of the hierarchy motorists need to watch out for pedestrians. This means pedestrians can walk freely and the system would work more on commonsense and courtesy.