Traffic Lights - The cause of...........

Point definitely taken, on local roads I really do think sensor control should be th way forward. These lights are often out and we have not had any accidents at either of these points in the long time I have lived here. I like to bring up the point you have made when often a person turning that wouldn't be in the way of the traffic is also held for no reason. If there is no one able to cross your path there is no chance of an accident. Did you also know that they are trying to change the legal definition of accident to intended collision, might soon have to be much more careful when involved in something unintentional as you may well incriminal yourself in the future if this happens.

It's great to hear your opinion, I like your forthright approach as well. Something that occured to me was that people study to become planners, but are studying something that doesn't work. Now I'm trying to fathom how things could get any better? lol! We have a little cross road down the road that has 5 exits, 2 of the roads are hardly used on the the two main areas were under lights control. Now tey have put lights at every road exit, I'd forgotton about it until I go stuck their earlier watching the tumbleweed in the wind. I know certain places they are really there because it the only safe option. Also those on big motoway junctions that none would pass without right of way otherwise. On a note about fines, Common Law & sense should prevail and be applied accordingly rather than fines just be sent automatically. We all have a right to expect so. Luckily I haven't come up against anything as such so far. I picked up on a quote about law in one of the responses, I think though they meant legality or legislation, law is a very different thing.

More govrnment 'knee-jerk' reaction to accidents. Rather than accepting that the design of the junction was wrong, they blame everyone else but themselves and introduce more laws. There is absolutely no evidence throughout history that punisghing people is the way to encourage law following! Rewaard and encouragement is better than threats. People obey laws if they are sensible. Traffic lights sensors are the ONLY way to control lights. Most are on fixed timings and are absurd in their settings! Linked lights are even more absurd and clearly show the lack of brain cells in the congestion designers! There should always be an option for the first exit to have its own turn lane to bypass lights - this is not rocket science but seems to baffle most of the congestion designers!

I often wonder in certain places if the action really is to control. I sometimes think sitting there waiting in 1st gear is that if I was moving it would probably cost me less. Less petrols required if you don't have to slow down, also less wear and tear on the car but not using lower gears. Perhaps it's to keep industry flowing rather than us? Definitely interesting.

Just another quick thought, I like the use of travel rather than drivers or vehicles.................

Just popped in to my mind, do people really know what they want? After all we've all spent too many years being told, rather than to think for ourselves and to know. Life shouldn't be this complicated affair, those that sit in positions of power make it so. Live, Love, Learn, Look out for one another!

Hi there Yes, traffic lights here really do deter drivers from going through them in general. I'd say this mainly down to the love of fining people in the UK, everyone is trying their best to protect their pockets here. Big big cash cow for them, we also have far toooooo many speed cameras. Again where they are due, fair enough, but often they pepper the street frequently. Lots and lots of revenue!

The other thing I notice when stuck at a light is, that when it is green I'm not moving, but once the light has turned we move towards it? We have a few that are sensor controlled and I think on local roads it would be a good idea to implement these in many more places. I often sit at our small crossroads, being the only car waiting for the conseutive signal to get back to me and allow me to move in to the traffic free road. If I'd have ignored the lights often, not a soul would have know and I would have been on my way without another soul being infringed in the process. Makes me think of the phrase if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear does it stll make a noise?