Closed
Timing for Northampton Road traffic lights
Reported in the Request Timing Review category by Samuel Shoesmith at 18:10, Wed 26 February 2020
Sent to Northamptonshire Highways 5 minutes later. ref: 2024505.
Please could the timings be adjusted?
The timings are incorrect. It is bizarre. When the button is pressed, a pedestrian is required to wait when priority should be given to the pedestrian. The car has free flow access for an apparently indiscriminate amount of time.
Yesterday I waited for 25 seconds after pressing the button to simply cross to the half way point. I then had to contend with the other crossing. I stood there watching my watch and in my peripheral vision watched car after car after car pass me. The sensors seem to sense the cars coming and allow them to continue, until there is a small gap. Why though? It goes red for the motor traffic and it soon builds up as there is a near constant flow of traffic on this road. Could it be adjusted so it waits for a few seconds to allow drivers to see the amber and stop within a safe distance.
According to research from the Department for Transport and the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, travel should be prioritised for pedestrians.
My walking journey takes 9 minutes and if there is a constant steam of motor traffic on Northampton Road, then it increases my journey time by approximately 12.5%.
Thank you.
Updates
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Thank you for reporting a fault. We will use the information you have provided to assess and prioritise this fault in accordance with our published response times for fault reports.
State changed to: Investigating
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 18:15, Wed 26 February 2020
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Thank you for contacting Northamptonshire Highways. Pedestrian crossing timings are set as per national guidance set out in Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs manual which replaces TAL 05/05 and LTN 2/95. Signal timings are set to optimise both waiting times for NMU and for vehicular traffic so that congestion is reduced to a minimum and are based on the number of pedestrian users expected and traffic flows. We have to cater for all road users and not just pedestrians so we have to find the right balance between the two so that we do not cause unnecessary delay to either pedestrians or vehicles. Nationally within the industry it is viewed that a waiting time of up to 60 seconds for pedestrians is acceptable in peak periods however is much longer in some busier towns and cities. The minimum green period for vehicles is 7 seconds which is extended as vehicles approach the crossing, this is to ensure that delays are minimised and to ensure vehicles do not stop suddenly causing a hazard for other road users. The crossing Mentioned in your report is fitted with overhead sensors that detect approaching vehicles at a distance of 35m. The maximum amount of green time for vehicles is set at 30 seconds during the peak period and 24 seconds during the off peak period. This time starts from when the button is pressed. This crossing is a Near-sided Toucan crossing which operates in the same way as a puffin crossing, this has sensors that detect people still using the crossing which extends the period that vehicles are held at red up to a set point providing a benefit to pedestrians to cross in their own pace. We have arranged for an engineer to attend site to check that the detection is operating correctly.
State changed to: Closed
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 16:06, Mon 2 March 2020
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.