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I actually wanted to speak to Ken Livingstone about traffic problems,
but Mayor, shmayor, what's the difference! Derek Turner has
responsibility for the Transport for London Traffic Management
Department and that's good enough for me!
Sid Nathan (K88):
Why aren't bus lanes monitored so that buses and taxis can have
better access?
Why is parking allowed next to road works causing huge tailbacks?
Why is parking allowed on street corners (within 3 meters of the
junction)?
Why don't buses stop in the kerb by itself even though there is room in
their square?
Why are there no traffic wardens in the West End until at least 4.30am,
especially around Leicester Square / Cranbourn Street area where
minicab parking blocks the whole area?
Finally, pedestrians waiting at a pedestrian crossing should by law not
be able to step onto the crossing for at least four seconds? People
cause accidents by taking it for granted that traffic is going to stop.
Derek Turner:
You are quite right that for bus lanes to be successful, it's vital
that they are properly enforced. Indeed, the Mayor has made it
clear that he considers improving bus journey times one of his top
priorities, as people will only change from their cars to public
transport when a viable alternative is available. They must be
confident about planning the trip, waiting in comfort and having a
reliable and predictable service. You will be glad to know that
cameras are being used to enforce London's bus Lanes and this has
increased enforcement resources considerably. However, much
more remains to be done and there is still the perception that the
chances of being caught for any traffic offence are small. The Mayor
has recently approved an enforcement action plan outlining a series of
measures aimed at bringing about a sea change in enforcement.
As part of this plan you may be interested to know that we
are
Enforcement Camera System (introduced by the Traffic Director for
London and now transferred to Transport for
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London). This system uses video cameras, mounted either on buses or
at the roadside, to enforce bus lane regulations in London. By March 2002
there will be 500 road side and CCTV cameras and 900 on-bus cameras
covering all London's 700 bus lanes. This will help ensure that London's
bus lanes are kept clear for buses and that a small minority of selfish
drivers are not allowed to get away with disrupting the journey of bus
passengers.
Transport for London (TfL) is the traffic and highway
authority for some 550 km of London's busiest roads that form the
Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). These roads are largely
subject to Red Route controls. The timing and traffic management measures
for all planned works on the TLRN, including those of utility companies,
must first be agreed with TfL and are specified as far as is practicable
to minimise disruption to the travelling public. Where stopping
boxes are located on the approach to or within a section of Red Route
subject to works, these are suspended by means of temporary signs. Where
utility companies have need of emergency access to their equipment, we
seek their assistance at this time in minimising the impact of their
work.
On local roads (subject to yellow line parking restrictions or
uncontrolled) London's borough council's are the highway and traffic
authority and the Mayor has no direct remit in the management of these
local roads.
On the TLRN, junction approaches are controlled either by
single or double red lines, the latter being the case for all signalled
approaches. At minor side roads, entry treatments often have been
constructed. These narrow the side road carriageway and raise the entrance
to footway level to discourage parking at the junction itself, reduce
approach speed, shorten pedestrian crossing distances and improve
visibility both for drivers and pedestrians.
You also mention night Traffic
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Warden patrols around the Leicester Square area.
Roads that form part of the TLRN, are currently enforced by the
Metropolitan Police Traffic Warden Service. All other local roads are the
responsibility of the local authorities to enforce. Referring to the
examples you stated in your letter, none of these are part of the TLRN and
therefore enforcement on these roads is the responsibility of Westminster
local authority and their parking attendants. However, we are
concerned that Metropolitan Police Traffic Wardens do enforce beyond the
evening peak rush hour. As a result of this, the Metropolitan Police Service
have recently renegotiated their contracts to facilitate this.
You have suggested that a law should be passed that would require
pedestrians to wait four seconds before putting their feet on the crossing.
I assume that you are referring to Zebra crossings here, for Pelican
Crossings and other signalled crossings, pedestrians should be waiting
for the green man. Your idea is one that I think is neither easily
enforceable nor desirable in some cases. If there is no traffic approaching,
I can see no point in asking the pedestrian to wait. A law would have to be
applied nationally as it would be dangerous to have different conditions
within London and outside of London, and this would require the co-operation
of central Government. Even if the Government was supportive, there would be
many difficulties in enforcing it. There are insufficient police resources
to spare for new initiatives such as this. The problem would be made worse
because many pedestrians would find it unreasonable to wait four seconds for
no apparent safety benefit.
The key issue here is the way that some pedestrians step out
into the road without taking enough care to check that their way is clear or
that the oncoming vehicle can see them and stop in time. I agree with you
that something must be done to prevent this. We will be launching a
publicity campaign in the New Year that is intended to warn pedestrians of
the danger of this type of behaviour, and also to ask drivers to look out
for pedestrians more effectively. I am looking for action by all road users
to help reduce the high levels of pedestrian and other casualties. |
