19Dec/02Off
Mad
The traffic lights outside the tube station near work have been out of action since some time on Monday afternoon. It's a major, busy, four-way junction, with two pedestrian crossing periods built into its phasing, and it's been out of action for days. How can it not have been fixed yet?
The chaos that has been going on there all week is astonishing. It makes me long for the common-sense approach of the North American Four-Way-Stop, which by any rational standard simply shouldn't work, but contrary to all expectations about human nature, does. Perhaps the rules should be changed to require four-way-stop procedures to be the fallback when traffic lights fail....
December 19th, 2002 - 09:52
Down here in Salisbury we make the most of traffic light malfunctions – it’s the only time the traffic actually flows. Journey times through the city are typically cut by at least a half.
Considering the citys traffic problems it amazes me that not one person in charge has ever been round these systems when they’ve been ‘broken’ and realised what a total cock up they’ve made.
I’d be very suprised if British drivers could handle the four way system. US drivers are much more civilised.
December 19th, 2002 - 10:00
I know – which to me is the big shock
December 19th, 2002 - 12:25
Maybe it’s the claustrophobia of the UKs ancient winding roads.
December 19th, 2002 - 16:35
Have to agree. One my first trip to the States I was a bit apprehensive of driving but it was so easy and hassle free. And that was San Francisco city centre!