Will more lights create red mist for drivers? (From Daily Echo)
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Will more lights create red mist for drivers?
11:50am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
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- By Matt Smith » Politics and business reporter
IT already boasts a staggering 58 traffic lights.
Now council roads bosses want to add yet more lights to the notorious Millbrook roundabout in Southampton.
Road campaigners have warned it could lead to more gridlock and have called for traffic lights to be removed rather than added in favour of a better solution to the increase in traffic levels.
But the council claims the lights, on the approach to the roundabout, are needed to manage extra traffic from the new rubbish and recycling park at nearby Dockgate 20.
AA president Edmond King said: “It does look incredibly complex already. We would suggest they have a rethink.”
The original project to resurface and litter the roundabout with traffic lights sparked outcry from drivers when it was unveiled two years ago. It came in £500,000 over budget by the time it was completed, costing £2.6m. The council said the number of traffic lights and toucan crossings were needed to improve traffic flows and pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Southampton’s self-styled King of Cars, Michael Nobes, fumed: “It’s bad enough as it is. If you stop the flow of traffic it will just back-up. Start slowing it down even more and it will just be gridlock.
“Why can’t they just use a little bit more land to allow for a filter lane. They always go for the cheaper option of traffic lights. The council needs to start thinking about switching off traffic lights not adding new ones.”
Mr Nobes, boss of Richmond Hyundai, said the city’s sluggish traffic flows were already hitting many businesses.
Under the new plan motorists leaving the new tip off First Avenue will be sent back out along Third Avenue to join the Millbrook roundabout. A council spokesman said : “The timing of the new lights will be co-ordinated with the phasing on the existing lights on the roundabout, so there should not be additional delays.
Comments(35)
freemantlegirl2
says...
9:06am Thu 2 Sep 10
G0Rf
says...
9:07am Thu 2 Sep 10
SotonNorth
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9:11am Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark
says...
9:11am Thu 2 Sep 10
I was on a double decker bus as a kid when a car smashed into the side of if on this very roundabout. There were hardly any signs there back in 198? - but people didn't get lost and the roundabout was just as safe. The onus is on road users to use a bit of common sense, if they can't see a double decker bus that is already on the roundabout no amount of lights or signs will stop them from trying to kill themselves.
freemantlegirl2
says...
9:12am Thu 2 Sep 10
MartinWellbourne
says...
9:15am Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:Despite the report the lights are not going on the roundabout - they are to go on the side roads dockside and will not change the existing traffic flow on the roundabout itself.
So much for this week's plans for cutting down on road signs and street clutter. If there is one place where there are too many signs and too much highways agency furniture, it is Millbrook Roundabout.
freemantlegirl2
says...
9:15am Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:Indeed, plus I've had some near misses with cars careering towards me (since traffic light installation) in the wrong lane, confused about which lane, trying to beat the lights... honestly, I've taken to getting on the M27 via Lordshill now or via Rownhams towards Romsey. It's much safer!
Good morning FMG2!
I was on a double decker bus as a kid when a car smashed into the side of if on this very roundabout. There were hardly any signs there back in 198? - but people didn't get lost and the roundabout was just as safe. The onus is on road users to use a bit of common sense, if they can't see a double decker bus that is already on the roundabout no amount of lights or signs will stop them from trying to kill themselves.
allsaintsnocurves
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10:51am Thu 2 Sep 10
SW: work-blow...no joke that just about says it all!!
gillyman
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11:01am Thu 2 Sep 10
Victorian Principles
says...
11:54am Thu 2 Sep 10
gillyman wrote:Of course, if the lights weren't there then nobody would be speeding to jump them....
i dont believe the traffic lights are dangerous just the braindead numpties who speed,jump the lights or lane change without signalling lived in millbrook all my life and think these lights have reduced accidents
issy1234ben
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12:25pm Thu 2 Sep 10
THE BRICK
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12:29pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Rainbow Runner
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12:37pm Thu 2 Sep 10
jamjar
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12:40pm Thu 2 Sep 10
allsaintsnocurves
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12:43pm Thu 2 Sep 10
issy1234ben wrote:Yeah it would be nice to live in a world where we can actually have a say in what happens to the city in which we live in.
I use this roundabout every day and since the traffic lights were installed I have seen many more 'near misses' and 'road rage' due to confusion over the lane layout. We should have more control over what these idiots do to our city.
I like the rationalle for putting more traffic lights in...increased traffic needs more traffic lights...no it doesn't! It just needs more sensible road layouts...
southampton has not planned at all for the increase in traffic around the city in the last 10 years and is only going to suffer more in the future...traffic lights are not the answer...get in a transportation system that gets cars off the roads!
Lone Ranger
says...
1:00pm Thu 2 Sep 10
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Well Mr Nobes then have a word with your photogenic Councillor that you loved on the lead up to the last election as i understand he is the one for Transport.
.
Whilst your talking about traffic lights, gridlock and business's losing out ask him about another of your photographic opportunities.....yo
u know when you had a big spread in the Echo and he was going to introduce parking meters that gave change.......how did the venture work out i wonder
Brite Spark
says...
1:03pm Thu 2 Sep 10
jamjar wrote:Something has gone very wrong if you have to go all the way around a roundabout.
this is the most confusing roundabout of my driving history. It's never been afun one but since they put all the lights on it, it is sooooo confusing! I've had near misses and been beeped at due to being on the wrong lane because I can't work out which one I'm supposed to be in. Total nightmare if you have to go all the way round. I now avoid it like the plague.
Ohreally!!
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1:16pm Thu 2 Sep 10
gillyman
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1:32pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:how is it confusing with road signs and directions written on road as to where the lane goes
jamjar wrote: this is the most confusing roundabout of my driving history. It's never been afun one but since they put all the lights on it, it is sooooo confusing! I've had near misses and been beeped at due to being on the wrong lane because I can't work out which one I'm supposed to be in. Total nightmare if you have to go all the way round. I now avoid it like the plague.Something has gone very wrong if you have to go all the way around a roundabout.
jimbobbo
says...
1:42pm Thu 2 Sep 10
“The timing of the new lights will be co-ordinated with the phasing on the existing lights on the roundabout, so there should not be additional delays."
This suggests that there will be no improvements either.
Tottonion
says...
1:56pm Thu 2 Sep 10
WHAT TRAFFIC FLOW
Victorian Principles
says...
2:14pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:I don't see why. Suppose, for instance, you live in the housing estate behind McFriedBurgers at the roundabout, and want to drive to, say, Bournemouth. How do you propose I get to the M27 without going all the way round the roundabout? It can be done, but I'll take the "stupid" route of going all the way round a roundabout, over the tortuous alternatives that add miles to my journey, thanks.
jamjar wrote:Something has gone very wrong if you have to go all the way around a roundabout.
this is the most confusing roundabout of my driving history. It's never been afun one but since they put all the lights on it, it is sooooo confusing! I've had near misses and been beeped at due to being on the wrong lane because I can't work out which one I'm supposed to be in. Total nightmare if you have to go all the way round. I now avoid it like the plague.
mo.
says...
2:20pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Yes there are a couple of occasions (esp as night) where you waste a few seconds waiting for green) but that is easily worth it for the less hassle during rush hour
The lane issues will always exist - what the lights have doen is cut down on people charging through and not letting others on.
As mentioned, the new lights will not be on the roundabout and are aimed at controlling an increase in traffic joining the roundabout.
MartinWellbourne
says...
2:29pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Tottonion wrote:There is plenty of traffic flow on the roundabout - if these new lights regulate traffic approaching the roundabout from the docks then that is an aside.
Despite the report the lights are not going on the roundabout - they are to go on the side roads dockside and will not change the existing traffic flow on the roundabout itself. WHAT TRAFFIC FLOW
.
Non-story by our beloved Echo.
MartinWellbourne
says...
2:32pm Thu 2 Sep 10
.
Actually he would do well to look at his own sales team - I went to buy a new car for my daughter - the salesperson was completely clueless, didn't know how to check stock (against the adverts in the Echo) and didn't call me back. When I called him and reminded him of our meeting even more cluelessness from him. A promised call from their Pompey HQ failed to materialise. Car purchased from Everton in the end.
Victorian Principles
says...
3:55pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:Nope. It would be 360 degrees. Picture it in your head. I'm coming from the direction of the Shell garage, M271 et al, heading into Southampton. I want to be on the same road, on the opposing carriageway, running exactly parallel to my current direction. That requires a 360 degree turn, no? Sketch it out, look it up on a map, whatever.
Victorian Principles wrote:Well Mrs Ewing. Your proposed route is not a 360 degree complete circle in that case is it? 290 degrees is more like it.
Brite Spark wrote:I don't see why. Suppose, for instance, you live in the housing estate behind McFriedBurgers at the roundabout, and want to drive to, say, Bournemouth. How do you propose I get to the M27 without going all the way round the roundabout? It can be done, but I'll take the "stupid" route of going all the way round a roundabout, over the tortuous alternatives that add miles to my journey, thanks.
jamjar wrote:Something has gone very wrong if you have to go all the way around a roundabout.
this is the most confusing roundabout of my driving history. It's never been afun one but since they put all the lights on it, it is sooooo confusing! I've had near misses and been beeped at due to being on the wrong lane because I can't work out which one I'm supposed to be in. Total nightmare if you have to go all the way round. I now avoid it like the plague.
During a recent war, I was given 72 hours R and R in Kuwait. They had just installed their first roundabout but none of the locals knew how to use it, being the first one in the country. Therefore the local radio station conducted a poll to see who the public thought should have right of way. The result??
Muslims! Muslims should be given priority at roundabouts.
(Who needs traffic lights with that kind of logic?)
Victorian Principles
says...
4:07pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark
says...
4:24pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Victorian Principles wrote:Pamela, one would only complete a 360 degree circuit of a roundabout if they went past the point at which they joined it. Your suggested route of joining Millbrook roundabout from the west on Redbridge Road (Southy's patch) and leaving it travelling west on the opposite carriageway, would mean that you would have only turned through 348.2 degrees in the process.
Come to think of it, britey me old china, if your starting point was on a carriageway that leads to Millbrook roundabout, and your destination lies in the opposite direction - far from uncommon - then you have to go all the way round.
Victorian Principles
says...
4:29pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Brite Spark wrote:But the post you initially tried to pick holes in made no mention of 360 degrees. It merely said "all the way round". Which is what you do if you approach from one direction, and leave in the exact opposite direction.
Victorian Principles wrote:Pamela, one would only complete a 360 degree circuit of a roundabout if they went past the point at which they joined it. Your suggested route of joining Millbrook roundabout from the west on Redbridge Road (Southy's patch) and leaving it travelling west on the opposite carriageway, would mean that you would have only turned through 348.2 degrees in the process.
Come to think of it, britey me old china, if your starting point was on a carriageway that leads to Millbrook roundabout, and your destination lies in the opposite direction - far from uncommon - then you have to go all the way round.
Troll harder.
ray2746
says...
5:05pm Thu 2 Sep 10
MartinWellbourne
says...
5:18pm Thu 2 Sep 10
MartinWellbourne wrote:I have just seen the drawings for this work, one set of lights 100 metres from the roundabout. Total non-story by our Echo.
Tottonion wrote: Despite the report the lights are not going on the roundabout - they are to go on the side roads dockside and will not change the existing traffic flow on the roundabout itself. WHAT TRAFFIC FLOWThere is plenty of traffic flow on the roundabout - if these new lights regulate traffic approaching the roundabout from the docks then that is an aside. . Non-story by our beloved Echo.
Brite Spark
says...
5:31pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Victorian Principles wrote:All the way around is 360 degrees in my book ship mate.
Brite Spark wrote:But the post you initially tried to pick holes in made no mention of 360 degrees. It merely said "all the way round". Which is what you do if you approach from one direction, and leave in the exact opposite direction.
Victorian Principles wrote:Pamela, one would only complete a 360 degree circuit of a roundabout if they went past the point at which they joined it. Your suggested route of joining Millbrook roundabout from the west on Redbridge Road (Southy's patch) and leaving it travelling west on the opposite carriageway, would mean that you would have only turned through 348.2 degrees in the process.
Come to think of it, britey me old china, if your starting point was on a carriageway that leads to Millbrook roundabout, and your destination lies in the opposite direction - far from uncommon - then you have to go all the way round.
Troll harder.
Emmjaybee
says...
7:49pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Is there no end in sight?
frenchvic
says...
11:44am Fri 3 Sep 10
Victorian Principles wrote:Just remembered why i moved to France.
Brite Spark wrote:But the post you initially tried to pick holes in made no mention of 360 degrees. It merely said "all the way round". Which is what you do if you approach from one direction, and leave in the exact opposite direction. Troll harder.Victorian Principles wrote: Come to think of it, britey me old china, if your starting point was on a carriageway that leads to Millbrook roundabout, and your destination lies in the opposite direction - far from uncommon - then you have to go all the way round.Pamela, one would only complete a 360 degree circuit of a roundabout if they went past the point at which they joined it. Your suggested route of joining Millbrook roundabout from the west on Redbridge Road (Southy's patch) and leaving it travelling west on the opposite carriageway, would mean that you would have only turned through 348.2 degrees in the process.
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Brite Spark says...
9:05am Thu 2 Sep 10