I RECENTLY attended a conference where one speaker, Professor Guilliaume Thierry of Bangor University, was talking about perception.

One of his examples struck a chord with me as a regular user of Itchen Bridge. This example centred on the problem with a crossroads in a Dutch city which had cycle lanes and a couple of pedestrian crossings, all controlled by an array of traffic signals and signs.

However there were a lot of accidents at this junction. They brought in the leading expert on traffic safety to examine the problems, then on his advice they redesigned the layout, removing all that was there and installing a raised roundabout! This resulted in a dramatic reduction in accidents.

The theory was that the initial layout with all the warnings and traffic signals gave the perception that risk had been removed, concentration was less.

However the remodelled layout ensured more concentration so subsequently no accidents.

If only the powers-that-be involved in the city side of the Itchen Bridge road remodelling had done a little more research – think of the time, difficulties and money that could have been saved.

MALCOLM LOVEJOY, Itchen, Southampton.