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news
Turning the Corner (British Cycling).jpgBritish Cycling say Highway Code rule change could cut traffic queues by almost half
British Cycling’s Turning the Corner campaign is calling for a universal rule to give way when turning to reduce the risk of cyclists and pedestrians falling victim to left hooks. The organisation has recently commissioned research which revealed that such a move could also reduce motor traffic queue lengths by 43 per cent.
The UK is one of just three countries in the world which does not have a priority rule at traffic light junctions. As part of its campaign, British Cycling asked transport planners Phil Jones Associates to model the impact of the change at the Lea Bridge Road/Orient Way junction in Waltham Forest, Greater London.
Their research found that the change would reduce the amount of time all road users spent navigating a typical set of traffic lights. Queue reductions were largely attributed to a move from a three-stage traffic light sequence – where one phase is for pedestrians and cyclists – to a two stage sequence, where pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles can all go at the same time.
A simple amendment to the Highway Code could reduce motor traffic queue lengths by .
https://t.co/zqSYiIed7A #TurningTheCorner pic.twitter.com/hcSvnkwMoJ
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 27, 2017
British Cycling’s policy adviser, Chris Boardman, said: “Simple changes to the Highway Code and regulations would not only make junctions safer spaces for all road users, it would also make them much more efficient, saving lots of time. The time saved at this single junction amounts to around six hours every year for regular car commuters – that’s a whole season of Line of Duty – and would reduce exhaust emissions by 17 per cent.
“Beginning the process of changing these rules to bring us in the line with the rest of the world would not be an onerous task – it is simply a case of updating the Highway Code and is something that the Transport Secretary could action tomorrow.”
Policy advocate Dame Sarah Storey added: “If you are new to driving or cycling in the UK, our junctions can be really confusing and dangerous spaces to navigate. We’re about 50 years behind most other countries in the world in solving this and it staggers me that our government is still dragging its feet. Bringing in this rule change is a no-brainer and I hope this research goes some way to educating decision makers on the way forward.”
Director of Highways and Traffic Management at Waltham Forest Council, Vala Valavan said: “We want to make it easier for everyone to travel no matter if you are driving, walking, cycling or taking the bus but the current rules at junctions make it difficult to maintain vehicle capacity. The results of this model show that it is possible to improve the efficiency of junctions and at the same time provide traffic protected routes for people walking and cycling.
“We hope that further research can be undertaken to show how it could work and meet the needs of all road users.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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41 comments
But if there are countries that use the system AND have worse accident records than ours, then what?
If you brought this in there would be carnage, mainly caused by the elderly. Not long ago they changed the long-standing traffic light sequence at a major junction, after some minor accidents and plenty of near misses they changed it back. People just couldn't adjust. It was the same when they changed a two lane junction from left = left and ahead, right =right, to left =left and right=ahead and right. Lots of honking and near misses and angry people stuck behind people turning right. They changed it back again.
Bring this shit in when nobody is actually driving a car and Johnny Cab is doing it.
I'm living in Finland now, I drive here and I cycle here. I've lived/cycled in the UK and Ireland too so I've seen both sides of this rule.
This change is ABSOLUTELY needed, and ALL cyclists should get behind this. I'm amazed by the comments here - you really think that the way things are now is better??
The current system gives priority to cars, which effectively gives drivers the right to slingshot around the corner without even looking.
The proposed change forces drivers to observe cyclists or walkers approaching on the footpath (or shared use path), 10 metres either side of a junction. To do this they need to slow to a crawl, look ahead and look over their shoulder. This doesn't just happen at junctions with pedestrian crossings, observation improves at all junctions and turning speeds get reduced.
Yes, there will be a learning period of a couple of weeks, but then it's done. A crowd of pedestrians staring down a driver who flew around a corner then had to slam on the brakes is very effective feedback.
One car stopped or slowing to allow pedestrians to cross means the cars behind have to stop or slow down too. Drivers will start anticipating this and look further down the road, which helps everyone.
Any minor delays to a journey will be more then compensated by improved traffic flow and quicker junction/traffic light cycle times (as per the research discussed here)
THE way to improve cycling safety is to improve driver awareness. Until drivers are forced to look for cyclists/pedestrians, they won't.
In reply to Atlaz's concerns above; pedestrians don't "launch" themselves out when you have a green. They've usually got a green light too. You - as a driver (or cyclist) - have to look first, check if there is anyone about to walk across, let them go, then drive on.
I agree. I can't understand the opposition to this. We're all bemoaning poor road safety, and congestion is a problem too, and then finally someone actually comes along with a proposal that is simple to implement, backed up by research, with demonstrated success elsewhere, and half you guys immediately shoot it down. So it's not perfect, so some tossers will ignore it like they do the rest of the Highway Code. Doesn't matter, it's still better than what we've got now.
This proposition is quite different to yielding to pedestrians already crossing a side road.
However this works in other countries, I think there would be a fundamental issue here in the UK for all existing drivers in that it introduces a totally alien and unique circumstance of traffic overtaking on the nearside of the vehicle.
Everything that drivers are currently taught conforms to the basic principal of overtaking on the offside. Drivers are simply not programmed to check for faster vehicles approaching from the rear and overtaking on the nearside. Motorcyclists get taught to shoulder check before turning in either direction, or at least we used to. There would also be issues around vehicle blind spots, even if the driver does check. From the number of minor accidents at roundabouts caused by a driver rear ending the vehicle in front because they are concentrating on traffic that is on the roundabout, it would be easy to foresee a similar left turn scenario where the driver is expected to look backwards to check for vehicles overtaking on the nearside and runs into the vehicle in front. To add to a perfect storm, cyclists would actually be told and encouraged to ride down the nearside of HGV and PSV vehicles, a situation that we know from too many deaths is an awesomly dangerous place to be.
Although the long term benefit may be proved by looking at how this works in other countries, there must surely be a period of confusion and adaptation during which one would expect increased cyclist casualties. This proposal needs some really serious thought on the unintended immediate consequences.
You're right of course, there are complexities and I think when we say "simple to implement", we mean relatively to major construction works etc. It's not trivial. As I understand it, partly what they're getting at is fixing the problem of cycle paths effectively stopping at every side road, so this aspect is somewhat analogous to the pedestrian situation. For the rest of it, where there is no cycle path or lane and you're on the road, then there is still an onus on the cyclist not to charge up the near side of an HGV and hope for the best. There is still the overriding need to keep alert for potential dangers, make sure you've been seen etc. Same sort of thing that pedestrians should do when crossing with the green man, you still keep your eyes open. But this will help to stop the car coming from behind and left hooking.
No, just thing that there are a lot of easier and more immediate things that need addressing well before this would ever get off the ground, let alone make any difference.
And due to a law change on the presumption of resonsibility for accidents, the currently system doesn't really give priority for cars. So that is an acutaly staturoty change in the law, no phaffing around with the Highway Code. Has it made much difference?
One example, a vehicle behind encroaches into your safe space, you then have to move away (swerve or veer), possibly brake or they may well crash into you, as happens so frequently on our roads. What bit of a simple concept don't you understand? You really don't have a clue do you!
Z
Overtaking on the nearside is legal in one-way streets and in "queuing" situations. British drivers are already familiar with this. They should also have been taught to properly check their mirrors for filtering bikes. (Yes, I know many people struggle with mirrors).
Having tried various sealants that Orange Sealant works the best for bigger holes.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orange-Seal-Endurance-Sealant-Injector/dp/B015M...
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I tell anyone I'm helping with learning to drive "Forget about the guy behind you. What he's doing is not your problem."
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Hmmm, see where you're coming from, but a bit blunt as expressed there. Examples include: getting out of the way of emergency vehicles approaching from behind; awareness of people overtaking you; being aware of when someone is too close behind and adjusting accordingly.
I imagine they mean more like when you are not driving/riding fast enough for the person driving behind you, then you can just forget about them - "I am responsible for my own vehicle and journey - I am not responsible for anyone else's vehicle or journey, nor what time they chose to leave the house, so if I'm moving slower than they'd like then they can just overtake me."
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