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Just returned from Portugal and was intrigued by one of their 'traffic calming' ideas. A traffic signal stops you from moving while the oncoming traffic keeps going. The lights then change and you go but the oncoming lot have to stop and watch you go by.
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I think these speed operated traffic lights half way through villages are a good system too. Better than speed bumps, but we wont see them as they dont raise revenue.
Edited by Old Navy on 19/04/2008 at 13:15
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When I was last there these lights were, I think, triggered by drivers who were exceeding posted speed limit. A couple of hundred yards into the limit there is a set of lights which goes red and stops you, if you were speeding. As Old Navy says, because it is cheap, practical and effective we will never see it hear! The punishment of the naughty children must continue!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 19/04/2008 at 14:03
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The last time I was there, I noticed that quite a few of the local drivers ignored the red lights and just carried on. If you introduced these in the UK, then I think that they would be even more abused, as there would not be the usual 'danger of death' you gamble with in normal red light jumping, so you would need to back them up with cameras...
The other problem was even if you were travelling below the speed limit, if the car behind you wasn't, then you would still be caught by the red light.
So if the lights have been backed up with cameras, you have the situation of a speeding car rapidly closing on someone who is probably going to stamp on their brakes to avoid a red light ticket.
I suppose the 'no win, no fee' lawyers will enjoy the whiplash claims though.
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