New Technology To Protect Pedestrians At Crossing Lights

Friday, 16. July 2010

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of driving through the centre of London during rush hour you will appreciate that pedestrians are total loonies. They stream across traffic lights clearly believing that should they be hit by a car travelling at 10 miles per hour it wouldn’t hurt or they have mysterious clothing that is tougher than pressed steel with a tonne of material thrusting it forward controlled by a person with red horns and a tail. In order to introduce some caution and hopefully save a few injuries Bonkers Boris is introducing digital timers on traffic lights showing pedestrians how long they have to get to the other side before the lights change. The idea behind this new technology is based on the fact that pedestrians won’t take a risk if they only have a couple of seconds to get across the road. Yeah right! It’s a challenge! There’ll be hundreds of pedestrians bedecked in trainers, shorts, tight fitting tops, sunglasses and back to front caps on the edge of the road just waiting for the digital display to hit 2 seconds then trying to get to the other side before the display hits zero! Of course God forbid that the two cars lined up on the front of the traffic light grid can actually see the digital countdown! It’ll be better than the drag racing at Sante Pod. Engines revving louder as the countdown starts then clutch engaged and wheel spinning from Marble Arch to the Houses of Parliament! Excellent, worth every penny of the tenner congestion charge – or have I misunderstood something? Anyway, if you’re interested the initial trials will see digital readouts installed at eight of London’s busiest junctions including Oxford Circus on Oxford Street and Regent Street. Will it work? Let me have your thoughts! By Graham Hill