Research shows 'no reason' to install traffic lights at Stirling Corner, says TfL director (From Borehamwood Times)
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Research shows 'no reason' to install traffic lights at Stirling Corner, says TfL's Alan Bristow
8:53am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News By Anna Slater
Tony DeSwarte, pictured at Stirling Corner
A Transport for London director who was challenged to see how “lethal” Stirling Corner is for himself said he has already carried out detailed research into the area.
Tony DeSwarte, of Nash Close, Elstree, invited Director of Traffic for TfL, Alan Bristow, to drive through the roundabout in a bid to show him how 24-hour traffic lights would benefit the area.
But Mr Bristow said that over the last year, he has regularly visited the area with engineers to see how traffic operates.
He added: “These visits have fed into our recent detailed research into the traffic signalling at this location.
“Combined with the accident history at the roundabout, this does not indicate there is a reason to alter the current arrangements to this spot.”
He added that safety measures such as road resurfacing were carried out at the roundabout, which separates Barnet and Borehamwood, earlier this year.
Mr DeSwarte, who is 66, was left feeling angry by this response. He said: “I specifically asked Mr Bristowto drive around Stirling Corner himself.
“When a road situation is like this, it causes a lot of stress for the travelling public. Why, for the sake of a couple of traffic lights, can it not be put right?
“It will only be a matter of time before there is a major incident.”
Comments(3)
Reader (R)
says...
11:37am Thu 18 Oct 12
TFEB wrote:Spot on! The first bit of commonsense I have read concerning Stirling Corner.
Traffic lights would just cause delays on the A1. A cycle and footway bridge over the junction is needed for those not in cars.
Over 60,000 vehicles per day on the A1 use Stirling Corner with very few accidents.
If some drivers are not up to coping with a busy roundabout they should use Rowley Lane or get a bus pass rather than expect 60,000+ other people to be delayed.
PaulusTheGrey
says...
8:47am Fri 19 Oct 12
It is not a case of confidence in using Stirling Corner per se, there will always be those drivers who are less confident or more cautious when using major junctions such as this. It is more a case of sheer bulk of traffic trying to use the A411 and the A1.
When the lights were turned off "experimentally" the number of accidents increased, especially during the evening peaks. I can't be sure as I don't have access to the statistics, but I would be willing to believe the majority of these involved collisions between vehicles travelling A1 northbound and A411 westbound, and that in turn due to the impatience of drivers stuck in the exceedingly long tailbacks northbound on the A1 that occurred during the evening peak flow at the time.
Ease the congestion by keeping/extending the ATS at Stirling corner, it may be an expensive cost saving exercise if you remove them.
TFEB says...
9:23am Thu 18 Oct 12
Over 60,000 vehicles per day on the A1 use Stirling Corner with very few accidents.
If some drivers are not up to coping with a busy roundabout they should use Rowley Lane or get a bus pass rather than expect 60,000+ other people to be delayed.