The case against traffic lights
Category: Media Articles
Publication: BBC2 Newsnight
Author: Martin Cassini
“The case against traffic lights”. BBC Newsnight screened a piece by Martin Cassini, arguing that traffic lights diminish road safety, increase congestion, add to environmental pollution and damage public space.
The film includes a short interview with the late Hans Monderman, with Ben Hamilton-Baillie, Professor Peter Barker and others. Robert Gifford of PACTS also features.
Since this feature, a number of local authorities are undertaking trials to observe the outcome of removing traffic signals. Amongst these is North Somerset Council, which has undertaken a four-week trial in Portishead, near Bristol, to switch off a complex set of signals at the “Cabstand” junction. Keith Firth of Colin Buchanan and Partners has carefully monitored the outcome. Similar trials have taken place in Bristol and London.
