IN many recent cases, it appears that some form of 'Traffic calming' has been introduced as an almost essential feature of junctions, into new developments, especially on the old through routes which offer an alternative to by-passes built since the 1960s.

It would appear that the traffic consultants have managed to arrange almost all the major junction traffic signals to generate the maximum inconvenience to road users. Traffic often appears to flow better on the main routes in central Blackburn when all the traffic signals fail.

The traffic light sequence at the junction of Penny Street and Barbara Castle Way appears to be far less efficient at keeping the traffic moving than the old cross roads ever were; when the A666 carried much of the through Darwen and Bolton traffic back in the early 1980s.

At many re-designed junctions, it is often the case that traffic waits at the lights for over a minute in order to allow the passage of theoretical right-turning traffic, which is almost non-existent for most of the day. Perhaps if the main routes flowed better, drivers would not seek and use 'rat runs' through residential streets.

Many of the latest junctions appear to have been designed to fit standard kerb components, not meet the physical needs of the longer vehicles which need to use them.

It is often the case that long vehicles are forced to straddle the narrow lane markings, and as most drivers are never educated about the pace needed for long vehicles to negotiate tight junctions, some motorists may become frustrated, and perhaps take out their anger on other road users; being unable to take it out on the people who perhaps designed the problem in the first place.

Cases of 'road rage' have increased over recent years and perhaps traffic calming, unsuitable road layouts and incomprehensible traffic sequences have contributed to this.

Perhaps there would be no need to fit buses with high-tech equipment to change traffic lights on bus routes if someone took the trouble to design a set of 'smart' traffic lights which allowed traffic to flow on the main routes without leaving drivers waiting for almost non-existent right-turning traffic.

The introduction of a more durable version of the old 1960s rubber pressure strip switches, which were once fitted into the road surface on the approach to most traffic lights, could probably cut out most delays at junctions with minor roads, but perhaps some current road designers are too young to be aware that they ever existed and just how efficient they were.

G PYE, Downham Road, Chatburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.