to access a fully secure transport system, London authorities have launched an innovative experiment through smart traffic lights whose lights change according to traffic and the approach of vehicles or pedestrians. It shortens time and increases safety.
Transportation is an essential part of contemporary life, The world would not have been as we know it if cars and trucks had not been able to transport people and goods from one street to another or from one country to another.
As much as the benefits of the transport system come its negatives, Congestion, pollution and road accidents are challenges facing every government in the world. Perhaps it is more serious in major cities such as London, Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys have shown that 31% of Londoners prefer walking to transport to certain destinations. And that 57% of them acquired new habits such as walking or exercising. But the experience of walking the city streets can be stressful with different types of lanes and cars parked everywhere to the point that reaching the sidewalk can be difficult. The government’s measures have not gone beyond placing social distancing signs, which are difficult to adhere to, on London’s narrow sidewalks.
But the biggest problem is traffic-related deaths and injuries. Government strategies over the past two decades seem to have focused more on reducing the number of cars than on improving the pedestrian experience. The movement of polluting vehicles has been banned in some areas, Surveillance cameras have been deployed to ensure compliance with regulations.
According to government figures, 868 people died or were seriously injured in road accidents in London in 2020 alone. compared to 1,350 victims in 2019.
London authorities spare no spare, Especially the Transport Authority, An effort to change this reality, The municipality has adopted a “transport strategy” that included an ambitious target of 2041 as a date for 100% traffic safety.
For the London authorities, Like many of its counterparts, Deaths or injuries in the transport sector cannot be considered inevitable or even acceptable. This concept is the cornerstone of the “zero vision of road deaths”, It is a comprehensive strategy aimed at establishing a safe and healthy transport network, Today it is applied in many countries with the participation of municipal authorities, ministries and entities responsible for the design, construction, operation and management of transport networks. along with the police and citizens.
The “Zero Vision” action plan is based on 5 elements, Safe speeds come first, In the sense of determining the limits of the most appropriate speeds according to the capacity of the city streets and how crowded they are, and widely applied. Second, Safe streets should be designed to put traffic safety before any other consideration. For example, intersections with frequent collisions are diverted. Then Add the element of safe vehicles that will reduce accidents arising from malfunction in vehicles, By establishing the “Global Standard for Bus Safety”, which London applied to its entire fleet, In addition to the new “direct view” standard for heavy goods vehicles. The human element ranks fourth in the element of safe behaviors aimed at reducing mistakes made by road users. Through awareness, education and safety training campaigns for drivers, pedestrians and riders. At last The response element comes after accidents, Which is improved by developing mechanisms for exchanging information, promoting justice and ensuring full care for accident victims.
today The Transport Authority is implementing a new experiment in 18 pedestrian paths in different parts of the city, The idea is to give priority to pedestrians, Instead of waiting for the pedestrian signal to light up green to instruct them to cross the street, The green pedestrian signal will be the default, They will only turn red when the sensor detects a vehicle’s approach.
To choose experience locations, The Commission examined several factors, such as the suitability of traffic lights to new technology, traffic density, And proximity to points frequented by pedestrians such as shopping malls, public transport stations and schools. Today, Work is underway to obtain long-term government funding and to select suitable sites to gradually increase corridors over the coming years.
Over the years, DEWA has implemented targeted projects such as the construction of special bicycle lanes, the closure of roads to cars, the establishment of pedestrian infrastructure, and the addition of 77 new or improved pedestrian lanes between 2016 and 2020. The workshops also conduct periodic inspection tours of more than 1,000 corridors annually.
The government has updated the National Highway Act so that drivers have greater responsibility for maintaining road safety. It also imposed daily fees on contracting and infrastructure companies for occupying busy street sidewalks at peak times. This is to encourage contractors to schedule construction activities in a way that does not confiscate sidewalks that have been being expanded for two years or supplement them with temporary ones to enable social distancing.
According to the data collected during the experiment, The green signal share increased by about 56 minutes a day. It shortened about 80 minutes of daily pedestrian waiting, Pedestrian signaling compliance increased by 13%. No changes to the drivers’ commitment were observed. It was found that the signals did not affect traffic, Except for minor changes in the duration of some trips, Bus journeys are 9 seconds longer, Public traffic is 11 seconds longer, While some locations have seen an improvement in the journey duration of drivers and pedestrians who have been given a smoother and easier experience by smart signals, It serves the farthest goal of making the transport network more secure.
References:
https://futuretransport-news.com/green-person-authority-pedestrian-priority-introduced-in-london/
https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/29/1054565/london-traffic-lights-pedestrians/
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/the-mayors-transport-strategy
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/planning-for-the-future/healthy-streets
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/vision-zero-for-london
