Topic ID 5733
Wouldn't it be good if the lights on the Rush Green/A10 roundabout were part-time, like the ones on the London Road roundabout in Hertford. would save me hours of wasted time, as i drive at night for a living and i'm forever caught in them, when the roads are almost dead in the early hours. Maybe some of the money saved on wasted energy could be used to improve the drainage up there, as the A414 entry to the roundabout always floods. your thoughts, please
Reply ID 78960
The flooding is a serious issue that really needs to be tackled; many drivers see the huge puddle and either brake or swerve without really considering other road users. I'd also add that the queue for the drive through causes similar problems particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. As for the traffic lights - yes it is a pain to wait when there's no traffic about but they were installed on safety grounds rather than traffic management so I don't think they will ever become part-time. I believe the exit from the A10 south is a particular issue with the poor sight lines.
Reply ID 78961
My impression was the lights were installed to relieve the slip roads of traffic, as they build up heavily in peak hours. i was never aware this was an accident hot-spot.surely, being a roundabout drivers would slow down on approach and look to the right as normal; the white marker lines are still visible. it's only a roundabout after all. yes, keep the lights on at peak times, or all day even. but at 3 in the morning it's only a roundabout.
Reply ID 78963
http://www.hertsdirect.org/mm/md/Development_Control_Committee_3.htm/Item_2_-_Appendix_D.pdf It was always about the safety issue which is why I can't see any changes happening; you could always write to HCC to get their views and whether the traffic lights have worked and reduced the number of incidents? If the traffic lights haven't worked then there is a case to change it back, also they must have a time profile of the previous accidents and if none of them occurred in the off-peak hours then that would also make a case for part time lights.
Reply ID 78964
thank you golden. much appreciated
Reply ID 78976
I try to avoid using this route early in the morning as I find sitting at a red light when the roads are deserted so annoying. It’s a pity they did not install an intelligent system (like Old Cross) that detect the absence of other traffic and change the lights to green for on coming vehicles.[8D]
Reply ID 78994
quote:Not possible I'm afraid - they only had £800k to spend [img]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-rolleyes008.gif[/img]
Originally posted by Eyeone It’s a pity they did not install an intelligent system (like Old Cross) that detect the absence of other traffic and change the lights to green for on coming vehicles.[8D]
Reply ID 78998
I remember being caught out late one night in December 09 driving back from London to Hertford. It started snowing at Cockfosters and was scarily thick within half an hour. By one oclock in the morning there was a little convoy of 6 or 7 cars following each other up the A10 at 10 mph. I eventually got to the Hertford turn off which, as you all know, is quite steep. About 5 of us turned off and I was 4th in the convoy. We all started the ascent and then the lights turned to RED! Plonker at the front promptly stopped (despite there being no other vehicles on the island). The rest of us were left slipping and wheel spinning on the incline. I am happy to report, however, that when the lights turned back to green, Plonker at the front was able to pull away easily from their nice flat position at the lights. Not so easy for the rest of us. A night to remember [:0]
Reply ID 79013
I don't know anyone who uses this roundabout at night who doesn't hate the traffic lights. I know someone like Eyeone who actively avoids them and uses the Ware Road instead - having more traffic using built up areas at night is surely not what HCC wants? When I'm coming off the slip road onto the roundabout at night and there's nothing in front of me and no traffic on the roundabout, I just ignore the traffic lights and have done since they were installed. I've never had a problem and I've seen other drivers do it (when it's safe to do so) too. Sometimes I get an incredulous hoot from the car behind me but they follow soon enough!
Reply ID 79014
quote:They will if they have a blue light on the roof
Originally posted by Rachel Sometimes I get an incredulous hoot from the car behind me but they follow soon enough!
Reply ID 79015
I must confess i've done the same rachel. one of my mates got caught as there was a copper in the bp garage lying in wait, £60 fine and 2 points. you takes your chance i guess. i just think a system the same as the london road/A414 roundabout would be better. for drivers, (including emergency services) and the HCC electricity bill.
Reply ID 79018
Don't know how you can ever say it is safe to go through a red light. Sounds like a pretty stupid thing to do, to save yourself a maximum of a couple of minutes.
Reply ID 79024
quote:Ah, that's worth knowing, thanks. I had heard that there is some incredibly tiny number of Herts police patrol cars on duty after 11pm - something like 2 or 3 to cover all of Herts including the M25, M1, A1 etc - so I figured the chances of getting caught were miniscule. But from what you say, it sounds like the police have twigged that it's become custom and practice to jump those stupid lights on quiet nights and a nice easy source of convictions so I will just use the Ware Road in future. [:)]
Originally posted by sipukka
I must confess i've done the same rachel. one of my mates got caught as there was a copper in the bp garage lying in wait, £60 fine and 2 points. you takes your chance i guess.
Reply ID 79025
You are right about the small no of patrol cars. I was stopped just outside of Hertford in the early hours (I had a brake light out.) Friendly enough officers who said they were the only patrol covering three towns. Just my luck, of all the miles of roads that must entail they were behind me[}:)] Therefore, if you jump a red light, or commit any other offence for that matter, the chances of being caught may appear slim but it can happen. You have been warned![;)]
Reply ID 79075
quote:To be fair, you are unwittingly giving an admission of guilt by suggesting 'the chances of getting caught were miniscule' so I hope that you get caught. [:)]
Originally posted by Rachelquote:Ah, that's worth knowing, thanks. I had heard that there is some incredibly tiny number of Herts police patrol cars on duty after 11pm - something like 2 or 3 to cover all of Herts including the M25, M1, A1 etc - so I figured the chances of getting caught were miniscule. But from what you say, it sounds like the police have twigged that it's become custom and practice to jump those stupid lights on quiet nights and a nice easy source of convictions so I will just use the Ware Road in future. [:)]
Originally posted by sipukka
I must confess i've done the same rachel. one of my mates got caught as there was a copper in the bp garage lying in wait, £60 fine and 2 points. you takes your chance i guess.
Reply ID 79076
Is using Ware Road any quicker as the speed limit is 30 mph,although as people are not too bothered about going through red lights,I suppose that these people will also break the speed limit as well [:(]
Reply ID 79078
quote:I have no idea why people feel the need to rush about like Rachel. Traffic lights are great, keeping the traffic moving. Whatever floats the boat as they say. Any idiot that went out with the snow warning was daft [8D].....
Originally posted by dutch knight
Is using Ware Road any quicker as the speed limit is 30 mph,although as people are not too bothered about going through red lights,I suppose that these people will also break the speed limit as well [:(]
Reply ID 79079
I hope you get caught as well. They may be annoying but how can you justify going through a red light justy to save a few seconds, you have no way of knowing if it is safe. Someone going on green from one of the other lights will not expect there to be somoneelse ignoring red. If and when you do get caught you will be help up for a lot longer than the few seconds at the red light.
Reply ID 79080
Snow warning - what snow warning ?? You are right, it would have been daft but there was no warning that night and I was half way home before the snow started to fall. I tend to leave my car on the drive when it snows - though getting it there can be fun [:D]
Reply ID 79097
quote:It happened to be all over the news at the time, dell-boy was doing his bit and it got strangely colder with lots of darkish clouds in the sky. [:)] Subscribe to the Met Office website - you get lots of updates.
Originally posted by newgirl
Snow warning - what snow warning ?? You are right, it would have been daft but there was no warning that night and I was half way home before the snow started to fall. I tend to leave my car on the drive when it snows - though getting it there can be fun [:D]
Reply ID 79101
It was December 09 on a Saturday night and I don't tend to log on at the weekend, having a real time life to lead. I knew of no warning - whether anyone in the Met Office did, I don't know. Aren't we off the topic here?
Reply ID 79148
AAAAh, just as i was fore-warned. the subject would change, and things may get a bit personal. i wish for nobody to break any law, and my point is still the afforementioned, at the start of this thread. but i love it when a 'charlie bananas' character gets involved with no relevance. amusing, and i look forward to more posts.
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