§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the so-called "traffic boxes", such as the one in Oxford Street, have proved successful; and if so whether more of these are being introduced at other congested crossings throughout the country.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)My Lords, generally traffic conditions have improved at those junctions in London where yellow box markings are laid down. The Greater London Council, as the traffic authority for London, is responsible for reviewing this experiment after it has had a fair period of trial. It is too early to reach comprehensive conclusions. No local authority outside London has yet decided to introduce this measure.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether it is not a fact that most accidents occur at crossings, rather than on the general straight run of the road?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, I think that is probably true. But the most successful of these boxes have been at busy junctions, where they have allowed an easier flow of the traffic from the side roads.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while feeling that these yellow boxes have been a great success, I wonder whether I may call the attention of my noble friend to a problem that arises even where they are in operation. Is he aware that when traffic is allowed to turn right after it has crossed half the main road—in this case, Oxford Street—it is practically impossible for pedestrians to get across at all, while for elderly people it is both dangerous and difficult? May I also ask my noble friend whether he knows that by the time this traffic has finished filtering right the traffic lights have changed again, the main flow has resumed, and so far as the pedestrian is concerned this is just a continuous flow? Finally, am I not correct in saying that in New York pedestrians have the right of way under these circumstances, and that this is enforced? Could my noble friend look at this aspect of the matter?
§ LORD LINDGRENYes, my Lords. We shall be only too happy to look at it in the light of the noble Lady's statement.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that many people, particularly those living in the countryside, are confused and somewhat distracted by these yellow signs on the roads? Furthermore, if we do not have sufficient police to act as observers, how is the unfortunate motorist to be caught in this traffic "gimmick", in this yellow traffic box?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, the most frequent users, of course, are those already in town. The London police are pretty lenient, where it is obvious that the person who is using the road is not a frequent visitor, and we have had no difficulty up to the present time. I was going to say that the police are most enthusiastic, but at least they approve of this experiment because it is of considerable help to the traffic flow.