§ Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Minister of Transport whether in order to reduce traffic congestion, he will increase the number of places where traffic, controlled by light signals, may filter to the left when the road is free; and if he will particularly consider fixing filtration arrows to the lights at the point where traffic turns to the left to Albert Gate from Hyde Park towards Knightsbridge and at the top of Sidney Street, Chelsea, to turn left into the Fulham road?
Mr. STANLEYThe Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs advised that left-hand filtration should not normally be allowed, because it was dangerous to pedestrians. I share that view. Due regard must be had to the interests of pedestrians in designing any scheme of traffic signalling, and I do not therefore expect to see any substantial increase 1995W in the number of installations with green arrows allowing left filtration, but I will have inquiries made as to the two points to which my hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there are no danger signals at the points where Grove End Road and Lisson Grove are crossed by St. John's Wood Road; and whether he will have signals installed either by lights or by notices sunk into the bed of the road to warn drivers of the proximity of the cross-road?
Mr. STANLEYI assume that my hon. Friend refers to the junction of St. John's Wood Road, Grove End Road and Grove Road. I understand that no danger signals have yet been provided at this junction, but that the responsible highway authority are taking steps for the installation of traffic control signals.
§ Mr. SUMMERSBYasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that at the Fulham Road-Sloane Avenue cross-roads vehicles are frequently held up for a considerable time by the red-light signals although no traffic is in fact crossing; and if he will order a reduction of the length of time that the red light is on in any one direction?
Mr. STANLEYThe installation to which my hon. Friend refers controls the signals at the junction of Fulham Road and Sloane Avenue as well as the junction of Fulham Road with Pelham Street with Draycott Avenue, and is of the1996W vehicle-actuated type worked on a three-part cycle. No complaints regarding the working of this installation have reached me so far, but, in view of my hon. Friend's question, I am having the matter inquired into.