| Letters to the Editor |
| Written by Editor |
|
Thank you for your responses to the questionabout the raffic lights at the motorway junction. In response to last magazine’s letter: The timing of the lights at Junction 12 could be much improved, but I think I know why they turn red for a few seconds. Just as the traffic reaches the lights from the other side of the junction, the traffic light for the vehicles waiting to enter the junction on the opposite side of the road changes to green. Should anyone be turning right onto the motorway at that moment, they would assume that all was clear and turn in front of the on-coming traffic just as it started to move. By stopping the traffic for a few seconds it gives the other cars, should there be any, a chance to get moving so it would then be obvious that the driver would have to wait for a gap in the flow before turning onto the slip road. What is needed is a no turn right light, as the traffic could go straight ahead safely. Before long we will be complaining about the new roundabout! Ruth Betts There is a simple explanation of the behaviour of the lights at junction 12. The lights go red in both directions on the A5120 to allow traffic to exit from the northbound carriageway of the M1. When their lights go red, the traffic is allowed to exit from the south-bound carriageway of the M1 and the lights nearer Toddington turn green for traffic approaching Toddington only so that the traffic from the motorway can proceed. Also at this time there is a green arrow to allow traffic to turn right onto the north-bound motorway. The next thing that needs to happen is for this right-turning traffic to be stopped so that the A5120 traffic from Toddington can proceed safely, but the green arrow cannot just go out, leaving a green light, so, as there is no amber and red arrows, all the lights go through amber to red before going to green again without the green arrow. At the same time the lights at the other junction also go green for the A5120. So the reason is not a warped sense of humour but a simple safety measure. Peter Lloyd, 71 Leighton Road, Toddington. |