Traffic lights madness

AS we all know the Queensland government is spending current estimate anywhere between $56bn (Qld government website) for the Cross River Rail project which will unlock a bottleneck by delivering a second river crossing, allowing more trains to run more often.

Integrating with new roads and new bus services to enable a turnup-and-go public transport system across the whole of South East Queensland, this transformational project will improve our quality of life.

That sounds great. Now we come to Townsville with its antiquated traffic light system, which is more in keeping with the horse and cart era rather than modern day transport with internal combustion engine driven vehicles.

Transport and Main Roads seem to have a mindset to put as many obstacles as they possibly can to interrupt the free flow of traffic.

Currently we have empty turning lanes with the turning arrows activated holding up through flowing traffic for no reason. Unless the triggering mechanisms are so out of date, there is a cost to repair and maintain them, what was it $5-6bn in Brisbane being spent?

We have “T” intersections where vehicles turning left have to wait for a green light when the vehicle could have turned left with care at any time as vehicles entering the road are either turning left or right, go figure, more fuel being wasted contaminating the atmosphere.

We have red arrows now on permanently when there is a view of almost half a kilometre down the road when a vehicle could have turned right with ease.

Just the other day I was turning right from Nathan St into Alfred St with a red arrow I could see south bound traffic parked at the Ross River Rd intersection obviously at red lights and the road was completely clear but I couldn’t make a turn.

The same circumstances at the intersection of Nathan St and Charles St turning right at red arrow one can see the traffic parked at Vincent Village with the southbound lanes completely clear of traffic but we have a red arrow.

Another location, which springs to mind, is Fulham Rd and Gulliver St intersection, turning right out of Gulliver St into Fulham Rd there is a view as far as the Gulliver St intersection with Ross River Rad which is close to being a kilometre away but we have a red arrow.

Talking of Ross River Rd, the other day travelling along Ross River Rd towards Nathan Plaza I could see the traffic lights at the intersection with Anne St, had been green for some time.

I eased off on the approach and was about halfway through the intersection when the lights changed to amber, I accelerated back up to 60 quite briskly on cruise control and low and behold, as I approached the traffic lights at Elizabeth St they changed to red (free-flowing traffic).

I am of the opinion that traffic light synchronisation is not in the language of Transport and Main Roads. We can’t even synchronise the traffic lights at Domain which are within 100 metres of each other.

Then we have good old Woolcock St with the hundreds of vehicles all jockeying for position as the lights change at the Bohle Barn city bound, individuals travelling in the outside lane at 85km/h (100 zone) with everyone else trying to get around them and we wonder why there are so many crashes.

Likewise travelling in the opposite direction from the lights Mather St, the outside lane is blocked with vehicles travelling at 80-90km/h holding up the traffic.

This causes some drivers who find it difficult to control their emotions to do silly things while behind the wheel even those drivers turning right into Weston St waiting endlessly for the traffic to clear from the Bohle.

There is more to road safety than someone sat behind a camera lens inside a parked vehicle taking pictures.

With all of the vehicles parked unnecessary every hour of every day at traffic lights we must also mention the tonnes of pollution being generated and being pumped out into the atmosphere from the vehicles’ exhaust.

Gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and benzene are emitted into the environment by motor vehicles.

Air pollutants can contribute to urban air quality problems, such as photochemical smog and adversely affect human health. data indicates that in Australia motor vehicles remain a major cause of air pollution in urban areas (Australian Government Green Vehicle Guide).

Yet we have to sit at traffic lights because someone in authority has said so and for what reason?

I thought of complaining to one of the so-called elected representatives here in Townsville but I have better things to do with my time other than waste it.

Having said all of the above, I have to say I am not one of the people who drive around Townsville who have nothing to do all day and all day to do it in.