Seeing red over drivers’ behaviour at junctions

SIR – Terry Lloyd of Derby (Letters, March 14) seems to live in one of the most traffic law-abiding cities in the country.

Here in Sutton Coldfield drivers have adopted a “10-second plus” rule to red lights, crossing over on red many seconds after the lights have changed and even weaving between opposing traffic that had crossed the junction when the lights were green. When crossing most junctions, one has to creep along to reduce the chance of being side-swiped by another driver crossing on red.

To ease the flow of traffic and reduce congestion, perhaps the good citizens of Derby should also adopt this informal application of the law and basically ignore the red light when it is against them. Clive Rostill

Sutton Coldfield SIR – I wholeheartedly support the suggestion that traffic lights should be turned off in many places.

It is a common misconception that without traffic lights drivers would speed through junctions like charging bulls, crashing into each other from all directions.

In fact, when traffic lights are not working, drivers slow down, take time to look in all directions, and filter through in turn. There is also less congestion because maximum utility is made of the junction.

I would even argue that by turning off traffic lights altogether, road safety would increase. There would no longer be an incentive for drivers to speed up to “beat the lights” before they change. Journeys would become smoother and more relaxing. Chris Melville

Hounslow, Middlesex