I live in a little triangle of land that sits in between two major roads. There is a third minor road that connects the two major roads, thereby forming a triangle. At peak times our few streets suffer from the Rat-Run scenario where drivers try to out-manoeuvre each other on the way to and from work. In an effort to combat this situation the area has been defined as a 20mph zone and we’ve had speed bumps placed on some of the roads.
A few weeks ago, some signs appeared close to the automatic traffic signals that govern one of the points of the triangle. They are to inform drivers that they are leaving the 20mph zone. I was a little surprised to see that one sign in particular was completely blocking the red, green and amber lights.
So I emailed the Highways Dept:
I’m writing to you about some “20 Zone Ends” signs that have been erected on Branch Road at its junction with Whitehall Road, Farnley, Leeds. The signs are so close to the traffic lights controlling the junction that you cannot see what colour the traffic lights are displaying. Even this morning as I approached the junction, I mistakenly though that the traffic lights were out of order.
Here’s a picture I took a few moments ago:
http://pix.caramboo.com/images/poorsign.jpg
I wonder if you would rectify the problem? Perhaps lowering the signs would do the trick.
Thanks
Their reply:
Thank you for your email, I have passed the information onto the Traffic Section. Your enquiry needs some investigative work and therefore you will receive either a full or substantive response by 19 May 2010.
Kind Regards
By the 20th May I’d heard nothing, so:
Well it’s the 20th and I’ve not received either. The signs are still obscuring the traffic lights at the junction of Branch Road and Whitehall Road. Dangerously I would say.
Here’s my image. Says it all really. It shouldn’t take much investigation. Just look at the picture, agree it’s not right, send man with ladders to sort it out.
Easy.
http://pix.caramboo.com/images/poorsign.jpg
So I got this reply:
Thank you for your e-mail. May I apologise for you not receiving a reply. I have forwarded your e-mail onto the Traffic Engineer for this error, and I have asked him to respond to you as soon as possible.
Followed by this, ten minutes ago:
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and please accept my apologies for the delayed response. I have been on paternity leave until this morning.
The recently erected sign is as you suggested is not in the best possible position and will be repositioned as a priority.
I expect the works to be carried out either today or tomorrow.
So I reckon I may have a result to report soon.
More as and when it happens…
It did happen. See: Six Inches to the Left
