Transport for London (TfL) has published new data that shows how Green Person Authority traffic signals could be used to make walking in the UK capital safer and easier.
In May 2021, TfL installed the new technology at 18 crossings across London. The priority signals show a continuous green signal to pedestrians until a vehicle is detected approaching the crossing. The signal then changes to red for pedestrians, allowing the vehicle to cross the junction before returning to a green signal for pedestrians.
Data from the trial suggests that the pedestrian priority signals reduced journey times for people walking and made it easier and safer for them to cross. The average location involved in the trial displayed a green pedestrian signal for an extra 56 minutes a day. By reducing the waiting time for a green signal, the total time saved by all pedestrians at the average crossing in the trial was 1.3 hours a day.
What’s more, compliance with traffic signals by people walking increased by 13%, reducing the risk of a collision with a vehicle, while compliance by people driving stayed the same. The data also shows that the signals had little-to-no impact on traffic, with only minimal changes to journey times for buses and general traffic – the largest increase for buses was nine seconds and 11 seconds for general traffic. Several sites showed improvements in journey times.
Glynn Barton, TfL’s director of network management, said: “We’re determined to keep people on London’s roads moving as safely, sustainably and efficiently as possible, so it’s brilliant to see the positive results of this trial. This new technology could provide us with another vital tool which we can use to make walking a natural choice for more journeys, reducing congestion and road danger and improving air quality for everyone.”
Following the results of the trial, TfL will assess how the technology could be further improved and used at other locations across London in the future. Funding for further sites across the UK capital would be dependent on agreeing a long-term funding deal with the UK government. The technique could be used elsewhere in the UK and TfL will engage with local authorities to see how pedestrian priority could benefit other towns and cities.
