Traffic Technology TodayTraffic Technology Today
  • News
    • A-D
      • Appointments & Staffing
      • Asset Management
      • Autonomous Vehicles & ADAS
      • Awards
      • Cloud Computing
      • Congestion Reduction
      • Connected Vehicles
      • Covid-19
      • Cybersecurity
      • Data & Modeling
      • Deals, Acquisitions & Mergers
    • E-J
      • Electric vehicles & infrastructure
      • Emissions & Low Emission Zones
      • Enforcement
      • Event News
      • Funding
      • Incident Detection
      • Infrastructure
      • Intersections & Traffic Signals
      • ITS
    • K-S
      • Legal / Government Regulation
      • Machine Vision / ALPR
      • Mapping
      • Mobility as a Service
      • Multimodality & Micromobility
      • Planning, Testing, R&D
      • Public transit
      • Safety
      • Smart Cities
      • Smart Parking
    • T-Z
      • Tolling
      • Traffic counting & categorization
      • Traffic Management
      • Traveler Information Systems
      • Tunnels & Bridges
      • Variable Message Signs
      • Vulnerable Road Users
      • Weather systems
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
  • Online Magazines
    • September 2023
    • May 2023
    • March 2023
    • Nov/Dec 2022
    • September 2022
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
    • > Tolltrans
  • Videos
  • Audio
    • The Transportation Podcast
    • Additional Audio
  • Events
  • Webinars
  • Technology Profiles
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe >
Traffic Technology TodayTraffic Technology Today
  • News
      • Appointments & Staffing
      • Asset Management
      • Autonomous Vehicles & ADAS
      • Awards
      • Cloud Computing
      • Congestion Reduction
      • Connected Vehicles
      • Covid-19
      • Cybersecurity
      • Data & Modeling
      • Deals, Acquisitions & Mergers
      • Electric vehicles & infrastructure
      • Emissions & Low Emission Zones
      • Enforcement
      • Event News
      • Funding
      • Incident Detection
      • Infrastructure
      • Intersections & Traffic Signals
      • ITS
      • Legal / Government Regulation
      • Machine Vision / ALPR
      • Mapping
      • Mobility as a Service
      • Multimodality & Micromobility
      • Planning, Testing, R&D
      • Public transit
      • Safety
      • Smart Cities
      • Smart Parking
      • Tolling
      • Traffic counting & categorization
      • Traffic Management
      • Traveler Information Systems
      • Tunnels & Bridges
      • Variable Message Signs
      • Vulnerable Road Users
      • Weather systems
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
  • Online Magazines
    1. September 2023
    2. May 2023
    3. March 2023
    4. Nov/Dec 2022
    5. September 2022
    6. Archive Issues
    7. Subscribe Free!
    8. > Tolltrans
    Featured
    September 15, 2023

    In this Issue – September 2023

    Online Magazines By Tom Stone
    Recent

    In this Issue – September 2023

    September 15, 2023

    In this Issue – May 2023

    May 4, 2023

    In this Issue – March 2023

    March 20, 2023
  • Videos
  • Audio
    • The Transportation Podcast
    • Additional Audio
  • Events
  • Webinars
  • Technology Profiles
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Traffic Technology TodayTraffic Technology Today
Intersections & Traffic Signals

TfL marks 150th anniversary of the traffic light by retiming signals for pedestrians and cyclists

Adam FrostBy Adam FrostDecember 11, 20183 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Transport for London (TfL) is marking the 150th anniversary of the world’s first traffic light this week, highlighting the huge improvements that effective signaling has brought for those using the roads each day and announcing the next generation of traffic light improvements.

The world’s first traffic light was installed outside the UK’s Houses of Parliament in December 1868 to counteract the high numbers of people being killed on the roads. Despite there being no cars at that time, more than 1,000 people were dying on London’s streets every year.

Designed by engineer John Peake Knight, and towering 20ft (6m) above the carriageway, the first traffic light resembled a railway signal with waving arms to indicate ‘Stop’. It included the familiar red and green lights, but not amber, was powered by gas, and required police constables to change the light manually using switches. The huge signal was removed after a month, when a policeman was seriously injured in a gas explosion and traffic lights did not return to the capital until 1926.

Since then, they have become an absolutely vital part of the transportation network, with TfL responsible for 6,000 traffic signals in London, which are optimized to help traffic flow as smoothly and safely as possible, while balancing the needs of all road users.

The city’s extensive SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique) real-time adaptive system uses sensors to detect traffic and adjust the signal timings to manage queues, tackle congestion and give buses priority if they are running late. This alone keeps traffic delays 13% lower than they would be otherwise.

In the latest improvements to the traffic light system, TfL is working to save 15,000 hours every day for people walking, cycling and taking the bus, by reducing wait times and giving them more opportunities to cross London’s roads.

This work includes reducing pedestrian wait times at the most-used crossings, such as those close to schools, shopping centers and transportation hubs. Reducing wait times will also help reduce road collisions as part of the Mayor and TfL’s ‘Vision Zero’ program to eradicate death and serious injury from the city’s roads.

Around 85% of pedestrians cross within 30 seconds of arriving at a crossing, so reducing pedestrian wait times encourages people to wait for the ‘green man’, which is the safe invitation to cross.

“Traffic lights have played a big role on London’s streets for 150 years and we’re pleased that we can extend the benefits to people walking and cycling,” said Glynn Barton, director of network management at TfL. “Our world-leading retiming work has already saved 13,000 hours of journey time every day for people using sustainable travel since we began in April, and we expect to save thousands more in the coming months. This work involves balancing the needs of all road users, including people walking and cycling.”

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, commented, “London’s innovation led the world 150 years ago and we’re continuing to do so, by developing new signal technology to reduce road danger. We are working with Living Streets and other community groups to identify the crossings where improvements are needed most.”

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleIn the digital age, data is worth its weight in gold
Next Article Kapsch supplying equipment for Australia’s largest C-ITS Connected Vehicle Pilot project
Adam Frost

Adam joined the company in 1994, and has been News Editor of TTT since 2009. In his other role as Circulation Manager, he helped create the original Traffic Technology International distribution list 23 years ago, and has been working on it ever since. Outside of work, he is a keen fisherman, runs a drumming band, and plays an ancient version of cricket.

Related Posts

Intersections & Traffic Signals

Graz outfits intersection with smart sensors by LMT to improve cyclist commute

November 22, 20233 Mins Read
Data & Modeling

New Monotch functionality promises to unlock C-ITS capabilities in RSMP data

September 20, 20232 Mins Read
Intersections & Traffic Signals

Iteris gets new smart mobility contracts in US Midwest

August 8, 20232 Mins Read
Latest Posts

OPINION: Why we don’t need to fear AI and machine learning

November 29, 2023

USDOT’s new interactive map shows cost/benefit of ITS nationwide

November 29, 2023

AUDIO: Why endangered species must be protected during road construction

November 29, 2023
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the ‘best of the week’ from TrafficTechnologyToday.com direct to your inbox every Thursday


Supplier Spotlight
  • triple sign system AB
    Triple Sign System AB
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Free Email Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Editors
  • Supplier Spotlight

Upcoming Events

Jan 7
7th January 2024 - 11th January 2024

TRB Annual Meeting

Jan 9
9th January 2024 - 12th January 2024

CES 2024

Apr 16
16th April 2024 - 19th April 2024

Intertraffic Amsterdam

View Calendar
© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.