Traffic management schemes

The council uses traffic management schemes to solve any traffic problems in Tower Hamlets.

Traffic management schemes are used if a particular road has a bad accident record or if residents have expressed concern. Sometimes the council will implement a scheme to resolve traffic problems in a whole area.

Traffic management schemes aim to:

• improve safety for cars and pedestrians
• reduce the number of accidents in the area
• reduce traffic congestion and pollution levels
• reduce parking
• promote cycling
• encourage the use of public transport
• ensure accessibility for the disabled and old people.

Introducing a traffic scheme
Traffic management measures
Pillow & cushion humps
Chicanes and throttles
Kerb build outs
Width restrictions
One way streets
Road closures
Roundabouts
Mini roundabouts
Pedestrian crossings
Pelican crossings
Zebra crossings
Traffic Islands
Facilities for the disabled
Junction entry treatments
White carriageway markings
White lines
Road junctions
Traffic signals
Further information

 

Introducing a traffic scheme

The council consults residents before introducing new traffic control measures in the area. Many traffic measures also require the publication of a formal notice in the press.

A three week period is then allowed so that any objections can be expressed. The objections will be considered by the council and if the scheme is changed another formal notice will published before a legally enforceable traffic order is issued and the scheme is introduced.

Traffic management measures

There is no single solution to problems associated with traffic management. Various measures or a combination of measures can be used. These are listed below.

Pillow & cushion humps

These are a form of speed control hump which are wide enough to allow vehicles with big wheels to pass through.

Buses or fire engines are not affected by them, whereas a smaller vehicle like a car would have to have at least one set of wheels on the hump. Therefore car traffic is forced to slow down.

For more information on speed humps see speed reduction.

Chicanes and throttles

Chicanes and throttles reduce traffic speed by narrowing the carriageway width over a short distance. Chicanes are obstacles along the side of the road which force drivers to turn and slow down. Throttles make the road more narrow often to provide a safe crossing point for pedestrians.

Kerb build outs

At some road junctions visibility is reduced because of the shape of the road or because of parked cars. Building out from the kerb into the carriageway can help pedestrians when crossing the road because they can see and be seen better.

Kerb build outs also allow drivers emerging from a side road to safely pull out further so they can see and be seen better. Drivers are also forced to park their cars further away from a junction or crossing point which is safer.

Width restrictions

Road width restrictions are intended to limit access for large vehicles and not to reduce speed as is often thought. Posts or bollards are placed in the road about 2.1 metres (seven feet) apart so that wide vehicles cannot pass between them.

In places where the road width is restricted, there must be an alternative route available for large vehicles such as lorries. Sometimes a gate is installed so that emergency vehicles can still access the route. The gate is kept locked, but emergency vehicles carry the keys.

One way streets

One way streets help control the movement of traffic without completely restricting access to certain roads. A street can be one way for its entire length or only in a particular section.

A suitable alternative route must be available for traffic travelling in the opposite direction to the one way street. This alternative route would not normally be via a residential road.

One way streets often lead to an increase in traffic speed in that road. Also if the street is one way for a short distance some drivers are tempted to drive against the one way traffic. This is dangerous and illegal, but also difficult to enforce.

Additionally, some residents find one way streets inconvenient as they sometimes make it more difficult for them to get to their homes.

Road closures

Road closures are a means of stopping all through traffic. Roads are usually closed by a barrier, with an emergency access gate for emergency service vehicles.

Where there is a road closure, a provision needs to be made for large vehicles to turn round. This is why roads are not generally closed in residential areas. Also road closures inconvenience residents as they make it more difficult for them to get to their homes.

Roundabouts

A roundabout is a road junction where traffic flows circularly around a central island. Roundabouts reduce congestion at junctions where there is heavy traffic by allowing vehicles equal rights of access to a junction.

Mini roundabouts

Mini roundabouts help to slow traffic down and also help to reduce accidents. The advantage of a mini roundabout is that they can be installed in an existing road without the expense of widening the road and rebuilding it, as is the case with full size roundabouts.

Pedestrian crossings

The council installs and upgrades pedestrian crossings (both zebra and signalled crossings) every year. Requests are often made by residents for pedestrian crossings and each request is assessed on its merits. The following factors are taken into consideration when the council examines the need for a crossing:

• the number of pedestrians injured
• the volume of pedestrians and traffic flow
• whether pedestrians are endangered by the volume or speed of the traffic
• the length of time pedestrians have to wait before they can cross the road
• whether there are facilities in the vicinity that attract a large number of pedestrians e.g. stations.

The disadvantage of pedestrian crossings is that motorists who use the road regularly tend to ignore crossings if they are not used very often.

Similarly, pedestrians may rely on the crossing and use it without checking the traffic has stopped. Both of these problems can result in an increased risk to pedestrians.

Pelican crossings

These signalled crossings are used on roads which have high traffic volumes, high traffic approach speeds or a very large number of pedestrians.

Zebra crossings

These are used on smaller roads which have less pedestrians and traffic.

Traffic islands

Traffic islands are used when the installation of a pedestrian crossing cannot be justified. They allow pedestrians to cross the road in two stages by crossing on and off an island in the middle of the road. The width of the road must be at least 7.8 metres wide to allow for the island and the two lanes of traffic.

Facilities for the disabled

Special paving is now used at all new zebra and pelican crossings and also at crossing places on roads to help people with impaired vision. Many pelican crossings also have a signal that can be heard as well as the green man signal to indicate that it is safe to cross the road.

Junction entry treatments

A junction entry treatment is installed to show motorists that they are leaving a main road and entering a residential area where pedestrians may be crossing. Often a road hump, kerb build out and a gateway are placed across the carriageway of a minor road at a road junction or on side roads near red routes.

White carriageway markings

Carriageway markings are a cheap and cost effective way of reducing accidents. At junctions they provide an indication of priorities or they indicate the lanes drivers should be in.

Arrows are used on the approaches to junctions to indicate which lanes should be used for turning or driving straight ahead. “Slow” markings are also often used to indicate a hazardous road.

Additionally, cross hatched markings in the middle of the road are used to separate on-coming traffic, indicate that speed should be reduced and provide a safe area for right turns. These markings and central traffic islands have been shown to play a major part in reducing motor cycle accidents.

White lines

White line markings in the middle of the road must not be crossed and are generally used to prevent overtaking and reduce speed in roads with poor visibility due to bends or the crests of hills. These are also used sparingly so that they are more effective and have more impact when they are used.

These markings are used according to the speed of traffic and visibility distances on roads.

It is an offence to park in any section of road that is marked with a continuous white line. Continuous white lines may only be crossed by traffic that is turning right.

Road junctions

There are a number of different ways of marking road junctions which indicate priorities and which road should give way coming into the junction.

Some junctions in residential areas may not have any priority road markings. However, wherever possible these are being marked under ongoing maintenance and road upgrade programmes.

Other junctions may have one of the following:

• “Give way” line
• “Give way” line and triangle marking
• “Give way” line, a triangle marking and a give way sign
• "Stop" sign and marking.

Stop signs are used less frequently to ensure that they have more impact. Stop signs are only introduced if there is poor visibility at junctions of approaching traffic.

Traffic signals

Traffic signals are designed to optimise traffic flow at junctions by controlling traffic from all directions and allowing pedestrians to cross the road. Traffic signals do not always solve traffic problems or mean accidents are avoided.

Further information

For further information please contact:

Tel: 020 7364 6851
minicom: 020 7364 6885
E-mail: roadsafety@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Pid No: 548