The press contacted Tameside Council about Fight Bad Driving, and about me discussing Denton Roundabout with them… They say the’ve never heard from me:
Funny that – above is their response – courtesy of Emma Low. Dated 27/11/09
Apologies for the lack of updates recently – as you are all aware as you look out of the windows – snow has put paid to most journeys, and also it was Christmas so things come to a halt. Whilst taking a much deserved break, the site recieved a response from Area-10 regarding Denton Roundabout.
Unfortunately, it seems that I will be venturing round this roundabout in circles because the pattern has been as follows:
Tameside Council: Contact Area-10 – they are responsible for it.
Area-10: Nothing to do with us, you need to speak to GMP / GMCRP.
Below is the information from Area-10:
Further to my previous email I can confirm the following which we have received from our Watchman Team which I hope you will find helpful.
Our team have reviewed the video footage on the website fightbaddriving and it is clear from that that motorists are taking it upon themselves to jump through red lights. This is an enforcement issue that needs to be considered either by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and/or the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership (GMCRP) as a site for red light cameras etc.
In addition, Greater Manchester Urban Traffic Control manage and maintain the traffic signals at this junction on behalf of the Highways Agency and they are able to monitor the traffic signal timings and make adjustments where necessary. That said, it is not as simple as giving more green time to one approach and then increase the inter-green time to provide more time for traffic to clear as both of these actions result in lost time somewhere in the traffic signal cycle.
We are currently developing a scheme to improve the traffic signals on this junction where the M67 joins from the east. The purpose of this improvement scheme is to reduce congestion and therefore when implemented consideration could be given to reallocating some time to other arms of the junction. At this stage we are developing the design with a view to implementing the works during 2010-11 subject to funding.
I have passed your comments onto GMP and GMCRP and also Greater Manchester Urban Traffic Control for their comments.
They have indeed passed this information on to someone regarding the alteration of traffic signal timings, but unfortunately, this will just give drivers more time to go through the red lights, but mean less danger to the other car drivers legally stopped at a red.
At least they have had the courtesy to contact me back, and have passed the information on to the relevant person at the Highways Agency.
I will now persue the issue with Greater Manchester Police (who seem to not want to respond to my twitters) and the Greater Manchester Reduction Partnership, because although the comments by myself have been passed on, I have not been included in any of the mails, whereas I have with the Highways Agency.
In the meantime, thanks for supporting the site, and here’s to a safe 2010 for all.
The Princess Street / Portland Street junction in Manchester is a very busy junction servicing traffic from all directions. This junction is notorious amongst cyclists for the abuse of red lights here by cyclists, cars, vans, trucks and buses. Over the coming weeks, Fight Bad Driving will be gathering a dossier of evidence displaying this kind of behavior and it will be passed to the local council in an attempt to get some form of camera operation above the traffic lights here.
Below you will find a list of dates, linked to clips recorded at this junction:
October 2009
23-10-09: Clip 1;
28-10-09: Clip 1;
29-10-09: Clip 1;
30-10-09: Clip 1;
November 2009
02-11-09: Clip 1;
09-11-09: Clip 1;
16-11-09: Clip 1;
25-11-09: Clip 1;
30-11-09: Clip 1;
Introduction:
Denton Roundabout is the roundabout that connects the M60 motorway to the M67 heading towards Glossop, and the A57 heading into Manchester Town Centre. The below photograph shows the satellite view of the roundabout, and the yellow lines I have marked on are where the traffic lights are.
Denton Roundabout From Above
Looking at the image, from the top left – these are the five junctions that video footage is taken from on the website whilst travelling from Manchester to Denton every day.
As you will be more than aware viewing the footage on this site, this roundabout encourages all sorts of shenanigans with red light jumping and speeding, but if the opportunity is given to drivers, then they are going to take it. The drivers are under the impression that as long as there isn’t a police officer somewhere watching what they are doing – then what they don’t know won’t hurt.
Unfortunately, we all know that this isnt the case, and someone in the near future is going to “take that risk” and end up taking someones life – all to shave a few seconds off a journey. Is anybodies life worth it?
Highway Code:
Here is a brief description of what each of the traffic light signals means:
RED means ‘Stop’. Wait behind the stop line on the carriageway.
RED AND AMBER also means ‘Stop’. Do not pass through or start until GREEN shows.
GREEN means you may go on if the way is clear. Take special care if you intend to turn left or right and give way to pedestrians who are crossing.
AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident
Footage:
Here is a breakdown of all current videos on the site for Denton Roundabout. Clicking them will take you through to the relevant video clip on this site:
October 2009
22-10-09: Clip 1; Clip 2
23-10-09: Clip 1;
27-10-09: Clip 1;
28-10-09: Clip 1;
November 2009
12-11-09: Clip 1;
16-11-09: Clip 1; Clip 2;
17-11-09: Clip 1;
19-11-09: Clip 1; Clip 2;
20-11-09: Clip 1;
23-11-09: Clip 1;
24-11-09: Clip 1;
25-11-09: Clip 1;
27-11-09: Clip 1;
30-11-09: Clip 1;
December 2009
03-12-09: Clip 1;
04-12-09: Clip 1; Clip 2
07-12-09: Clip 1;
08-12-09: Clip 1; Clip 2
09-12-09: Clip 1;
15-12-09: Clip 1; Clip 2
