Failed temporary Thames Water traffic lights on Honor Oak Road at junction of Manor Mount/Westwood Park, both stuck on red and traffic backing up in both directions. That is, until traffic jump the lights.

Last night there was pandemonium at the junction of Honor Oak Rd and Westwood Park. It had become a traffic free-for all. The Police eventually took control of the three-way mayhem. I'm very concerned that anyone using the island in the middle of the road to cross will be mown down by irresponsible idiots overtaking the tailback along Honor Oak Rd and passing to the right of the island/refuge. This total disregard for the signal and the waiting queue of traffic is now demonstrated every few minutes. The speed that the light jumping traffic streaks ahead is also a concern.

I witnessed one driver, after having overtaken a long line of stationary traffic, suddenly brake at the junction in question when he realised there were two police officers in the road directing traffic. He then put his car into reverse and shot back were he had come from, then made an illegal turn onto Manor Mount, just to compound the offence. I noticed the WPC who was present was on her radio. Lets hope she recorded the registration of the offending vehicle.

Thames Water who are responsible for the two holes in the road, which has caused this traffic interruption have not been present on-site since last Thursday. Go figure.

As I was passing yesterday afternoon it was entertaining watching who was going to manoeuvre through the red lights especially when the P4 decided it was OK to try its luck. As you say it's an accident waiting to happen and the sooner the Police get onto TW to rectify the faulty traffic signals and finish filling the holes the better.

The traffic lights have been suspended so it is a free for all now. The good news is that the repairs seem to be complete and just require TW to remove their gear.

Outstanding performance from Thames Water. Lets hope the road repair is of the same good quality as the earlier excavation they made a little further down the hill when they investigated the weeping road surface. That persistent leak turned out to be escaping ground water and not leaking pipework.

I emphasise that I am not condoning any action that includes passing a traffic signal at red. But, in order for signals to have validity in law there must be a proper legal Traffic Order issued. This is rarely, if ever, done for temporary signals.

But, if passing the red signal led you to be involved in an accident then you may be found guilty of several offences but not a red signal one. Your insurers would likely take a dim view too.

This post was last modified: 17-01-2018 07:48 PM by Hillman.