Catch-22

[Martin Cassini]

I forget the reference (an article on post-feminism?), but somewhere this weekend I read that "inequality has been done". Not on the roads, it hasn't. Recently I pitched a FiT (filter in turn) solution for an out-of-town junction which has a poor accident record, where the council is thinking of installing lights. My traffic engineer associate says we need evidence to prove FiT will work outside towns (we've already shown it works in towns). Catch-22: evidence is unavailable because traffic engineers have always had things on their own terms. Despite there being no statutory requirement for priority or signal control, every junction in the land is subject to one or both. Given a junction to trial, we'd be able to show that equality (of opportunity and responsibility) and liberty (to use commonsense and empathy), will combine to produce fraternity (the organic route to safety, conviviality, clean air and efficiency). Will they invest the £630,000 budget in a sustainable FiT solution? Or will they sink it into a signal installation? The latter, no doubt.