Portishead (Cabstand) traffic trial

[Martin Cassini]

Day 2. For motorists it's a dream. Chronic consecutive queueing has given way to sociable simultaneous filtering. The congestion conjured by traffic controls has vanished into thin air. "It's a million times better," said the owner of an estate agency on the junction. "Fabulous," said Olivia Jackson, a passer-by, echoing the views of many. But Ken Rossiter, partially sighted, said driver re-education should have preceded the trial. My sentiments too: I proposed an accompanying public awareness campaign, but the Council were unable to back it. So pedestrians are still deferring to motorists. I've been "coaching" some of them, criss-crossing the junctions on foot and showing that if they assert their right to the roadspace, drivers will give way. Some drivers give way spontaneously, but many assume ownership of the carriageway and ignore pedestrians in the time-honoured manner encouraged by our traffic control system. Three mothers with prams followed my advice on their way back from town and reported great results. Local press story here.