WMD, D & D

[Martin Cassini]

On my bike yesterday, turning right into Park Lane at Brook Gate bordered on suicide. As I pedalled through the second set of lights, they changed to amber. I still had to get across four lanes of pent-up traffic to my left, about to be released from red on its final stretch before Marble Arch. Three lanes could see me. But hidden behind a bus in the inside lane, a BMW suddenly appeared, rocketing forward. I thought when he saw me trying to get to safety on the left (Hyde Park) side, he'd slow down. No chance. So I stayed in the second lane to let him through and then reached safety. An engineer's solution would be to extend red time for northbound traffic on Park Lane. That would miss the point. The point is that the system of priority sets the stage for lethal conflict. Traffic lights = weapons of mass distraction, delay and danger.