The size of the new green countdown lanterns on Barnes Dance crossings in inner-city Dunedin is causing some confusion for drivers.
The Dunedin City Council has been installing Barnes Dances, which allow pedestrians to cross in every direction, including diagonally, in the city centre since March.
On several occasions vehicles stopped at a red light have been observed beginning to move when the driver sees the green person.
On Wednesday in an hour, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, the drivers of 10 of the 102 vehicles that stopped at a red light in the Octagon appeared confused when the green countdown lantern started.
They either moved off and then stopped, or moved off and had to reverse.
Council transport engineering and road safety team leader Hjarne Poulsen said motorists and pedestrians were "adapting well'' to the Barnes Dances and feedback on them had been "largely positive''.
"We've received a couple of comments about the size of the countdown lantern, but it is the required size of 300mm.''
Mr Poulsen said this happened at other intersections too, not just those with the Barnes Dance.
"We're still looking into ways that we can improve them.''
AA Otago district chairman Malcolm Budd said the new system was not to blame but people needed to be more aware of their obligations.
"Motorists need to not be distracted and concentrate on what they're doing,'' he said.
"We support the Barnes Dance system ... It's safer as it allows pedestrians to see how much time they have to cross.''
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This article glosses over the important points. Unlike the old pedestrian signals, the new ones are angled to point into the roadway where the cars wait; they have to be angled because pedestrians may now cross at an angle. At the same time, the new signals have bright green lights in them. Drivers are conditioned to sit at the lights waiting for a green signal. When they see it, off they go. That is exactly what is happening; it is a green signal pointing at them. The size of the walking man is not the issue; being bright green and angled into the roadway is the issue. 99% of the problems with cars setting off at the wrong time would be solved if the walking-man symbol were white, not green.
Arguing that the Barnes Dance is safer because pedestrians can see how long they have left to cross is muddying the issue. We could have had the countdown timer with or without the Barnes Dance. That's an independent issue.
I spend a lot of time in the streets of Dunedin, and drivers setting off prematurely has simply not been an issue before now. Admit you made a mistake, stop being defensive, and make the green man white!
Absolutely no problem with the way the system has been set up. It's obvious when you are required to stay put and when you are good to go.
The added benefit is the reduction in traffic back-up, particularly during the commuter periods before and after work, at intersections because vehicles turning left onto George St no longer have to wait for pedestrians, and there is now little delay for straight-through traffic waiting behind the turning vehicles.
Good job DCC, you got this spot on!.
There will always be complainers who don't like change. People for the most part are reasonably intelligent and can adapt quickly to new things. Leave the green man alone.
It might be the opinion of some readers that the DCC "got this spot on" but facts say otherwise.
There is no safety case or time saving case that suggests these crossings are superior in any way, in fact they are the opposite in that they cause impatient pedestrians to cross against a red light and traffic congestion.
In fact the world expert on the topic Prof. James E Moore insists that these crossings are for political purposes only; enforcing a pedestrian friendly vibe by local council authorities.
Opinions are worthless, more so when contradicted by science. Complainers don't like change? I wonder what you would have said when they changed Dunedin's Barnes crossings for regular crossings? That's right, this has already been done once before here.
Countdowns are not specific to Barnes dance (scramble crossings). Overseas they are used at vehicle only intersections that don't even have pedestrian access. How on earth is 10% of drivers becoming confused an indication of adaptation? These are un-needed and a waste of resources. Sometimes it seems that the council do stuff just to justify their existence.