Traffic lights 'dangerous' and lead to red light jumpers

Residents have slammed the filter traffic light at the junctions of Christchurch Road and Crabton Close Road, in Boscombe, and say there are problems with timing. 

Ian Joyce said he has seen several “risky” moves with drivers turning right onto Crabton Close Road while a red light was showing. 

The 65-year-old carpenter said: “Cars jump the red lights every day. It’s constant. You can stand here for minutes and see it happen all the time. 

A van going through on red (Image: Daily Echo)

“Once the lights change, cars will just go through. I’m surprised there are not a lot more crashes. 

“Not too long ago, there was a woman who was turning right, and I was in front of the yellow box, and she had to swing round and come back on herself because she went through the red light.” 

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Ian, who cycles, said he is worried about cars cutting in front of him when pedalling across the road. 

Hasan Yildirim, a shopkeeper at the Christchurch Road Premier, said he also sees cars go through the red lights at the junction from his shop window directly opposite. 

Hasan Yildirim (Image: Daily Echo)

“Most of the time it is very dangerous and when the bicycles go through they don’t stop,” he said. 

“There was a big accident there once and three cars crashed, it was really bad. Most of the time I see it and I worry about people’s safety, especially the bicycles as they don’t follow the traffic lights. 

“Some cars don’t stop at the traffic lights, too.” 

Both men now want the council to review the traffic light system. 

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, said: “There have been crashes at the junction between Crabton Close Road and Christchurch Road in Boscombe, sadly including one fatality.”

He referenced a crash earlier this year when a woman in her 80s was killed. 

Vauxhall going through on red (Image: Daily Echo)

“However, in the last five years of records – and through our work with the police – there is nothing to suggest any injury collisions or casualties at this junction have the suggested cause of a driver jumping red traffic lights. 

“There is some evidence that right turners into Crabton Close Road are pulling across oncoming vehicles in the mistaken belief that a green signal gives them priority to turn right. 

“In fact, right of way at this junction is only obtained when there is a gap in the oncoming traffic, or if the green filter arrow shows.  

“Without a history of injury collisions, caused by red light jumping, there are no current plans to erect a red-light enforcement camera at this junction.”