Traffic calming measures 'damage environment by causing tailbacks'

Chaotic traffic-calming measures in London are damaging the environment, a study said today.

Badly phased traffic lights and unco-ordinated roadworks are trapping thousands of vehicles in tailbacks, increasing the amount of pollution generated by their engines, said the AA report.

Pavement build-outs, bus stops that project into the road and road humps add to the problem, it added.

The motoring organisation is concerned that idling car engines emit more carbon dioxide than vehicles moving at between 20 and 30mph. It calculated that 1,000 cars held up for just 10 seconds every working day would generate enough CO2 to fill more than three squash courts.

AA president Edmund King said: "Our research reveals the massive CO2 benefits of keeping traffic moving.

The Highway Agency's traffic officers are helping to reduce the environmental impact of queuing traffic but more could be done by other highway authorities - especially in London, where there is so much traffic calming.

Stationary traffic or idling longer at the lights is not good for the environment, so we need a concerted effort to reduce congestion."-The AA called for a return of the "green wave", where drivers travelling at the correct speed pass through series of green traffic lights rather than being held up at red. This policy has been largely abandoned in London.

Mr King claimed councils' policies to reduce CO2 focused on car users rather than on what they could do to help.

"In terms of parking policy, residents with cars are penalised for the size of their engine (in Richmond) or the length of their car (in Norwich)," he said.

Drivers in London were also losing out with congestion charging, being picked on for their car's tax band. Mr King called for councils to be accountable for CO2 reduction by upgrading gridlocked junctions, co-ordinating roadworks and reducing waiting time at traffic lights.

"Authorities who believe that frustrating and holding up traffic helps the environment are wrong," he said. "Free-flowing traffic is pro-environment, not causing tailbacks and delays."

A Transport for London spokesman said: "The best way to reduce CO2 emissions from transport is to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. London is leading the way in this. Phasing traffic lights to favour the motorist could endanger pedestrians especially those who are less mobile, and could discourage people from walking."