Traffic wardens at traffic lights?

BlackEdelweiss

Can anyone explain why there are traffic wardens posted to stop traffic at actual traffic lights / pedestrian crossings around Galway city?

There is one a Nile Lodge who stands about 10 feet away from a traffic light at the junction and I saw another one at the junction at Mr Price in Westside who stands at the actual traffic lights. I was at the lights which were red and this person walked out in front of my car with her pole and allowed a kid to cross in front of me. I could understand this if it were a dangerous road and she had to stop traffic but I was stopped anyway and the pedestrian crossing light was green.

The lady at Nile Lodge stops traffic when the vehicle lights are green (which is a short window) and lets kids, parents, general population cross the road if they have missed the green pedestrian crossing window.

I just dont understand the thinking behind this. The traffic lights have a dedicated pedestrian mode, why do they need a traffic warden? It is very frustrating when they hold you up on a green light and you then have to sit through another cycle of the traffic lights.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Can anyone explain why there are traffic wardens posted to stop traffic at actual traffic lights / pedestrian crossings around Galway city?

There is one a Nile Lodge who stands about 10 feet away from a traffic light at the junction and I saw another one at the junction at Mr Price in Westside who stands at the actual traffic lights. I was at the lights which were red and this person walked out in front of my car with her pole and allowed a kid to cross in front of me. I could understand this if it were a dangerous road and she had to stop traffic but I was stopped anyway and the pedestrian crossing light was green.

The lady at Nile Lodge stops traffic when the vehicle lights are green (which is a short window) and lets kids, parents, general population cross the road if they have missed the green pedestrian crossing window.

I just dont understand the thinking behind this. The traffic lights have a dedicated pedestrian mode, why do they need a traffic warden? It is very frustrating when they hold you up on a green light and you then have to sit through another cycle of the traffic lights.

Red light running is endemic in Ireland.

Go figure.

thesandeman

They're school wardens not traffic wardens.

howyanow

They are just school traffic wardens.they only be out at lights beside schools before and after school for about 15 mins each time to ensure kids cross safely.

Mrs OBumble

School kids are apparently too thick to be trained to use traffic lights.

No wonder they run reds when they graduate to bicycles and then cars.

ratracer

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

School kids are apparently too thick to be trained to use traffic lights.

No wonder they run reds when they graduate to bicycles and then cars.

That didn’t take long

BlackEdelweiss

thesandeman wrote: »

They're school wardens not traffic wardens.

The one at Nile Lodge allows people (not just school kids) to cross onto the Crescent. The nearest school on this side of the road is the Jez which is a good distance away. There are loads of kids crossing the other junctions going to St Marys and a primary school on the corner. Do these kids not deserve protecting?

BlackEdelweiss

howyanow wrote: »

They are just school traffic wardens.they only be out at lights beside schools before and after school for about 15 mins each time to ensure kids cross safely.

I dont know where the school is beside Mr Price and I was there at 2.20pm.

BlackEdelweiss

I am not complaining about using school traffic wardens, there is one on Taylors Hill Road who provides a very valuable service at a dangerous point on the road. Having them at traffic lights is just ridiculous.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

School kids are apparently too thick to be trained to use traffic lights.

No wonder they run reds when they graduate to bicycles and then cars.

What a bizarre statement.

failover

I walk my daughter to Gael Scoil Mhic Amhlaigh every morning. Thank God there's a traffic warden there because the amount of drivers who completely disregard the pedestrian crossings is amazing, even at times when kids are clearly entering/exiting the school grounds. Just yesterday morning, the warden literally had to shout at some woman who drove her suv straight through the crossing as kids were about to cross. Parents also continuously park on the zig-zag lines approaching the crossing despite being told by the school not to do this as it blocks visibility of the crossing. Drivers overall simply cannot be trusted to obey the rules of the road. The traffic warden there does an excellent job of ensuring the kids can cross safely and that cars are not obstructing the view of the crossing.

Mrs OBumble

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

What a bizarre statement.

Perhaps your sarcasm-detector needs servicing.

fergiesfolly

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Perhaps your sarcasm-detector needs servicing.

Perhaps you need to read the room

beans

The Warden on the Dublin Road at the Hopice is fantastic.
She has to put up with traffic regularly breaking the lights or stopping on the crossing. All while remaining lovely and good humoured with the kids.

BlackEdelweiss

failover wrote: »

I walk my daughter to Gael Scoil Mhic Amhlaigh every morning. Thank God there's a traffic warden there because the amount of drivers who completely disregard the pedestrian crossings is amazing, even at times when kids are clearly entering/exiting the school grounds. Just yesterday morning, the warden literally had to shout at some woman who drove her suv straight through the crossing as kids were about to cross. Parents also continuously park on the zig-zag lines approaching the crossing despite being told by the school not to do this as it blocks visibility of the crossing. Drivers overall simply cannot be trusted to obey the rules of the road. The traffic warden there does an excellent job of ensuring the kids can cross safely and that cars are not obstructing the view of the crossing.

There are no traffic lights at that location. I am not against traffic wardens, I just don't understand why they are posted at traffic lights.

BlackEdelweiss

beans wrote: »

The Warden on the Dublin Road at the Hopice is fantastic.
She has to put up with traffic regularly breaking the lights or stopping on the crossing. All while remaining lovely and good humoured with the kids.

I can agree with the explanation that they are there because of bad drivers however I have been stopped at Green lights while they let normal pedestrians across.

failover

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

There are no traffic lights at that location. I am not against traffic wardens, I just don't understand why they are posted at traffic lights.

The point I am making is that, whether or not there are traffic lights or if it's a pedestrian crossing (which cars are meant to stop at), they often don't and that's not a risk we want to take at times when there are lots of school kids. Just because a light is red does not mean a driver will always stop. They don't always stop at pedestrian crossings, as I mentioned. Wardens really help ensure they do stop!

thesandeman

beans wrote: »

The Warden on the Dublin Road at the Hopice is fantastic.
She has to put up with traffic regularly breaking the lights or stopping on the crossing. All while remaining lovely and good humoured with the kids.

I remember my 'lollipop lady' being hit by a car at St Brendan's almost fifty years ago. She survived but was out of work for nearly a year.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

ratracer wrote: »

That didn’t take long

Cyclists are the Godwin's Law of traffic threads.

gordongekko

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

I can agree with the explanation that they are there because of bad drivers however I have been stopped at Green lights while they let normal pedestrians across.

That's the whole point..... Would you have stopped and let the young children cross if they weren't there?

blackbox

They might be better to put cameras at the crossings and prosecute all offenders.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Perhaps your sarcasm-detector needs servicing.

Or perhaps you were actually serious and now you're embarrassed at your ludicrous statement.

failover

gordongekko wrote: »

That's the whole point..... Would you have stopped and let the young children cross if they weren't there?

Thank you! It's just amazing that some drivers feel hard done by by being made stop at a green light to let vulnerable pedestrians cross the road. A pedestrian should ALWAYS have precedence over a driver. If a traffic/school warden makes you stop then just stop!! There's no more about it! It doesn't matter where it is, what kind of junction it is, or who is crossing the road. It's the "poor drivers" attitude that will end up running these junctions and injuring someone out of frustration and self-righteousness. I fully agree that there should be cameras on these junctions to monitor these drivers who feel as if they are victims of having to obey the law.

BlackEdelweiss

gordongekko wrote: »

That's the whole point..... Would you have stopped and let the young children cross if they weren't there?

Yes because it is at a traffic light!

If they are there for the single purpose of letting school children cross the road they should not take advantage of their position and stop traffic to allow adults to cross.

BlackEdelweiss

failover wrote: »

A pedestrian should ALWAYS have precedence over a driver. .

That is a ridiculous statement.

Nobody wants to injure a pedestrian but it is up to the pedestrian to ensure they exercise sufficient caution when crossing roads to ensure their own safety. You cannot place responsibility for your own life on another person. Obviously there are so many **** drivers out there that the roads are dangerous but there are so many stupid pedestrians on the paths that they are also a danger to drivers and other pedestrians.

I drive along Taylors Hill road every morning and I cant count the number of times that primary school kids who are walking with their parents have stepped onto the road and made me break sharply.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

I remember when I was in Poland.
Pedestrians and cyclists are treated with respect.

As a pedestrian approaches a pedestrian crossing, drivers automatically come to a halt before the pedestrian sets foot on the crossing. Even ones without lights.

Two chances of that here.

failover

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

That is a ridiculous statement.

Nobody wants to injure a pedestrian but it is up to the pedestrian to ensure they exercise sufficient caution when crossing roads to ensure their own safety. You cannot place responsibility for your own life on another person. Obviously there are so many **** drivers out there that the roads are dangerous but there are so many stupid pedestrians on the paths that they are also a danger to drivers and other pedestrians.

I drive along Taylors Hill road every morning and I cant count the number of times that primary school kids who are walking with their parents have stepped onto the road and made me break sharply.

A"good" driver will always anticipate children/animals ending up out on the road for whatever reason. If you need to brake sharply then you are driving too fast for the environment you are in. Also, read the Citizen's Information regarding School Traffic Wardens while you are at it. They have the same power as gardai to stop traffic if they see fit. Get over yourself, feeling so put out by having to stop when told to do so!

buzz11

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

I remember when I was in Poland.
Pedestrians and cyclists are treated with respect.

As a pedestrian approaches a pedestrian crossing, drivers automatically come to a halt before the pedestrian sets foot on the crossing. Even ones without lights.

Two chances of that here.

Thats probably because the road laws are properly enforced by police who take their jobs seriously.

Here our Gardai are amateurish in their 'policing' of minor matters and simply aren't proactive enough

Mrs OBumble

failover wrote: »

A pedestrian should ALWAYS have precedence over a driver.

Nope.

When my brother was about 12 he has to cross a busy road. It had a painted pedestrian crossing which worked well. Then the kids on his bus figured it would be good craic to walk about 2m apart, so as one stepped off the crossing, the next stepped on. It was a game for them but impacted traffic miles down the road. Eventually the council put in lights so everyone got a fair share of having priority.

No mode is more important than any other.

failover

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Nope.

When my brother was about 12 he has to cross a busy road. It had a painted pedestrian crossing which worked well. Then the kids on his bus figured it would be good craic to walk about 2m apart, so as one stepped off the crossing, the next stepped on. It was a game for them but impacted traffic miles down the road. Eventually the council put in lights so everyone got a fair share of having priority.

No mode is more important than any other.

From a safety point of view, in terms of a potential impact by a car on a pedestrian, the pedestrian should always be the priority, not the car.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Nope.

When my brother was about 12 he has to cross a busy road. It had a painted pedestrian crossing which worked well. Then the kids on his bus figured it would be good craic to walk about 2m apart, so as one stepped off the crossing, the next stepped on. It was a game for them but impacted traffic miles down the road. Eventually the council put in lights so everyone got a fair share of having priority.

No mode is more important than any other.

You sound like a female version of Srameen.

You always have to be contrary to what people are saying just for the sake of it.

BlackEdelweiss

failover wrote: »

A"good" driver will always anticipate children/animals ending up out on the road for whatever reason. If you need to brake sharply then you are driving too fast for the environment you are in.

It is only because I am anticipating these things that I am able to avoid hitting them. I am not sure if you are familiar with Taylors Hill Road but it is a narrow road with several curves. Traffic is busy in both directions in the morning rush. I am very wary of my kids even walking along it as a trip would land them into the path of oncoming traffic. I wont even go into a discussion about parents who let their kids cycle along it. If I walk along the road with my kids I hold their hand and there is a strict no messing policy until we get off the road and onto a more open space.

failover wrote: »

Also, read the Citizen's Information regarding School Traffic Wardens while you are at it. They have the same power as gardai to stop traffic if they see fit. Get over yourself, feeling so put out by having to stop when told to do so!

Another silly point. I dont know what you mean by it. I know the rights or powers they have and I did not question that. I questioned their placing at traffic lights and that they stop traffic for adults, not just school kids.

The traffic warden at Nile Lodge is on a crossroads with 4 separate crossings. There is one warden. Do kids coming from other directions not count as much? Is it only kids from Taylors Hill Road going to the Jez that count?

gordongekko

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Can anyone explain why there are traffic wardens posted to stop traffic at actual traffic lights / pedestrian crossings around Galway city?

There is one a Nile Lodge who stands about 10 feet away from a traffic light at the junction and I saw another one at the junction at Mr Price in Westside who stands at the actual traffic lights. I was at the lights which were red and this person walked out in front of my car with her pole and allowed a kid to cross in front of me. I could understand this if it were a dangerous road and she had to stop traffic but I was stopped anyway and the pedestrian crossing light was green.

The lady at Nile Lodge stops traffic when the vehicle lights are green (which is a short window) and lets kids, parents, general population cross the road if they have missed the green pedestrian crossing window.

I just dont understand the thinking behind this. The traffic lights have a dedicated pedestrian mode, why do they need a traffic warden? It is very frustrating when they hold you up on a green light and you then have to sit through another cycle of the traffic lights.

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Yes because it is at a traffic light!

If they are there for the single purpose of letting school children cross the road they should not take advantage of their position and stop traffic to allow adults to cross.

Now you've changed your argument.

BlackEdelweiss

gordongekko wrote: »

Now you've changed your argument.

I dont see how. Care to elaborate?

Stark

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Perhaps your sarcasm-detector needs servicing.

Ah classic

biko

Some posts removed.
The bicker went too far.

failover

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

It is only because I am anticipating these things that I am able to avoid hitting them. I am not sure if you are familiar with Taylors Hill Road but it is a narrow road with several curves. Traffic is busy in both directions in the morning rush. I am very wary of my kids even walking along it as a trip would land them into the path of oncoming traffic. I wont even go into a discussion about parents who let their kids cycle along it. If I walk along the road with my kids I hold their hand and there is a strict no messing policy until we get off the road and onto a more open space.



Another silly point. I dont know what you mean by it. I know the rights or powers they have and I did not question that. I questioned their placing at traffic lights and that they stop traffic for adults, not just school kids.

The traffic warden at Nile Lodge is on a crossroads with 4 separate crossings. There is one warden. Do kids coming from other directions not count as much? Is it only kids from Taylors Hill Road going to the Jez that count?

Please try to be more considerate and understanding of the job wardens do. They are not there to "abuse their power" by making drivers wait while pedestrians cross the road. The wardens are there at that junction for a good reason, to keep impatient drivers from possibly running red lights and hitting a kid.

Edited to be nicer.

Mrs OBumble

failover wrote: »

Please try to be more considerate and understanding of the job wardens do. They are not there to "abuse their power" by making drivers wait while pedestrians cross the road. The wardens are there at that junction for a good reason, to keep impatient drivers from possibly running red lights and hitting a kid.

Edited to be nicer.

But their job is to facilitate KIDS, not adults.

I was 100% being sarcastic in saying that kids are too thick. They ain't.

But having traffic wardens override lights, and stop traffic for adults, is just teaching the kids that rules don't matter on the road. Which is not what we should be doing.

gordongekko

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

I dont see how. Care to elaborate?

Your first argument is that they were near lights or not near schools. When the reason for that was explained to you, you've now decided that they shouldn't be there as adults use them

The biggest controversy to hit Galway since the grass

what_traffic

Deleted User wrote: »

The biggest controversy to hit Galway since the grass

Anybody have the timing sequences for the lights in question. The mappings for which will always tell a story.

BlackEdelweiss

gordongekko wrote: »

Your first argument is that they were near lights or not near schools. When the reason for that was explained to you, you've now decided that they shouldn't be there as adults use them

See quote from my first post, I think you will find that I was equally agrieved by their presence as I was about them stopping traffic to led adults and general pedestrians cross the road.

"The lady at Nile Lodge stops traffic when the vehicle lights are green (which is a short window) and lets kids, parents, general population cross the road if they have missed the green pedestrian crossing window."

BlackEdelweiss

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

See quote from my first post, I think you will find that I was equally agrieved by their presence as I was about them stopping traffic to led adults and general pedestrians cross the road.

"The lady at Nile Lodge stops traffic when the vehicle lights are green (which is a short window) and lets kids, parents, general population cross the road if they have missed the green pedestrian crossing window."

What did they say when you made an official complaint?

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

But their job is to facilitate KIDS, not adults.

I was 100% being sarcastic in saying that kids are too thick. They ain't.

But having traffic wardens override lights, and stop traffic for adults, is just teaching the kids that rules don't matter on the road. Which is not what we should be doing.

No I disagree, it doesn't tech kids that rules don't matter.
It teaches kids what I teach my kids about the road. And the drivers. That there are many many a holes on their road to school in Renmore that are only worried about their coffee in the full duck, phone or work, lights and kids lives come last.
I see it every day, light on Renmore park, light at scoil Caitríona, roads all around the full duck, parents parking Everywhere at the school, in and out the church on the wrong side..
And then I teach my kids never to be like those a holes.

zf0wqv9oemuasj

gordongekko wrote: »

That's the whole point..... Would you have stopped and let the young children cross if they weren't there?

Hi, sorry but why would a driver stop when he has a green light to allow children or any other pedestrian cross? They can wait for the green man like everyone else.

I agree with the first poster on this on the point he made of lollipop ladies stopping at traffic lights that are green for drivers. They are probably needed at pedestrian crossing and they are needed where there are no controlled crossings but if they are at traffic lights they should not be stopping traffic that has a green light, holding up drivers going to work, deliveries etc when she could wait for the green man to usher children across.

at1withmyself

Its a shame the lights don't automatically kick in the green man for pedestrians when they are red for cars. The amount of times I'm top of the queue in the car watching people stand in the rain when the cars at also at a red is ridiculous. How hard can it be to make traffic lights smarter?

Anyone see the pedestrian crossing outside the Westside community center, you press to cross, wait a few minutes, get to the island in the middle of the road and begin the process again, all in nearly 4 minutes to cross a road! Surely once the first light is activated the second one should know to come on within 30 seconds.

gordongekko

If you don't realise at this stage why small children might need a little bit of extra assistant crossing a busy road near a school. If you can't see the reason why this should take priority over a car and a fixed set of lights I'm not sure what can be said in this thread that will explain this to you.

failover

gordongekko wrote: »

If you don't realise at this stage why small children might need a little bit of extra assistant crossing a busy road near a school. If you can't see the reason why this should take priority over a car and a fixed set of lights I'm not sure what can be said in this thread that will explain this to you.

100% agree! Talk about a total lack of compassion, consideration and understanding for pedestrians, especially kids who have to stand and wait at lights, often in bad weather just so drivers, in warm and cosy cars can take priority on the roads, and then be pedantic about light sequences, kid vs pedestrian blah blah. Wardens have been placed at the junctions for good reason. They have the authority to stop cars regardless of the colour of the light. Just get over it and stop moaning! I can just imaging how a letter of complaint to the council/gardai would read. "I am being delayed in my car because the warden allowed kids to cross the road...even though THE LIGHTS WERE RED!!" I'd say it would be rolled into a ball and thrown in the bin. Pathetic attitude to vulnerable road users!

what_traffic

Going to post same point again. Show us the timings for any traffic light junction in this City. Pedestrians are only getting a tiny fraction of overall time. Safely say less than 10% - even places where pedestrians have heavier traffic in comparison with vehicular traffic on streets in the City- they are still not been accommodated.

biko

The OP have their answer - it wasn't a traffic warden but lollipop lady.

Since we already have a traffic thread there is no need for a second on the exact same topic.