Get moving: Seeing red over pedestrians' forced dash

Q: I understood that when the red man flashed on a pedestrian crossing it meant no one else was to start crossing, but those who had already started would have time to get across at normal walking rate. At the Papatoetoe School intersection of Great South Rd, St George St and Tui Rd, the red arrow to stop traffic turning on to Great South goes off before the red man appears. I have nearly been hit several times by aggressive drivers before I have reached the pavement. Could you clarify the ruling or, better still, have the phasing for the red arrow held a little longer? Shirley Reive, Papatoetoe.

A: I can do both. Manukau City Council admits the red arrow goes off sooner than it should and will alter the timing of it. And regardless of this, turning motorists are required by law to give way to pedestrians who are already crossing the road after the red arrow has gone off.

Q: A few traffic lights have a 'B' installed on them. What does this signify? Aspi Bilia, Howick.

A: B is for bus. Where these are in operation, the B comes on fractionally before a green light, to give buses the chance to get across an intersection and into a general traffic lane before the hordes descend.

Q: Are there any plans to build an exit lane westbound on the Northwestern Motorway at Lincoln Rd? There are often tailbacks extending considerably into the main traffic lanes. Ian Dally, Mt Albert.

A: Not at this stage. However, the six-laning of the motorway between Te Atatu and Royal Rd should help with congestion here and relieve some of the waiting at Lincoln Rd. The bad news is that it is some way off - completion by 2013-14 is the latest prediction.

Q: A week or so ago we had car-counting people on St Lukes Rd and, several times, I saw men in suits and police checking out traffic between St Lukes and Motat. Are there plans for traffic changes here? Alison Curd, Mt Albert.

A: It was a crash reduction study, done by a team of police, engineers and city council staff. The purpose is to target sites with high crash rates, identify the problems and find solutions. It seems no significant changes are required in this area but some safety improvements will be made.