Programming Traffic Lights

Sir, - Dublin's traffic planning division appears unable to programme traffic lights to allow anything other than haphazard progress…

Sir, - Dublin's traffic planning division appears unable to programme traffic lights to allow anything other than haphazard progress along major routes.

In many other major cities in Europe a phenomenon exists known as "surfing the green wave", whereby a vehicle meeting a green light at the start of a route and maintaining an even speed within the speed limit will be able to continue without coming across a red light. In London, for instance, it is possible to travel the length of the Tottenham Court Road like this during the heaviest traffic flows.

Furthermore, the absence in Dublin of timers on certain lights - such as those at the entrance to industrial estates - to de-activate them at off-peak periods causes unnecessary delays, particularly late at night. - Yours, etc.,

Brendan McMahon, Naas, Co Kildare.