MARTIN Rowbory pointed out the need to review traffic lights in York (Letters, November 28). The Cullen rail crash inquiry concluded that it is not enough to blame drivers when lights are overlooked. They must be designed with safety in mind.

This is equally applicable to roads, and local authorities will have to respond. The most obvious example is lights that are not safe for pedestrians.

Filter signals need to be changed to allow pedestrians to cross at junctions - drivers frequently drive through these so it will normally be necessary to stop all traffic while pedestrians cross.

Many pedestrians have learnt not to rely on the pedestrian phase even if there is one. Lights are not designed to help them. Even when the button is pushed it may be necessary to wait for more than a complete phase of the lights before the green man comes on.

Correcting these things means drivers will have to be a little more patient at lights, but that is surely a small price to pay.

Andrew Hingston,

Mount Parade, York.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, December 03, 2001