Cheeky wrote:
On Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:28:11 +0000, Stuart
wrote:

... they've all got the green man/red man lights next to the button
rather than in the traditional and logical place on the opposite side of
the road.

Anyone know why? It doesn't make much sense (especially the ones near me
where there are 2 sets of lights one slightly higher than the other)

Apparently it's to prevent pedestrians panicking half-way acress the
road if the ped light changes from a green man to a red man!!
Ridiculous given that if you approach crossings from certain angles
you now often can't even see a light...

I believe one reason is that it encourages peds to look at the traffic.

Significant nos of serious crashes occur because peds see the opposite
light and walk towards it without looking at the traffic when light
turns green.
With 'nearside' lights the peds are more likely to check on if motor
vehicles are jumping the red by looking both ways.
Several years ago I was at a crossing with 'opposite' lights when an
elderly lady started to cross on the green despite a vehicle approaching
at speed. I grabbed her shoulders, and stopped her. We were both shaken,
but I don't believe the driver ever realised he went through a red light
at a pedestrian crossing.
For similar reasons the 'opposite' lights at many road junctions have
gone. Once you've crossed the stop line, you should drive on the road
conditions, not assume you've a clear path and right of way.
Remember GREEN means 'you may go if the way is clear' (HC page 102)

Jim Chisholm