We (Surrey County Council), are responsible for the majority of permanent traffic signals. Most others are owned and maintained by National Highways (such as on the M25, A3, M3, M23, A3 or A30 in Staines). Below are answers to commonly asked questions we receive about traffic signals.
Page contents
- Who is responsible for operating and maintaining traffic signal installations in Surrey?
- How do I report a fault or issue with permanent traffic signals?
- How do I report a fault or issue with temporary / portable traffic signals?
- What happens once a fault has been reported?
- How do we decide which faults to repair first and how long will it usually take to repair?
- How do traffic signals operate?
- Why were the traffic lights stuck on red?
- Can the signals show green in conflicting directions at the same time?
- Why have the signal timings been changed / why have there been unusual delays recently?
- Why does the right turn arrow not always operate?
- Why are some signal aspects covered by louvres (a box with shutters or grid lines)?
- Why are there no audible indicators (bleepers) at some pedestrian crossings?
- Why does the push button demand (light) sometimes cancel itself after I pressed it?
- Why isn't there enough steady green man time to allow me to completely cross the road?
- What are the different types of traffic signal pedestrian crossings?
- What are the different types of special pedestrian detector?
- I would like to know more about Traffic Signal Refurbishment Works
1. Who is responsible for operating and maintaining traffic signal installations in Surrey?
Permanent traffic signals on public roads in Surrey are generally our responsibility.
Motorway or trunk roads (such as the A3, M23, M3 and M25. Also some parts of A23 and A30) are the responsibility of National Highways (previously known as Highways England). Please see the National Highways contact details page to report an issue to them.
Temporary / portable traffic signals are the responsibility of the works promoter who are carrying out the works (such as a utility company) or the Traffic Management company who owns the equipment. We are only responsible for these signals if they are for our works.
2. How do I report a fault or issue with permanent traffic signals?
Report an issue with a permanent traffic signal
3. How do I report a fault or issue with temporary / portable traffic signals?
Temporary / portable traffic signals are the responsibility of the works promoter who are carrying out the works (such as a utility company) or the Traffic Management company who owns the equipment. We are only responsible for these signals if they are for our works.
You should report faults or issues to them. Their contact details can be found:
- on the on-street permit board (which should contain useful information such as the company name and emergency contact details)
- on the temporary traffic signal equipment,
- via the Temporary Traffic Signals Map . Zoom to the area and locate the appropriate traffic signal icon or search by road name on the right hand pane "Find location" tool. Once identified, click on the icon and then click on "Report fault" and you will find contact details.
You may also find the one.network roadworks map useful for identifying the works promoter.
4. What happens once a fault has been reported?
If it is one of our traffic signals, we would check whether we are already aware of the fault and then carry out investigations as required to establish what is required to remedy the fault. The time taken to resolve any fault will be dependent on the type and complexity of the fault.
5. How do we decide which faults to repair first and how long will it usually take to repair?
Faults have priority levels depending on their impact on safety or the efficient operation of the traffic signals. Urgent faults are attended on the same day. Other faults are prioritised depending on the severity.
6. How do traffic signals operate?
The signals use information from vehicle detectors, located either within the road surface, or via a small detector box mounted above the signals, to assess the current traffic flow and determine the appropriate vehicle green time for particular approaches.
Traffic signal junctions and pedestrian crossings can operate independently from each other but in some urban areas traffic signal junctions may be coordinated with each other where there are several close together. Coordination of these sites is done by a central computer.
7. Why were the traffic lights stuck on red?
It could be because an approaching vehicle has stopped short of or beyond the solid white stop line, which could mean that the vehicle is not detected and therefore the lights will not change, or the signals may take longer to change than normal because of a faulty detector. This may give the impression that the signals are stuck. This is especially noticeable during quiet periods such as night time.
8. Can the signals show green in conflicting directions at the same time?
Traffic signals have built-in safety mechanisms, which would force the signals to shut down immediately, to ensure that this cannot happen. We sometimes receive reports of this, but this is usually because one vehicle has either jumped a red signal or taken longer than usual to pass through the junction.
9. Why have the signal timings been changed / why have there been unusual delays recently?
It is rare for us to change the sequence or timings of traffic signal installations. If we do, we generally place signs to inform the public. Traffic signal timings should automatically adjust to accommodate day to day variations. Sudden or unusual delays could be due to additional traffic being diverted from elsewhere, equipment failure or damage to the vehicle detection (such as after road resurfacing). All faults are resolved as quickly as possible.
10. Why does the right turn arrow not always operate?
It is important to operate all signals as efficiently as possible. Therefore, the right turn facility at many signals will only operate when there are enough queuing vehicles for the right turn. If the right turn green arrow does not appear but there is a full circular green showing, right turning vehicles may turn during safe gaps in the opposing traffic.
11. Why are some signal aspects covered by louvres (a box with shutters or grid lines)?
This is a safety feature. Louvres are used to reduce the possibility of drivers viewing signals not intended for their approach to the signals. Examples include pedestrian crossings near large roundabouts or see-through problems on straight roads between traffic signals in close proximity.
12. Why are there no audible indicators (bleepers) at some pedestrian crossings?
Audible indicators are not used if there is more than one signalised road crossing in close proximity to another that operate independently, as it may cause confusion for sight-impaired pedestrians. As an alternative, tactile (rotating cone) indicators are fitted beneath push button units on all pedestrian crossings in Surrey. These rotate when the steady green man is illuminated.
13. Why does the push button demand (light) sometimes cancel itself after I pressed it?
Some types of crossings have "kerbside" detectors which detect pedestrians waiting at the crossing. When you press the button your presence is confirmed by this detector.
If you move away from the 'waiting zone' before the green man appears, the demand for the pedestrian phase (green man) is automatically cancelled. This is to reduce unnecessary delay to traffic when a pedestrian decides to cross without waiting for the green man.
14. Why isn't there enough steady green man time to allow me to completely cross the road?
The steady green man indicates that a pedestrian may start to cross, as long as the pedestrian has checked it is safe to do so. Pedestrians are not expected to finish crossing the road while the steady green man is lit. After the steady green man, there is a blank phase to give extra time to allow pedestrians to finish crossing.
Drivers should not proceed until the crossing is clear, as advised in the Highway Code. For more information please see the next question (What are the different types of traffic signal pedestrian crossings?).
15. What are the different types of traffic signal pedestrian crossings?
Please note a steady green man is only meant as "invitation to cross" and you should still ensure that you can cross the road safely.
Apart from those at signal junctions, there are four different types:
Pelican crossing
These crossings are for pedestrians. The red man / green man is positioned on the far side of the road. The steady green man is followed by the flashing green man indicating that pedestrians may continue to cross.
The flashing amber for vehicles operates at the same time, allowing vehicles to proceed, if the crossing is clear. These may include the special kerbside pedestrian detectors (see question 16 below for more information about special pedestrian detectors).
Puffin crossing
These crossings are for pedestrians. They do not have flashing green man / flashing vehicle amber. The red and green Man signal is positioned on the near side of the road. This allows the pedestrian to more easily monitor the approaching traffic, and it is closer for visually impaired pedestrians to view. These should include the special kerbside and on-crossing pedestrian detectors (see question 16 below for more information).
Toucan crossing
These crossings are for Pedestrians and mounted cyclists. They do not have flashing green man / flashing vehicle amber. The red man / green man / green cycle signal can be positioned either on the near side of the road or the far side of the road. These may include the special kerbside or on-crossing pedestrian detectors.
Pegasus crossing
These crossings are for horses and may sometimes allow pedestrians or mounted cyclists to also cross. The red and green horse signal is usually positioned on the far side of the road. They do not have flashing green man / flashing vehicle amber. These may include the special kerbside or on-crossing pedestrian detectors.
Pedex crossing
These crossings are for pedestrians. The red and green man signal is positioned on the far side of the road. They do not have flashing green man / flashing vehicle amber. These may include the special kerbside or on-crossing pedestrian detectors.
Pedestrian countdown crossing
These can either be Pedex or Toucan crossings but with countdown signals. Countdown signals are for pedestrians / mounted cyclists . They count down the remaining time to finish crossing the road. Pedestrians should not start to cross during this period. The red and green man signal is positioned on the far side of the road. They do not have flashing green man / flashing vehicle amber. These may include the special kerbside pedestrian detectors.
16. What are the different types of special pedestrian detector?
Kerbside detectors
These detect pedestrians waiting at the crossing. When a pedestrian presses the button, their presence is confirmed by this detector. If a pedestrian moves away from the detection zone before the green man phase runs, the demand for the pedestrian phase (green man) is automatically cancelled. This means that traffic is not unnecessarily delayed when a pedestrian decides to cross after pressing the button, without waiting for the green man.
On-crossing detectors
These detect pedestrians as they are crossing the road to ensure they have enough time after the green man phase to finish crossing the road before the vehicle green signal starts.
17. I would like to know more about Traffic Signal refurbishment works
Please see the Traffic light refurbishment and replacement works webpage for more information on these works.
