Letter: Was the Changing of Traffic Light Phasing a Factor on Road Fatality?

Published on: 19 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 19 Mar, 2025

Traffic lights by the A322 junction leading to the A3. Google Maps

Gregory Offer

In response to: Tragedy On Guildford’s Roads – Two Elderly Pedestrians Die On Same Day

I am a local resident in Guildford and I have a major concern.

In your article yesterday you mentioned a death on the A322 Worplesdon Road between an HGV and a pedestrian.

Readers may or may not be aware that as of last week sometime, the traffic light timing for the A322 joining the A3 at the Dennis Roundabout was changed such that traffic from North Guildford cannot so easily get through the lights to join the A3.

This is causing the traffic to back-up on the A323 Aldershot Road, the A322 Worplesdon Road (past the petrol station near Byrefield Road) and is causing gridlock in North Guildford in the morning rush hour.

It is horrendous and very dangerous, as there are countless frustrated and angry drivers, who are then performing risky and dangerous manoeuvres. It was never good, but at least it was balanced with all directions moving at roughly the same rate.

I cycle down this road in the morning and Monday morning emailed National Highways to tell them there is a serious accident waiting to happen. Later that day there was news that a pedestrian was killed on the A322 Worplesdon Road, near the Aldershot Road, exactly where the traffic is the worst.

I have tried contacting Surrey Police, who have said it is not a police matter, and I need to contact the local Council Highways team.

Upon contacting them, they say it is not within their power, and one must contact National Highways.

It seems like everyone is passing the buck and saying they can’t do anything, yet someone, somewhere has changed the traffic lights and is causing thousands of people in North Guildford huge disruption to their lives and created an environment that was potentially a contributing factor in a death.

This seems like an appalling lack of local accountability. Someone needs to set the traffic light timings back to the way they were before another person is killed. I hope that by bringing this to lightAre you able to bring this to light it might embarrass someone into action?

The Guildford Dragon NEWS is forwarding this letter to National Highways and Surrey County Council for comment.