Pontefract is a town of about 32,000 inhabitants on the eastern edge of industrial West Yorkshire (and the western edge of agricultural East Yorkshire). On the south-western edge of the town centre, the two main roads, the A 645 (East-West) and A 639 (North-South) cross, at 'Town End' (fig 1). Between about the 29th October and Christmas 1996 the intersection of these roads was re-structured, when a pair of roundabouts and zebra crossings were removed and replaced by a system of traffic lights and pelican crossings.
The installation of the lights created some disquiet amongst those who pass through them. In 2000 the author published a report illustrating an increase in accidents both at the site and in Pontefract in general since the installation of the lights.
