Crossroads: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, quite a few, actually. I live in a fairly built-up suburb, so there is a major four-way junction just down the road from my flat. It tends to get terribly congested during rush hour, especially with commuters trying to filter onto the ring road.

Most of the time, yes, provided there is a proper pedestrian crossing with traffic lights. Having said that, there is one awkward intersection near my local supermarket where cars rarely give way, so I often have to dash across the road when there is a gap in traffic.

To be honest, I just check my mobile phone or look around at the passing cars. If I am on foot, I tend to press the pelican crossing button repeatedly, which probably does not help at all, but it keeps me occupied while waiting for the green man.

Definitely. The local council recently replaced a notorious accident blackspot with a new mini-roundabout, and they have also built a flyover on the main bypass. It has made navigating the area much smoother for drivers, and pedestrian safety has improved noticeably as well.

I suppose it depends on the flow of traffic. Roundabouts are brilliant for keeping vehicles moving continuously without unnecessary stops. However, for massive multilane junctions in city centres, traffic lights are probably safer because they clearly dictate when drivers have right of way.