A council has warned that deliberate damage to traffic lights is putting road users at risk after a series of incidents in County Durham, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Durham County Council reported several cases of traffic signals being vandalised in recent weeks, particularly in the Bishop Auckland and Crook areas.
The authority said the damage meant some traffic lights were no longer able to detect pedestrians waiting to cross or approaching vehicles, creating potentially dangerous situations.
A council spokesperson said: “We’ve seen a number of incidents recently of traffic signals being deliberately damaged, particularly in the Bishop Auckland and Crook areas.
“This damage is putting lives at risk, with the affected traffic lights unable to detect pedestrians or oncoming cars.
“The work required to repair the lights is also very costly, causing an additional burden on the council’s finances.”
The council urged anyone who witnesses people deliberately damaging traffic lights or other highway infrastructure to report it to police by calling 101.
It said repairing the damaged equipment diverted resources that could otherwise be spent on maintaining the county’s roads and transport network.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
