[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Traffic control fault caused by ‘aging equipment’
10th November 2019

A fault in the traffic control system in Buttercity, which caused all traffic lights in the city to flash to red simultaneously was the result of ‘aging equipment’, Transport Minister Curtis Dennell has reported. The error in the system, which happened yesterday afternoon, caused a large traffic jam in the city centre, before seeming to correct itself. Dennell has given assurances that the replacement of faulty equipment would be provided for in the next round of budget allocations.

Dennell this morning announced a pledge to increase the budget for road repairs and associated matters, which has caused controversy with anti-car groups. Dennell, a member of the Lauchenoirian Democratic Alliance (LDA), one of the partners in the governing coalition, stated that it is “necessary to provide more funding for roads to improve our aging system for the long-term, rather than just make temporary repairs following the war.”

Climate Alliance Lauchenoiria held a demonstration in Union Square, Buttercity this evening calling on the government to refrain from diverting money to road infrastructure in light of the incident and to give greater funding to public transport instead. Approximately 200 people attended the demonstration, which called on the government to enact measures to encourage public transport use, including raising road tax for vehicles (with an exemption for disabled people who cannot access public transport).

A spokesperson for the group said: “The fact that this caused hours of mayhem shows just how many cars are still on our roads. Now more than ever, we need to be encouraging those who can to give up their car and take public transport, especially in the city where it is so convenient and frequent. Everyone who is able must play their part to halt climate change before it is too late.”

Paul Doberman, the controversial leader of far-right political party Lauchenoiria First has accused the government of “either being horribly negligent, or lying”, claiming that either they are “willing to risk the lives of road users” by not maintaining the traffic control system, or that they are lying about the fault. Conspiracy theorist social media accounts, linked to Lauchenoiria First, have been suggesting that the fault was the result of an “attack” by persons unknown. No evidence has been found to support this theory.