Are Rubber Speed Humps Effective?
The primary factor that affects the severity of virtually every traffic accident is speed. As the speeds involved increases, the accident will inevitably become more dangerous for every person involved. For this reason, many local authorities and private property managers have made the reduction in speed on their roads a priority. One of the best passive ways to reduce speeds is using speed humps combined with appropriate signs. Let's take a closer look at how that works and examine how effective it can be for your location.
Speed Bumps vs. Speed Humps
The first thing that we need to point out is the difference between speed humps and speed bumps. Many people don't understand the difference between them, and this can lead to the terms being used interchangeably. In fact, speed humps and speed bumps are quite different in how they work. Although both have a similar sized rise that's used to slow a vehicle down, they are designed to meet differing needs.
A speed bump is characterized by a much shorter travel distance, and it's designed to give the driver a sudden jolt if they are travelling too fast. This type of passive traffic calming measure is used to force a drastic speed reduction. The front wheels of the vehicle will clear the speed bump entirely before the rear wheel hit the obstacle. This will force the driver to adjust their speed quickly if they don't want a second jolt from the rear of their car.
A speed hump spans are longer distance, and it will often encompass the entire width of the road. These humps come as a modular system, and a vehicle can pass over them without a sudden jolt. They are ideal for encouraging drivers to slow down and maintain a speed of around 24-32 km/h. This solution is well suited to a local road where a lower speed would be preferable, but sudden stopping is undesirable.
The Benefits of Speed Humps
Rubber speed humps are designed to reduce the speed down to 16-24km/h as the driver negotiates the hump and 40-48km/h between each speed hump. This is why speed humps are arranged in series in areas where the speed of vehicles has become a safety issue. They should be organised to limit disruption to other essential needs, such as cycle lanes, bus stops, and on street parking opportunities. Many studies have shown that introducing speed humps to an area could reduce the speed of vehicles by approximately 40%. This translates directly into a lower incidence of vehicular accidents and people are less likely to suffer car related injuries in an area where speed humps have been installed.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
Another common passive calming measure that we've become used to on our roads is traffic signs. Studies have shown that drivers will pay attention to them for a short time after they have been installed and then there is a marked drop off in effectiveness. However, a speed hump is hard to ignore, and it will be effective for many years after the installation has been completed.
If you're in the market for rubber speed humps for your next project, contact Image Bollards for more details.