What is the Most Effective Traffic Calming Measure?

The transportation department uses different kinds of calming traffic measures to control traffic volume and impose speed limits on roadways and city streets. Some examples of these tools are stop signs, speed bumps, speed humps, rumble strips, speed cushions, and speed tables.

For more information, you can discover here: What are the Famous Traffic Calming Devices?

All these traffic control devices are beneficial, but if you compare their pros and cons, you will learn that speed cushions make the most effective traffic-management tool.

Want to learn why? Here are their unique benefits that you may not find in other traffic calming measures.

Discover below our full range of  Speed Cushions!

Decreases vehicles’ speed

Speed cushions have an elongated raised surface installed in a traffic lane. Their width is chosen very carefully. It is kept more than a car’s width but less than an emergency vehicle’s width. This way, cars must lower their acceleration to drive over them smoothly, while emergency vehicles can move above them without reducing their speed.

They are installed in emergency vehicle routes where other speed control tools like speed bumps and humps are unsuitable because they affect emergency response time. Municipalities install them on roads where they want to reduce cars’ speeds up to 20 miles per hour (mph).

Speed reduction helps control the number of accidents and fatalities. It encourages drivers to take road safety seriously while they are on the roads. It makes pedestrians feel protected on roadways, streets, and pedestrian crossings.

Improves safety for bicycles and pedestrians

Speed cushions have wheel cutouts present between them. These are the gaps through which bicyclists and cyclists can move without reducing speed. This is why the federal highway administration installs them on roads where cyclists are not required to control their speed.

These tools reduce the risk of collision between vehicles and pedestrians by making car drivers drive slower in a slow zone or a work zone.

They are installed before pedestrian crossings to enhance their safety. Car drivers reduce their speed on time before reaching a crosswalk. It makes pedestrian crossings safe for foot traffic.

Does not slow down the speed of emergency vehicles

Emergency vehicles like ambulances, police vans, and fire trucks must always reach their destination on time. Delays in their arrival can lead to serious consequences, such as the loss of precious lives or expensive goods.

A speed hump or a speed bump does not have wheel cutouts. Hence, it forces emergency vehicles to reduce speed, negatively influencing their emergency response time. You can easily avoid this problem by using speed cushions.

These tools let an ambulance or any other emergency vehicle drive smoothly at its regular speed and reach its destination on time. This is why they are preferred on emergency routes where other speed control tools are not very beneficial.

Prevents rainwater from pooling

Rainwater accumulation on roads and streets can cause serious problems for pedestrians and vehicles. It makes roads unsafe by reducing tire traction and increasing the risk of car sliding.

Speed breakers, speed humps, and other traffic control tools do not have gaps to allow water movement; hence, they prevent water drainage.

On the other hand, speed cushions have gaps that allow rainwater to move and reach drainage without any trouble. This way, they decrease the risk of road accidents due to wet pavement and water accumulation.

not very aggressive on vehicles

Speed cushions have an elongated surface, while the surface of speed bumps and humps is small in length. Due to this reason, these tools do not feel as aggressive to drivers as other tools feel.

Their impact on internal parts of the vehicle is also not as huge as the impact of speed bumps and humps. They cause less traffic noise comparatively.

Where are traffic calming measures used?

The good thing about pedestrian safety tools like pavement markings, road signs, wheel stops, road bumps, traffic barriers, bollards, speed cushions, city traffic cones, and stop lights is that they can be used in numerous places to improve traffic conditions.

Some examples of these places are:

• Parabolic parking lots
• Roundabouts
• Crosswalks
• Roadway
• Traffic intersection
• Bicycle lanes
• Motor vehicle lanes
• Cut-through
• School zone
• Pedestrian zone
• Truck routes
• Pedestrian crossing
• Traffic circles

No matter where you install them, they will help you improve traffic safety and flow in many ways.

Buying guide for traffic calming devices

Since there is a wide variety of traffic calming techniques in the market, people often find it challenging to pick one. If you are planning to purchase a traffic-calming device, this guide will tell you what exactly you should consider before you invest in it.

Material: These devices are manufactured using different materials, such as recycled plastic, rubber, asphalt, and concrete. Rubber and plastic are more economical and low maintenance compared to other tools. You should select a durable material that best meets your needs.

Size: Speed cushions, traffic signs, or signals are available in the market in different sizes. You should select the size that matches your local traffic calming tool rules and regulations.

Quality: Poor quality tools neither last long nor perform their role correctly. They can damage your roads, city streets, and vehicles. Therefore, you should consider material quality before you purchase it. Check online reviews of the product to learn about its quality.

Color: Bright colors like yellow and white make these tools more visible to vehicular traffic. You should choose a prominent color if you purchase them for a poorly lit area.

Manufacturer: Not all speed control tool manufacturers are the same. Their manufacturing procedures, materials, product quality, and customer service vary. Compare the qualities of different manufacturers using their websites, and then select the most reliable one.

Cost: Make sure the tool’s cost falls within your budget range. Elements that can affect a device’s cost are its material, size, and additional features.

Additional features: Tools having reflective tapes are more visible at night, even when there is no street light. Similarly, some manufacturers allow buyers to customize their tools according to their aesthetic needs. It adds a personal touch to these tools and increases their effectiveness. You should go for a tool that offers additional features at reasonable rates.

Conclusion

Traffic calming measures like speed cushions can significantly improve the safety conditions of your roads and streets. They force cars to follow speed limits while allowing emergency vehicles, trucks, and buses to move without speed reduction.

They are better than speed control devices like speed humps and bumps for many reasons. For instance, they do not cause stormwater accumulation, allow bicyclists to move safely without speed reduction, and produce less impact on vehicles.

You should install them in your neighborhood if the accidents are increasing. They will help you prevent collisions between vehicles and pedestrians. You can install them on your own if the road is private, or you can request your local municipality to install these devices in your area.

You might be interested in the below articles:

• How can Traffic Calming Devices Improve Traffic Conditions?
• Top 8 Famous Traffic Calming Devices!