Traffic Calming Options
Street Lighting Requirements
When reviewing the options below, it is necessary to take into consideration that street lighting is legally required for all humps that are over 25mm.
Speed Tables
Speed tables are a raised section of road, with a ramp on both sides.
Ramps are painted with white arrows to make them more obvious to motor vehicle drivers.
The aim of the speed table is to slow motor vehicle traffic to a safe speed, as the ramps become uncomfortable for vehicle drivers if they are driven over too fast.
A speed table is normally around 75mm high, and can vary in length.
Speed Cushions
A speed cushion is a short, raised, rounded device, normally in the centre of a road lane.
Speed cushions are designed to be slightly wider than a car, so car drivers need to slow down and drive over the centre of the speed cushion to reduce discomfort.
Buses are wider than cars, so they can drive over speed cushions without passengers feeling anything.
speed cushions are normally 1.6m wide.
Speed Humps
Speed humps have a short rounded top which is typically 75mm high.
Ramps either side are painted with white arrows to make them more obvious to motor vehicle drivers.
The aim of the speed hump is to slow motor vehicle traffic to a safe speed, as the ramps become uncomfortable for vehicle drivers if they are driven over too fast.
Speed Humps Lighting Requirements
There must be “adequate warning of the presence of traffic calming” In the specific case of humps greater than 25mm high, there must also be street lighting, not allowed on roads with speed limits greater than 30mph.
Imitation Speed Bumps
Imitation seed bumps do not require street lighting.
TEXT OUTSTANDING
DIY Streets
DIY Streets encourages communities to generate ideas for the improvement of their streets.
The concept aims to make the street less car dominated, and more community focussed;
Typically, this involves creating a ‘community feel’ in the street, with artworks in the road and plants or trees;
Wooden flower beds or tree plant pots can placed in the road to calm vehicle traffic;
Incorporate physical traffic calming measures, such as chicanes or narrowing,
Chicanes / Priority Narrowing
Chicanes are also known as 'single lane working chicanes' or 'priority narrowing'.
Single lane chicanes require one direction of traffic to give way to oncoming vehicles.
Consists of a raised curb and bollard in one half of the road, with a sign to explain the vehicle traffic priority
For the lane without traffic priority, there are Give Way markings and hatching on approach to the chicane.
Groups of chicanes are normally placed with alternating priority down a road, so that each direction of vehicle traffic may have to stop and give priority in equal amounts.
Speed Cameras
Speed cameras photograph motor vehicles which are travelling over a certain speed - this is usually around 10% over the speed limit. Speed cameras use a radar device to detect the speed of passing motor vehicles. If the speed camera is in use, motorists are either issued with a fine, or invited to attend a speed awareness course. Both the fine and the cost of the course are around £60, however motorists can avoid penalty points on their license by choosing the course instead of the fine.
Vehicle Activated Signs (VASs)
Vehicle-activated signs (VASs) are an electronic sign which only become visible when approaching motor vehicles are exceeding a certain speed.
Normally display the speed limit, however they can also warn drivers of an approaching hazard (e.g. a bend).
Formed of many bright lights which only turn on when the target motor vehicle is in plain view of the sign.
Should be used strategically where they will have the maximum effect.
To introduce them on a widespread basis as simply ‘another traffic sign’ would cause drivers to become used to them and their effect would diminish.
Sign - Illuminated (Solar)
Sign on gate notifying cars that they are visiting a restricted speed area.
Could be put on village gates on entry to village.
Rumble Strips
Often used as part of gateway schemes. Rumble strips are a change in the road surface which alert the driver by a change in the sound and feel of the car. Dragon's teeth provide a visual change and narrowing of the road. They are suitable for village entry points. Because rumble strips generate noise they can be unpopular with residents.
Zebra
Crossing
Zebra crossings can be humped or flat.
TEXT TO BE ADDED
Humped Crossing
Crossings can be humped with a flat top, or have the road narrowed at the crossing point. Humped and narrowed crossings can increase safety for pedestrians because many vehicle drivers will feel they need to slow down for these features. Humped crossings have a flat top which is usually level with the pavement, and tactile paving is used at each end of the crossing. If a zebra crossing is humped, the white stripes are painted across the flat top. There is a ramp leading up and down each side of the crossing for motor vehicles. The width of crossings can be reduced by narrowing the road (building-out the curb from the pavement). This is really useful where cars are normally parked at the side of the road, as it allows pedestrians to see around the parked cars and check if it is safe to cross. A shorter crossing distance could also make crossing the road safer.
View references used in preparation of these pages click here.