4 min
Aggressive driving can pose a severe safety hazard to pedestrians and cyclists, especially in residential areas. Slower speed limits are one way to safeguard people in these locations. However, violating these limits is all too common.
That's where physical traffic-calming measures, like speed bumps and speed humps, come into action. They are vertical obstacles that make drivers slow down as they travel over them. They're the most popular traffic calming components. While interrelated and having several of the same advantages, these solutions are not interchangeable: they're appropriate for different applications.
Speed humps are the taller, wider, and more gradual cousins of speed bumps. The purpose is to slow down a driver without causing undue discomfort or jolting. Often used on residential streets with higher posted speed limits, they're also suitable for commercial areas that receive steady but not high traffic volumes.
Playgrounds, school zones, and hospital campuses are common locations for speed humps. However, emergency routes, arterial roads, and high-speed highways are not ideal for their use.
Any space where pedestrians and vehicles are in close proximity is a potential danger zone. Speed bumps are one way to control speeds and make these areas safer. Parking lots and driveways are common areas where speed bumps are used.
A speed bump slows traffic by 2–10 mph, providing both pedestrians and automobiles time to react safely to one another. Because they necessitate vehicles to come to a near halt to pass over them, speed bumps are rarely utilized on public roads.
The two common material choices for speed bumps and humps are rubber and asphalt. Concrete, plastic, and metal are also sometimes used.
Rubber and plastic speed humps and bumps are relatively easier to install on pre-existing surfaces. They are a lightweight option and can be quickly removed if necessary. Asphalt speed humps and bumps are more permanent, but they offer a smoother ride for vehicles.
A professional company usually installs speed humps and bumps. The process is generally the same regardless of the material used.
The process begins with creating a template to mark the shape and size of the hump or bump. It is followed by excavating and leveling off the area. Once the excavation is complete, a base material is laid down and compacted.
After the base is set, the material for the hump or bump (rubber, asphalt, etc.) is installed and compacted into place. Finally, the area is restored, and paint is applied to improve visibility.
Correct installation is vital to ensure the speed bump or hump is effective and safe. Proline Parking Lot Maintenance, Inc., serving Charlotte, NC, is The Greater Charlotte Area's #1 Pavement Maintenance Company.
We can help upgrade your parking lots with speed bump installation services and more.