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 - The Cushioned Approach

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.

Advantages of Speed Humps

• Slower speeds mean improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
• They're less likely to cause damage to vehicles than speed bumps.
• Speed humps are beneficial on streets with higher posted speed limits.

Disadvantages of Speed Humps

• They may cause discomfort for passengers in vehicles, especially if there are several in close succession.
• Speed humps can be a tripping hazard for pedestrians, especially those who are visually impaired.

Speed Bumps - The Aggressive Speed Control Measure

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.

Advantages of Speed Bumps:

• Speed bumps help regulate traffic by slowing vehicles down to a safe speed.
• Prevent accidents by a large margin and help keep people safe.
• More cost-effective than hiring a traffic officer to monitor the area.

Disadvantages of Speed Bumps:

• May cause damage to vehicles, primarily if they are not driven over at the appropriate speed.
• It can be a nuisance to drivers who are forced to slow down for no apparent reason.

What Materials are Used to Build Speed Humps and Bumps?

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.

How are Speed Humps and Bumps Installed?

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.

Bottom Line:

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.