Problems with Traffic Calming Projects
Seconds Count provides traffic calming information often overlooked or
deliberately supressed by anti-car activists, transportation planners and government
representatives.
We are regularly adding resources. Look for the notation NEW LINK
when you return.
Overview
- "This and That - The speed bump dilemma"
http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/101905_vpt-02.txt
(link added January 2006)
" The bumps are designed to sidetrack traffic to other streets and residential areas, causing increased
risks to children who live in these neighborhoods. Diverted traffic means more travel time and further risks
of accidents."
Thomas Michalski, Tampa Bay Newspapers Online, October 19, 2005
- "Takes issue with speed humps" - letter to editor in response to above article
http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/102805_pol-06.txt?archiveview
(link added January 2006)
" The anecdotal evidence reported by and about people with disabilities is backed up in the UK’s
Transport Research Laboratory publication titled, “Impact of road humps on vehicles and their occupants”
(TRL-614). From their limited model and study, the authors reported there were no problems EXCEPT for
people with certain “medical conditions” and for folks riding in certain vehicles (such as the passengers in
London taxicabs)."
Tampa Bay Newspapers Online, October 28, 2005
Analysis of Flawed Science
- "Oakland's Study Falsely Finds Humps Make Streets Safer for
Children"
http://ti.org/vaupdate63.html
- html version (link added August 2006)
http://secondscount.org/reviewtesterajph.pdf
- pdf version with references included
"To top it off, the paper relied on data showing when speed humps were
installed on Oakland streets after 1995. Yet, in correspondence, the authors
admit that an unknown number of Oakland streets -- at least 125 -- had speed
humps installed before 1995. Since these were not in their database, any
accidents on those streets would have been counted as accidents on streets
without speed humps. This error could easily account for the differences,
statistically insignificant though they may be, estimated by the paper."
Randal O'Toole and Kathleen Calongne,
Independence Institute Center for the American Dream,
August 12, 2006
(An analysis of "A matched Case-Control Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of Speed
Humps in Reducing Child Pedestrian Injuries", Tester JM, Rutherford GW, Wald Z,
Rutherford MW., American Journal of Public Health, 2004; 94:646-650.)
Analysis of Negative Impacts on Emergency Response
- "Six Minutes to Live or Die"
http://www.secondscount.org/ambresptimes.html
(link added January 2006)
"People die needlessly because some cities fail to make basic, often inexpensive changes in the way they deploy ambulances, paramedics and fire trucks."
Robert Davis, Mary Grote, In-Sung Yoo and Rati Bishnoi, USA Today, July 28-30, 2003
- "Speed trapped "
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=1887
(link added September 2005)
"It is accepted, however, that speed humps do slow emergency vehicles, be it ambulances
or fire trucks, and Regency Park residents fear those delays may end up costing lives."
Orlando Weekly, August 16, 2000
Impacts on Access for Persons with Disabilities
- "Delivering on the Promise "
Self-Evaluation to Promote Community Living for People with Disabilities
Report to the President on Executive Order 13217
VII. What transportation and transportation-relate barriers to full community inclusion are there to people with disabilities? Speed Bumps and Humps
http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/final/dotfull.html#descript
(link added August 2005)
or
http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/final/pdf/dot.pdf
(link added August 2005)
(In pdf format, see pages 26 and 27.)
U.S. Department of Transportation, Last revised: October 14, 2003
- "TRL614 - Impact of road humps on vehicles and their occupants"
http://www.secondscount.org/TRL614abstract.pdf
(link added January 2007)
"Based on these predictions, it is considered that vehicle occupants are very unlikely to be injured as a result of single or repeated
traversing of road humps. The exceptions to this statement are people with pre-existing conditions that result in either degenerated
discs or weak bones, in which case they could be more susceptible to injury depending on the seriousness of their condition."
J Kennedy, C Oakley, S Suman, I Parry (TRL Limited)
and E Wilkinson, J Brown (Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd),
Transport Research Laboratory, 2004
NOTE:
- Unlike the original abstract posted to the TRL website, the current description -
http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_detail.asp?srid=5477&pid=108
- does not mention the exception for pre-existing medical conditions.
- San Francisco, The Mayor's Disability Council, Resolution 2001-02 Traffic Calming
http://www.sfhrc.org/site/sfmdc_page.asp?id=5809
(link added September 2005)
"RESOLVED, that ... the Council, based on testimony from members of the disability community
and testing by members of the Council, does not support the use of vertical deflection traffic calming solutions."
The Mayor's Disability Council, "Resolution 2001-02 Traffic Calming", July 2001
- Fatality - Pedestrian using Wheelchair
(Note: Speed humps can create barriers or hazards for pedestrians when sidewalks are not available
or not accessible.)
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?ArchiveDate=09-23-03&storyID=17440
(link added August 2005)
"Lupke’s closest alternatives to Ashby — Russell Street to the north and Prince Street to the
south — have speed bumps which are painful for some disabled people to traverse. Fred avoided speed
bumps if he could ...”
Berkeley Daily Planet, "Lupke’s Accident Spotlights Danger", September 23, 2003
Traffic Safety Advocates Acknowledge Problems
- "... you’ve got traffic braking to go -- bump, bump -- over the speed bump and then speeding up between ..."
http://www.secondscount.org/engwicht.html
(link added November 2005)
"“Speed bumps aren’t the panacea that a lot of people think they are because …. somebody has to put up with the noise of people going over them outside their house and, interestingly enough, the people between the speed bumps have to put up with faster traffic.”
Clark (County) Vancouver TV, David Engwicht, October 19, 2005
Other Resources
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- United States
Contact Information -
Email: secondscount1@yahoo.com