Our world is getting busier, and moving at a faster pace. With safety being the number one priority in our communities, speeding and running stop signs can become a very serious issue. A board, resident, or even a property manager may think about installing traffic calming devices; but that leads down a road with many more questions and considerations.
Firstly, there are several different types of traffic calming devices to be considered, with each having their own specific uses, benefits, and downfalls. Some devices are more invasive than others and the solution for your community will heavily rely on what you want to accomplish, how open your members are to them, and what is legally permitted by your governing authorities. While this article is not all-encompassing, we will discuss some of the more frequently used traffic calming devices to help make our communities safer.
I manage a garden style condominium association in the Lehigh Valley with 218 units that has been fully constructed since
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2009. The streets are not dedicated, which means they are private property and the township does not service or have “authority” over them. You will want to verify with your township, zoning, and emergency personnel to see if there are any requirements you must meet before making any changes to roadways or signage.
Previously in my community, the only traffic calming that was installed was stop signs. We received many complaints about hazardous drivers, even from our landscapers who had a few close calls. Since then, we have installed crosswalks throughout the community and added painted stop bars on the pavement at each stop sign. Although these measures seemed to help, we are still dealing with some unsafe driving in our community. Obviously, no matter what we do, we can never expect 100% compliance.
Non-invasive traffic calming devices or options including those mentioned above, as well as speed limit signs, stop signs, flashers, and the like may be good
options to try before moving into the idea of more invasive speed bumps and humps. It is important to have the speed limit clearly posted throughout the community.
The board is considering installing speed bumps or humps, since they are not easily ignored or avoided by those who simply don’t seem to care about the safety of the community residents. The concern comes up about liability, cost, what kind, placement, etc.
The first thing is to know the difference between speed bumps, and speed humps. The two are similar traffic calming devices designed to reduce vehicle speeds and enhance safety in areas where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles share the road. While they serve similar purposes, there are differences between the two in terms of design, impact on vehicles, and intended use.
Speed Bump designs are typically higher and more abrupt than speed humps. They are usually around 3 to 4 inches in height and have a shorter width compared to
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