Sleeping Policemen
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ananova said:
Sleeping policemen damage dozens of cop cars
The Metropolitan police says 34 of its vehicles have been damaged by traffic calming measures such as sleeping policemen over the past three months.
A report by the force's traffic division has detailed how the force is spending thousands of pounds on repairs to its fleet of vehicles after the traffic calming accidents.
The Met says councils are using money to implement traffic calming schemes in roads which have no history of accidents.
It has been estimated that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 speed bumps in London, with thousands more ramps, barriers and chicanes.
Transport for London has said in the past that road humps were a key factor in reducing fatalities on the roads. It is calling for a new strategy to make sure features such as road humps were introduced according to agreed rules throughout the capital.
"Traffic calming does affect attendance times, based on the principle that any highway obstruction will impede the progression of the emergency services during a response call," the report said.
The report also says there is "little evidence" London boroughs have acknowledged the importance of identifying and agreeing upon strategic routes for emergency services.
The study was submitted to the London Assembly transport committee which is due to meet next week.
I was of the belief that for a speed bump to be legal, you had to be able to cross it at the speed limit with no trouble.
In Middlesbrough, there are speed humps that are compteing with scafell for the highest mountain award, which it is impossible and idiotic to cross at more than 15mph. IN a 30mph limit.
In Middlesbrough, there are speed humps that are compteing with scafell for the highest mountain award, which it is impossible and idiotic to cross at more than 15mph. IN a 30mph limit.
Surely there must be more effective ways of slowing cars down. The housing estate we live on has quite narrow roads with a mix of brick/stone ramps and small roundabouts with narrow entrance and exit strips.
Hmm - there's a speed ramp on a leisure complex close to us that has deep gouges out of it where cars can't get across it without the undercarriage making contact. Only took the RS2 down there and back once as even going dead slow the undercarriage rubbed on the speed hump.
They've just put a 20 mph restriction through a local village with those evil speed bumps that only go part way across the road - not pleasant driving through there either!
Hmm - there's a speed ramp on a leisure complex close to us that has deep gouges out of it where cars can't get across it without the undercarriage making contact. Only took the RS2 down there and back once as even going dead slow the undercarriage rubbed on the speed hump.
They've just put a 20 mph restriction through a local village with those evil speed bumps that only go part way across the road - not pleasant driving through there either!
I was behind a bus a little while ago in a 40 zone, at night time. Bus goes straight over the speed bumps at the legal limit and me in the cerbera hit them at 30 with a sorry sounding scrape all the way along the bottom.
No major damage. It might calm traffic but definately not drivers.
No major damage. It might calm traffic but definately not drivers.
Well now.....
I wrote to my MP regarding humps and speed limits and taggin (amongst other things) and this is the reply I got back from the DfT...
Hmmm, so they think that putting logs in the road isn't an obstruction and that this is a legal way to get speed limits reduced without haviong to go through due process?
Anyone care to help me draft a reply?
I wrote to my MP regarding humps and speed limits and taggin (amongst other things) and this is the reply I got back from the DfT...
Dft said:
Thank you for your letter dated 9 September which was received in my Department on 16 September, enclosing a letter from Mr Dave Murray of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Burton on Trent, concerning safety cameras and traffic calming.
I note Mr Murray's concerns about proposals to place an additional charge on speeding and parking fines to increase funding for criminal compensation. I would like to assure him that no such announcement and no decision has yet been taken on ideas for the future funding of criminal compensation. However, the Government hope to publish a review of criminal injuries compensation shortly.
Contrary to Mr Murray's view, speed cameras are nothing to do with "revenue generation" from motorists and everything to do with reducing death and injury on our roads. The system now in place that allows councils and the police to recover the cost of camera operation through speeding fine revenue is based on camera deployment being intelligence led. The cameras are placed where they am most likely to reduce casualties that have resulted from speed related accidents.
On 11 February the Department published the independent research report that evaluated the two-year trial of the cost recovery system for speed and red light cameras (netting off). This showed that, on average, those areas taking part in the scheme experienced a 35% reduction in people killed or seriously injured (KSI) at camera sites, compared to the long-term trend. This equates to about 280 people. This report is available on the safety camera section of the DfTweb site at www.dft,.gov.uk.
It is a sad fact that many drivers exceed speed limits. As much as I would much rather drivers voluntarily stay within speed limits, I acknowledge that other measures are often required. Traffic calming measures, and in particular road humps prove to be a very effective measure to reduce vehicle speeds. Although road humps can be a maximum of 100mm in height, my Department recommends the use of 75mm road humps as they achieve the best speed reduction with the least negative impacts. Mr Murray will be interested to know that research shows that 75mm high road humps can achieve around a 10mph speed reduction and a likely accident reduction of 50%. Such reductions simply cannot be ignored.
There is a clear road safety benefit in placing road humps where vehicle speeds are considered too high. I do not agree with Mr Murray's view that they are an obstruction. It should be remembered that speed limits are in no way a target speed. They are maximum speeds which drivers may travel in ideal conditions. Road humps, or indeed any other traffic calming measures are introduced where lower vehicle speeds are required.
Mr Murray may also be interested to know that local authorities are required by law to consult local residents before introducing traffic calming measures. This usually takes the form of a notice in the local paper, notices on lamp posts and, quite often, public meetings. If Mr Murray has concerns about the size of road humps in his area, he may wish to contact the local authority to discuss the matter.
I hope this is helpful.
Hmmm, so they think that putting logs in the road isn't an obstruction and that this is a legal way to get speed limits reduced without haviong to go through due process?
Anyone care to help me draft a reply?
1,000mm ~= 4", 750mm ~= 3" (I can't get used to this new fangled metric money 
). Anyone measured any speed bumps? Some recently installed nearby are 5" (1,250mm) higher than the surrounding road surface. They are the 'lumps in the road' variety, not the 'log across the road' type. Not that it matters to either my Jeep or my Tiv ... but for different reasons 
Streaky
). Anyone measured any speed bumps? Some recently installed nearby are 5" (1,250mm) higher than the surrounding road surface. They are the 'lumps in the road' variety, not the 'log across the road' type. Not that it matters to either my Jeep or my Tiv ... but for different reasons Streaky
On my commute I use a little run just at the end of Lower Richmond Rd.
The busy body local octogenarians of which there are many complained to the car hating MP for the area so much they have completely cocked up the junction.
About 3 months ago a set of speed bumps and a roundabout were placed on this little road about 400yds long.
In the last week they have for some reason unknown to everyone including God capped these speed bumps with more brickwork so they are even taller.
A Merc ML caught something on one yesterday...
The busy body local octogenarians of which there are many complained to the car hating MP for the area so much they have completely cocked up the junction.
About 3 months ago a set of speed bumps and a roundabout were placed on this little road about 400yds long.
In the last week they have for some reason unknown to everyone including God capped these speed bumps with more brickwork so they are even taller.
A Merc ML caught something on one yesterday...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3288795.stm
Road humps hamper police response
There are up to 30,000 speed bumps in London
The Metropolitan Police has warned its response to emergency calls is being hampered by road humps.
A traffic division report accused councils of implementing traffic calming in roads which have no history of accidents.
In the last three months 34 police vehicles were possibly damaged due to traffic calming features, it added.
The report called for a new strategy to make sure traffic calming features are standard across London.
The disclosure comes after the head of London Ambulance Service called for a review of speed bumps, saying they put patient's lives in danger by slowing emergency response times.
Conservative London Assembly Member Brian Coleman
It has been estimated that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 speed bumps in London, with thousands more ramps, barriers and chicanes.
The traffic division report said that road humps encourage drivers to speed up in the gaps between them.
It adds: "Traffic calming does affect attendance times, based on the principle that any highway obstruction will impede the progression of the emergency services during a response call."
It also said there was "little evidence" London boroughs have acknowledged the importance of identifying and agreeing upon strategic routes for emergency services.
Reducing fatalities
The study has been submitted to the London Assembly's transport committee, which is due to meet next week.
Transport for London has said in the past that road humps were a key factor in reducing fatalities on the roads.
But Brian Coleman, Conservative London Assembly Member, said: "We already know from the London Ambulance Service that so-called 'traffic calming' causes over 500 deaths a year in London alone, and now the police have confirmed it affects their response times too.
"The evidence is clear - road humps are a menace which are endangering Londoners. "
Road humps hamper police response
There are up to 30,000 speed bumps in London
The Metropolitan Police has warned its response to emergency calls is being hampered by road humps.
A traffic division report accused councils of implementing traffic calming in roads which have no history of accidents.
In the last three months 34 police vehicles were possibly damaged due to traffic calming features, it added.
The report called for a new strategy to make sure traffic calming features are standard across London.
The disclosure comes after the head of London Ambulance Service called for a review of speed bumps, saying they put patient's lives in danger by slowing emergency response times.
Conservative London Assembly Member Brian Coleman
It has been estimated that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 speed bumps in London, with thousands more ramps, barriers and chicanes.
The traffic division report said that road humps encourage drivers to speed up in the gaps between them.
It adds: "Traffic calming does affect attendance times, based on the principle that any highway obstruction will impede the progression of the emergency services during a response call."
It also said there was "little evidence" London boroughs have acknowledged the importance of identifying and agreeing upon strategic routes for emergency services.
Reducing fatalities
The study has been submitted to the London Assembly's transport committee, which is due to meet next week.
Transport for London has said in the past that road humps were a key factor in reducing fatalities on the roads.
But Brian Coleman, Conservative London Assembly Member, said: "We already know from the London Ambulance Service that so-called 'traffic calming' causes over 500 deaths a year in London alone, and now the police have confirmed it affects their response times too.
"The evidence is clear - road humps are a menace which are endangering Londoners. "
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