Genesis of Traffic 'Calming'

[P*Ting]

Apparently we have the University Of Surrey to thank for that wonder of modern life - the speedbump.

First tried here during the student days of my 'Environmental Issues' lecturer.

He refused to be drawn on a date- so I'm going to take a guess at it, bearing inmind his age I'd say Mid-Jurassic era.

Can anyone confirm or refute this? If so who do I lauch a vengence attack upon?

Grrr.

[mybrainhurts]

For starters, every traffic planner in the country.

I attended a 'consultation day' last week to discuss yet another scheme near home. I've been here for more years than I care to remember, all my life, in fact.

The road in question is straight, urban, next to playing fields, 2 schools and bus stop bays. One cross roads, where collisions occur regularly. No serious pedestrian injuries in at least 50 years.

Some mums complain of speed, so the meddlers start planning. At school times, traffic is so heavy that no-one is exceeding 20. Waves of kids stop the traffic.

Interrupting the tut-tutting mothers, I asked the planner if he ever considered spinal injuries carried in ambulances over humps. "We always consult the emergency services"

Yes they do. The ES always object. The planners always ignore them.

I said I've suffered 4 suspension failures since nearby humps appeared. What did he think of cars travelling the motorways with bust suspensions? A timely interruption from a smart arse graduate engineer told me I must be going too fast, he has no problems at 20mph, and he knows these things.

After heated exchange, I asked planner if there really was a speed problem. "Yes, we've done a survey"
So, what's the average speed? "40 to 45" (Eh? average?). At school times? "No, readings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week"

SO HOW DOES THAT PROVE A PROBLEM AT SCHOOL TIMES????

Humps won't slow someone who wants to speed. "Well, we've got to do something, what do you suggest?"
Pelican crossings. "We find that crossings used irregularly go unnoticed by drivers, and they don't stop"

Eh? What? Try "they're too expensive." No response.

I offered my obsevation that traffic is crawling at school times. "Yes, but they won't stop"

So we've now moved from 'speed problem needs humps' to 'we've got to stop the traffic'

But we've just established that humps don't slow vehicles and drivers ignore pelican crossings on red.

"Well, humps aren't essential, we can build out pinch points." Do you ever think about head on collisions?
"yes, but at slow speeds, they don't matter"

(pause for thought......did he REALLY say that?)

If 2 cars collide head on at 20, it's like driving into a concrete block at 40.

"Oh no, it doesn't work like that" squalked the smart arse graduate engineer !!

At which point I gave up and withdrew to compose my written objection.

How do you get through to dumbnuts like that....aaaaAAARGH..............

[Byff]

Sounds like a "safe routes to school" scheme.

Welcome to the club - busy challenging one in our village - planners want to put down speed humps on main road.

I pointed out that slowing traffic does not necessarliy make the route safe. Zebra/pelican crossings will make it safer for the kids to cross the road, however, there is no plans for a crossing in the safe route to school.

Wheres the logic in that?

[mybrainhurts]

"Sounds like a "safe routes to school" scheme"

Maybe, but it's been safe for 50 years already.............