Traffic safety is of heightened importance when the people and automobiles are in close proximity. It is always a safety issue for the pedestrians near the parking lots, hospitals, schools and multi use zones. In this context, reducing the speed is the only way available to protect people’s lives from rapid driving. Slower traffic speeds minimize both the chances of an accident and the possibility of death should one occur.

To promote cautious driving in pedestrian zones, both speed bumps and humps are effective.

Speed zones are often put up to promote safe driving. Still, since the written restrictions are often forgotten or ignored, the physical design of the highway or surrounding environment is typically used to reduce traffic congestion in these locations. Speed bumps and speed humps are vertical traffic control barriers that bump in the road that cause the passengers of a car traveling too rapidly over them to be jolted awake. According to statistics, they are the most often employed structural traffic calming components on the road today. They may be composed of various materials, including asphalt, concrete, plastic, rubber, and metal. These measurements are linked and have many of the same advantages; yet, they are not interchangeable solutions; they are each good for a specific application in their own right.

6’ Economy Recycled Rubber Heavy Duty Speed Bump

SKU	Description	Length	Height	Width	Weight
SB206FT	6 Ft Speed Bump (1) 6′ Section With no End Caps	72″	2″	12″	48.40
SB207FT	7 Ft Speed Bump (1) 6′ Section + (2) End Caps	86″	2″	12″	55.40
SB213FT	Single Lane 12 Ft Speed Bump (2) 6′ Section With no End Caps	144″	2″	12″	96.80
SB219FT	Double lane 19 Ft Speed Bump (3) 6′ Section + (2) End Caps	230″	2″	12″	152.20
SB225FT	25 Ft Speed Bump (4) 6′ Section + (2) End Caps	302″	2″	12″	200.60
SB2ECAP	End cap	7′	2′	12′	3.50

Premium Recycled Rubber Safety-Striped Speed Hump – Reflective Rubber

SKU	Description	Length	Height	Width	Weight
SB3039I	39″ Speed Bump (1) 39″ Section With no End Caps	39″	2″	13.7″	36.20
SB3117I	117″ Single Lane Speed Bump (3) 39″ Sections With no End Caps	117″	2″	13.7″	108.60
SB3137I	137″ Single Lane Speed Bump (3) 39″ Sections + (2) End Caps	137″	2″	13.7″	124.20
SB3234I	234″ Double lane Speed Bump (6) 39″ Sections With no End Caps	234″	2″	13.7″	217.20
SB3254I-2	254″ Double Lane Speed Bump (6) 39″ Sections + (2) End Caps	254″	2″	13.7″	232.80
SB3ECAP-2	End cap	10″	2″	13.7″	7.80

Recycled Rubber Speed Hump – Yellow / Black Single Lane or Double Lane

SKU	Description	Length	Height	Width	Weight
SH1018I	18.75″ Speed Bump (1) 18.75″ Section with no End Caps	18.75″	1.25″	2″	22.20
SH1112I	112.5″ Single Lane Speed Bump (6) 18.75″ Sections with no End Caps	112.5″	1.25″	2″	133.20
SH1128I	10 Ft Single Lane Speed Bump (6) 18.75″ Sections + (2) End Caps	128.5	1.25″	2″	148.80
SH1225I	225″ Double Lane Speed Bump (12) 18.75″ Sections with no End Caps	225″	1.25″	2″	266.40
SH1241I	20 Ft Double Lane Speed Bump (12) 18.75″ Sections + (2) End Caps	241″	1.25″	2″	282.00
SH1ECAL	LEFT End Cap	8″	1.25″	2′	7.80
SH1ECAR	RIGHT End Cap	8″	1.25″	2′	7.80

Heavy Duty Rubber Speed Hump – Yellow / Black – Low Profile Speed Bump

SKU	Description	Length	Height	Width	Weight
SH2019I	19.75″ Speed Bump (1) 19.75″ Section With no End Caps	19.75″	2″	3″	48.00
SH2121I	10 Ft Single Lane Speed Bump (5) 19.75″ Sections + (2) End Caps	121.75″	2″	3″	273.00
SH2240I	20 Ft Double Lane Speed Bump (11) 19.75″ + (2) End Caps	240″	2″	3″	561.00
SH2ECAL	LEFT End cap	11.5″	2″	3′	16.00
SH2ECAR	RIGHT End cap	11.5″	2″	3′	16.00

Speed Humps:

On minor streets or connection roads, traffic has to move smoothly, but excessive speed may harm people, they are often observed. A speed hump, also known as road humps or undulations, is a traffic control device used in 10–15 mph zones. These are often used in traffic control in playgrounds and school zones. When a vehicle passes over a speed hump at the legal speed limit, it will experience a moderate rocking feeling in the automobile. If a car is traveling at a hazardous pace, the hump will jolt the vehicle and its contents, causing pain to the people and inflicting damage to the cargo. These obstructions often extend beyond the confines of the lane in which they are installed. Encouraging cars to pass over them with both wheels reduces the probability of a vehicle bottoming out. Speed humps are available in several different profiles and travel lengths. These considerations impact the sensation of pain caused by the fast vehicle. The distance traveled ranges between 3 and 20 feet. There is just one up-and-down motion created by a journey length longer than the vehicle, but a travel length less than the vehicle causes two rocking motions when each pair of wheels passes over. Most of the time, speed humps are positioned in a sequence to maintain the speed restriction throughout a lengthy stretch. They are not suitable for main highways, emergency routes, or any roadway where a motorist may easily avoid the hump by driving on the shoulder. The result is that most of the time, they’re built-in one or two-lane small urban settings with curbs and closed sewers. Whenever speed humps are built in regions with a shoulder, they are sometimes paired with bollards or other obstructive measures to prevent automobiles from off the route.

Speed bumps

When compared to speed humps, speed bumps are more forceful traffic calming solutions. As a result, they are excellent in areas where pedestrians and automobiles share space closely, such as parking lots and driveways. A speed bump often slows traffic down to 2–10 mph, providing both people and automobiles enough time to respond safely to one another when they come into contact. Because they require vehicles to come to a near stop to pass over them, speed bumps are seldom utilized on public roads, and they may cause harm to vehicles traveling at standard speeds. Speed bumps may range in height from two to four inches, although they go over a far shorter distance than speed humps do. These obstructions lie beneath a vehicle’s tire for less than half of a whole wheel revolution, and their normal widths range from six inches to two feet in length. The height causes a sudden bounce in a vehicle to travel distance ratio, which may cause both people and cargo to be shaken. Because a speed bump is always far smaller than the cars traveling over it, each axle will cross individually, resulting in a car traveling at excessive speed receiving two significant jolts. Like their more sedate cousins, speed bumps may be put at regular intervals to keep the speed decrease consistent. They are generally placed at strategic intervals because they are more unpleasant to drive over at any speed and serve a limited geographic region. Speed bumps can deliver a jolt, which may explain why they have earned a variety of amusing nicknames across the globe. They are referred to as “dos-d’âne” in French, which means “humpback” in English. They are referred to as speed breakers in India, judder bars in New Zealand, sleeping policemen in the United Kingdom, and road turtles in the United States (Southern US).

Benefits & Cautions: 

One of the most significant advantages of speed bumps and humps is that they retain their effectiveness as a deterrent regardless of how acclimated drivers get to their presence. For a short period, flashing signs or intermittent traffic enforcement might alter motorist behavior, but drivers often return to their former habits. One may choose to ignore a sign, but one cannot ignore the road underneath it. A speed hump or a speed bump causes the same pain for a motorist traveling too rapidly, regardless of whether it is their first or hundredth time passing over one. A bump in the road is not always the best solution for calming traffic situations. Obstacles operate best when the driver is aware that they are approaching and begins to slow down before reaching the obstacle’s edge. Speed bumps and humps are often carefully marked with contrasting colors or reflective surfaces to promote visibility. Still, they must also be located in areas where drivers will see them approaching to be effective. Use of these devices amid a lengthy curve or on streets with grades more than 8 percent is not recommended. A steep incline may also alter the effective height of a speed hump or bump, causing it to have a greater impact than it was originally designed to have. Visibility may also be a problem in certain winter climes, particularly in areas where snowfall is heavy and local roads are not plowed. On arterial or emergency routes where they might pose a safety threat, speed humps and bumps are likewise not advised for installation. A motorist may lose control of his or her car if these obstacles are encountered unexpectedly or while traveling at excessive speeds. However, the most flexible instruments in the traffic management toolkit are those that are utilized in the correct context.

Materials and installation

Depending on their purpose, speed bumps and humps are often built of rubber or asphalt. Various materials such as plastic, metal, and concrete are also available. These obstacles, often composed of rubber or plastic, are simple to put on pre-existing surfaces, allowing for a quick and efficient set-up. Both solutions are lightweight and may be deployed just for a short period. Snow removal in winter regions may be difficult by very restricted installations, particularly when several of them are put near together in series. Both rubber and plastic speed bumps can be removed to make these procedures more convenient. As rubber has higher compression than asphalt or concrete, it may be advantageous to a vehicle that strikes it too rapidly, at an angle, or when it is low to the ground, as the vehicle is less likely to sustain damage as a result of the impact. Because of the increased compression, rubber obstacles of the same height are less efficient at delaying traffic than identical asphalt installations. As a result, rubber or plastic obstacles are not recommended for highways where heavy industrial traffic is constantly passing. On the other hand, Rubber is strong and long-lasting under typical circumstances, and it is affordable to purchase and install. Municipal road workers or private paving firms are often tasked with installing asphalt or concrete speed humps. They must be precise and knowledgeable in the field, or else the installation might go wrong. In the hands of suitably skilled staff, asphalt may be used to create obstacles with certain shapes and travel lengths. Because both materials have less compression than rubber or plastic, they are marginally more successful at speed reduction than the other. On the other hand, asphalt and concrete will tend to wear and break over time and under various weather conditions.

Bottom Line:

To promote cautious driving in pedestrian zones, both speed bumps and humps are effective. Speed humps are beneficial in locations where traffic must move quickly, while speed bumps are good in tiny spaces where people and vehicles share space more evenly. Both need less preparation than other physical traffic calming systems such as roundabouts or one-way streets, and modular, prebuilt versions may be put quickly and cheaply on existing surfaces. Roundabouts and one-way streets are examples of such approaches. When placed in the proper context, larger speed humps and their smaller but more aggressive siblings, speed bumps, maybe traffic safety superstars when used properly.

List of websites with governmental information about speed bumps in the USA:

1. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): The FHWA is a division of the US Department of Transportation, responsible for overseeing the use of speed bumps on federal highways and roadways. Their website contains guidelines and regulations for the use of speed bumps on these roads.
2. State Departments of Transportation: Each state has its own department of transportation, responsible for overseeing the use of speed bumps on state-owned roads and highways. Websites for these departments may contain information about regulations and guidelines for speed bumps in their respective states.
3. City and County Government Websites: Many cities and counties have their own transportation departments, responsible for overseeing the use of speed bumps on local roads. Websites for these departments may contain information about regulations and guidelines for speed bumps in their respective areas.
4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): NIOSH is a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), responsible for studying and promoting workplace safety. Their website contains information about the use of speed bumps in workplace settings, including guidelines for their installation and use.
5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): OSHA is a division of the US Department of Labor, responsible for promoting workplace safety. Their website contains information about the use of speed bumps in workplace settings, including guidelines for their installation and use.

Websites:

1. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
2. State Departments of Transportation: You can find a list of state transportation departments and their respective websites here: https://www.transportation.gov/state-transportation-links
3. City and County Government Websites: The websites for individual cities and counties can vary, but you can typically find them by doing a Google search for the name of the city or county followed by “department of transportation.”
4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm
5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): https://www.osha.gov/