Speed cushion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Speed cushions are traffic calming devices designed as several small speed humps installed across the width of the road with spaces between them. They are generally installed in a series across a roadway resembling a split speed hump. The design of speed cushions forces cars to slow down as they ride with one or both wheels on the humps. However, the wider axle of emergency vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances allows them to straddle the cushions without slowing down or increasing response times. Although the newest available traffic calming device, speed cushions are rapidly growing in popularity due to their ability to slow cars without affecting emergency vehicles.
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[edit] Results
Typical speeds resulting from speed cushions are 15-25 miles per hour.
[edit] Advantages
Speed cushions have several distinct advantages over similar traffic calming devices. Many municipalities are challenged by opposition to speed humps and speed tables since they slow down emergency vehicles. Speed cushions address this problem by allowing larger vehicles to straddle the cushion without slowing down.
Speed cushions are also often less costly than speed humps or tables while most cities report them to be just as effective.
[edit] Composition
Speed cushions can be constructed of asphalt, concrete, or rubber. However, since it can be difficult to construct small cushions uniformly by pouring asphalt or concrete, preformed rubber devices are often used. Prefabricated rubber cushions must simply be assembled and bolted down to meet standard specifications, which can be difficult to achieve with asphalt or concrete. There is also an added security in knowing that motorists can have the same expectation of impact over all local devices.
Some manufacturers of rubber speed cushions in North America are Traffic Logix, Saferroads, and Road Kare.
[edit] Similar measures
Speed humps are similar to speed cushions although they are solid units spanning the width of the road.
Speed tables are longer than speed humps with a flat section in the middle. Cars are slowed to higher speeds than with speed humps.
Speed bumps are significantly smaller than speed humps and used in areas where speed must be slowed nearly to a halt.
[edit] References
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