Speed bumps are traffic-calming tools and promote safe driving in neighborhoods with children and shopping centers

DSCF5075.JPGSpeeding cars through a residential neighborhood where children play or wait for the school buys is every parent’s nightmare. When we lived in Franklin Farms, I would have liked a speed bump on the “straightaway” in our cul-de-sac community. There were dozens of children on the street in the summer after school let out. But we were informed there had to be a terrible accident, injury or death before we could get this traffic calming device. A recent news article discussed the fact that Montgomery County is considering rules that would mean more speed bumps on the county’s streets. “The traffic-calming tools have been contentious for years, creating the opposite effect of the usual not-in-my-backyard dynamic. Some residents want them on their streets so cars don’t whiz by their homes. But those who live elsewhere — or even a few streets away — don’t like humping over the bumps.”

Emergency responders have complained about the bumps, saying they can slow ambulances and firetrucks during emergencies and damage their equipment.  The ABRAMS LANDAU law firm has even tried a case involving a speed bump (or speed hump) injury.  The humps are allowed on roads that carry 100 vehicles per hour. To read the rest of the Washington newspaper article. There is now a proposal for a sliding scale that takes speed and traffic volume into account. As someone who has seen too many injuries from speeding cars and trucks in the DC Metro area as both an injury lawyer and as an eyewitness, I would be one of those people who favors more speed bumps on residential streets where there are lots of children or dangerous shopping center crossings near groceries, big box retailers, markets and other high-volume stores.

4 responses on “Speed bumps are traffic-calming tools and promote safe driving in neighborhoods with children and shopping centers

  1. Amy

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  2. michael

    I agree I would like to see some speed bumps in my neighborhood, I was a police officer for 5 years and also have be wittnes to accidents that could have been prevented by a speed bump, and now that I have children I defenetly whant to see some in my neighborhood, it is crazy people use our street as a short cut to their neighborhood and ddrive 15-20 over the speed limit!!!!!!!! I dont even let my kid or any of my pets out of the front yard just because of the irresponsible drivers that arent even from my neighborhood… well thanks for letting me vent cool site!

    1. Doug Post author

      I agree. When we tried to get “speed bumps” when drivers raced through our cul-delsac, we were told that a child had to be KILLED before that traffic calming device could be installed ! We could not find a family that would volunteer one of their kids for this requirement…

  3. Jay

    I live in a neighborhood of narrow lanes, 20 m.p.h. posted speed limits, no sidewalks and lots of children and adults who walk, bike and play. There have been many “near-misses,” where speeding drivers have come within inches of children and adults. Many animals, domestic and wild, are killed monthly.

    Yet, when I called the local chief of police, and requested a meeting with him and the local public works director, I was called “an alarmist” and told that I’m the only one who complains about speeders – a claim which I know to be false.

    He continued with a statement that his “study showed there is no problem.”

    When I told him that my house keeper, the wife of a state trooper whom the chief knows, was nearly struck by a car as she lifted her vacuum cleaner into her car, the chief said, “well, was she standing in the roadway?”

    Obviously, the standards of care and responsibilities of a public official have become diminished since I served as a trial court Judge in another state.

    I would be interested in sharing ideas and tactics in dealing with intransigent public officials when it comes to public safety and the implementation of “traffic calming” and safety measures in neighborhoods.

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