Speed Cushions

 

Speed Cushions on Highway1: Enhancing Safety and Traffic Flow

Speed cushions, an innovative traffic-calming measure, have become increasingly common on highways and urban roads. Designed to slow down vehicles without disrupting traffic flow, speed cushions are an effective solution for areas that require safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and residents. In this article, we will explore the design, purpose, and impact of speed cushions on highways, particularly focusing on their advantages, challenges, and implementation.

What Are Speed Cushions on Highway1

Speed cushions are raised, often rectangular or circular, traffic-calming devices placed across the road, usually in a series, to reduce vehicle speeds.Many local authorities run into public opposition when installing speed humps or speed tables – the speed cushion is the solution. It’s is small enough for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances to straddle the width of the cushion without slowing but large enough to cause cars and light vehicles to lower their speeds.

At night the embedded reflective beads provide excellent warning to the drivers.

Speed cushions are also often less costly than their asphalt or concrete speed hump equivalents while many cities around the world report them to be just as effective. The 

Highway 1 Speed Cushion is made from recycled rubber tires which are lighter and easier and quicker to install than asphalt and concrete. The rubber sections can easily be removed without causing damage unlike their asphalt and concrete counterparts.

 

Unlike traditional speed bumps, which create a continuous bump across the road, speed cushions are designed with gaps that allow larger vehicles, such as buses and emergency vehicles, to pass over them without significant discomfort. The design of speed cushions varies depending on the specific needs of the area, but they share a common feature: their ability to slow down traffic while minimizing the disruption to vehicle flow, especially for large vehicles.

Purpose of Speed Cushions on Highway1

The primary purpose of speed cushions is to improve safety on roads that experience high traffic volumes or are in proximity to high-risk areas like schools, residential neighborhoods, or pedestrian crossings. Here are some of the key goals behind their implementation:

1. Reducing Speed: Speed cushions are designed to slow down vehicles, especially in areas with high traffic but where traditional speed bumps may be impractical. This reduction in speed is crucial for enhancing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
   
   

2. Enhancing Road Safety: Speed cushions are particularly beneficial in preventing accidents by encouraging drivers to slow down. Their installation is often seen in areas where speeding is a concern, such as near intersections, schools, or recreational areas.
   
   

3. Minimizing Disruption to Traffic Flow: Unlike traditional speed bumps that cause significant jolts and slow down all vehicles regardless of size, speed cushions are specifically designed to allow larger vehicles, such as buses and fire trucks, to pass without slowing down too much. This is especially important on highways where emergency response times need to be swift.
   
   

4. Encouraging Safe Driving Behaviors: By physically compelling drivers to slow down, speed cushions help create an environment where speeding is less likely, encouraging better adherence to speed limits.
   
   

How Speed Cushions Work

Speed cushions work by creating a vertical displacement on the road surface, forcing vehicles to slow down as they pass over them. The design features gaps between the raised areas, ensuring that vehicles with wider wheelbases, like trucks, buses, and ambulances, can pass over them more smoothly than passenger cars. The raised segments, while effective in reducing vehicle speeds, are less jarring than traditional speed bumps, which can be uncomfortable for passengers and cause damage to vehicles.

The physical effect of the cushions is amplified by their placement. They are often spaced at regular intervals, which forces drivers to slow down continually over a stretch of highway. The gaps between the cushions allow larger vehicles to traverse the highway at a more comfortable speed while still forcing smaller vehicles to reduce speed.

Advantages of Speed Cushions on Highway1

1. Improved Pedestrian Safety: Speed cushions help reduce speeding on roads, which in turn makes pedestrian crossings safer. Areas near schools, shopping centers, or recreational parks benefit from this enhanced safety feature.
   
   

2. Low Maintenance: Compared to other traffic-calming measures like roundabouts or traffic signals, speed cushions are relatively low-cost to install and maintain. Their simplicity makes them an attractive option for municipalities on tight budgets.
   
   

3. Less Disruption to Emergency Vehicles: One of the key benefits of speed cushions over traditional speed bumps is that emergency vehicles, like ambulances and fire trucks, can pass through without significant delays or discomfort, which is crucial in maintaining swift response times.
   
   

4. Environmental Benefits: Because speed cushions can reduce the speed of traffic without completely stopping it, they help reduce fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability.
   
   

5. Adaptability to Different Roads: Speed cushions can be adapted to fit a variety of road types, making them versatile enough for use in both urban and rural areas. Whether on a highway or a quieter residential street, speed cushions can be customized to meet the needs of the local traffic environment.
   
   

Conclusion

Speed cushions are an effective and versatile traffic-calming solution, particularly on highways and roads where traffic safety needs to be balanced with the flow of larger vehicles. By slowing down traffic and reducing speed-related accidents, speed cushions make roads safer for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Though challenges exist, their advantages, particularly in terms of safety, emergency vehicle access, and low maintenance costs, make them a practical option for improving highway safety. As urban planning continues to prioritize the well-being of all road users, speed cushions are likely to remain a key component of safer road designs.

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