Traffic Calming Measures
Traffic calming measures are used to encourage people to drive at a lower speed than they might otherwise do. They are used in particularly sensitive areas where it is considered that a reduction in speed would benefit the immediate community.
Various features can be provided to slow down the speed of the traffic:
• Road humps
• Road narrowing's, central islands and chicanes
• Mini roundabouts
Some traffic-calmed areas are indicated only by a 20 mph speed limit sign. This speed limit sign, in addition to advising the maximum speed limit, also indicates that there may be traffic calming features within the signed zone and these may not be individually signed. You should drive at a steady speed within the speed limit, and avoid frequent acceleration and deceleration within these areas.
You may come across 'Road Humps', they may be round or flat top humps that are laid across the carriageway. They may be used on roads where there is a speed limit of 30 mph or less. In some areas the humps are in the form of 'cushions' which only cover part of the lane and are designed so that larger vehicles, especially buses, can straddle them. If these are provided outside 20 mph zones, there will normally be:
• Warning signs at the beginning of the section of road where the hump or series of humps are installed
• Triangle and edge line markings at each hump. Roads may become narrowed by the use of 'build outs' on one or both sides of the road. If these are provided outside 20 mph zones there will normally be.
• Warning signs indicating which side of the road narrowing occurs.
• Give way road markings on one side of the road accompanied by signs advising priority for oncoming vehicles.
If these are on your side of the road, you must always give way to drivers approaching from the other direction. If priority is not given in either direction, then all drivers should ensure that they can pass through the narrowing without endangering vehicles approaching from the other direction.
You should not accelerate as you approach the narrowing, but be prepared to slow down or give way to approaching traffic. Hold back and allow cyclists and motorcyclist's room to pass through; don't try to squeeze through at the same time as these vehicles. Finally, mini roundabouts are often used as part of traffic calming schemes to break up a long road into shorter sections and allow traffic to join from minor roads.
19 Jul, 2011
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Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6418703
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