Traffic Calming Devices Research Articles

Built for movement: Neighborhoods and adolescent physical activity behaviors, and the moderating role of socioeconomic position and gender

This study examined whether the built environment was associated with physical activity among adolescents in Oslo, Norway, and the role of socioeconomic position and gender as potential moderators of this association. We used data from 897 adolescents who participated in the TACKLE cross-sectional study conducted in 2020. Built environment features (recreational facilities, parks, forest, public transport, traffic calming devices, and schools) were assessed objectively using Geographical Information Systems. Physical activity data included device-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, total physical activity, and self-reported active transportation to school. Using general linear models and logistic regression, we found that most built environment features were unrelated to the participants’ device-measured physical activity. Longer distances to school and to traffic calming devices were associated with decreased likelihood of participants reporting active transportation to school. Our moderated regression analysis showed that adolescents with low socioeconomic backgrounds seemed less affected by longer distances to school compared with their high socioeconomic counterparts. Furthermore, boys appeared to be more sensitive to traffic safety relative to girls. Implementing traffic calming devices may enhance active transportation to school and improve traffic safety for Norwegian adolescents.

ASSESSMENT OF CO2 EMISSION DUE TO SPEED BUMPS ON SELECTED HIGHWAYS IN BAUCHI STATE

One industry that will emit carbon dioxide (CO2) that is dependent on the production of fossil fuels is transportation. Even though cars emit carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to air pollution, fossil fuel-powered vehicles nevertheless require widespread use. Traffic-calming devices act as tools to reduce the rapidity of automobiles. They make a major contribution to road protection; however, air contamination is more likely to arise due to the fact that motor vehicles use brakes and accelerate more regularly. This study examines the impact of speed bumps brought on by elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on selected commercial vehicles, including Vectra, Volkswagon, Peugeot, Ford Galaxy, and Toyota Hiace buses, traveling on highways from Bauchi to Jos, Bauchi to Azare, Bauchi to Gombe, and Bauchi to Kano. To estimate the CO2 emissions of each kind of specified commercial vehicle, the fuel consumption of the vehicles before and after the installation of bumps was gathered using a questionnaire model and examined using a mathematical model using a macro-scale approach. The result shows that there is an increase of 21% in CO2 emissions on the Bauchi to Jos Highway, 15% in CO2 emissions on Bauchi to Azare, 24% in CO2 emissions on Bauchi to Gombe, and 40% in CO2 emissions on Bauchi to Kano. The study concludes that transport-related pollution on Bauchi Highway has indeed significantly increased with the installation of calming traffic devices, which is dangerous to human health and vegetation near these highways.

Review Paper on Road Safety Analysis

Road safety analysis refers to thoroughly examining roads and general transportation infrastructure using various analytical methods. It usually involves a multidisciplinary team with the local governing body and other stakeholders to check for potential safety issues and bring improvements within the same. The purpose of this review paper is to study the causes of road accidents and identify the active blackspots present in Raipur city. The goal is to prevent accidents by making sure road infrastructure is designed and optimised for safety and efficiency. According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, road accident blackspot on National Highways is a road stretch of about 500m in length in which either 5 road accidents (involving fatalities/grievous injuries) took place during the last three calendar years or 10 fatalities took place during the last three calendar years. Through detailed study and analysis, one can surmise that Road Safety Analysis can be easily broken down to factors such as types of road users, presence of traffic calming devices, weather conditions, whether users possess a driver’s licence and much more. Furthermore, it is important to address the deficiency and failure of one or more elements in road infrastructures to curb the issue of road accidents by understanding the data obtained accordingly. Key Word: Road accidents, Blackspots, Road Safety Analysis

Design and Construction Aspects of Concrete Block Paved Vertical Traffic-Calming Devices Located in Home Zone Areas

In recent years, speed reduction measures have been increasingly used, especially in heavily urbanised areas. If local conditions allow, traffic-calming schemes are implemented, which include a variety of traffic-calming measures (TCM). Some of the most common traffic-calming measures are concrete block paved vertical traffic-calming devices (VTCDs), including speed tables, speed humps, speed bumps and raised pedestrian crossings. Different design and construction recommendations apply to the respective VTCD types. The aim of this article is to examine the effectiveness of VTCDs in speed reduction and the impact of horizontal forces on pavement conditions, both within and beyond VTCDs, after over a dozen years of exposure to traffic. For this purpose, speed surveys were carried out on selected two-way streets running through home zones in Poland. The pavements on selected VTCDs were identified and visually assessed for damage, and subsidence areas were estimated using the terrestrial laser scanning (TSL) technique. The analysis resulted in the development of the Deviation Model 3D (DM3D), showing local deviations from the theoretical surface, obtained by superimposing the two models, the Real Surface Digital Terrain Model (RS DTM) and the Theoretical Surface Digital Terrain Model (TS DTM). A comparative analysis of the pavement surface condition and the magnitudes of horizontal forces allowed us to identify the locations of critical spots in VTCDs. The results were used as the basis for developing recommended pavement structures and deriving engineering recommendations for concrete block paving in VTCDs.

Maintenance Trends for Traffic Calming Devices in Zone 30 Plus

Maintenance Trends for Traffic Calming Devices in Zone 30 Plus

Towards a New Design Methodology for Vertical Traffic Calming Devices

With increasing emphasis on new soft mobility in urban areas, it becomes more and more important to provide effective speed control measures for vehicular traffic. Among those, the ones based on vehicle vertical deflection, namely vertical traffic calming measures, are historically the most widespread. However, since the basic operating principle of these devices is related to the vertical dynamic response due to the interaction between the moving vehicle and the road profile, different vehicles may exhibit different speed behaviors when traveling on a specific road profile shape. As a matter of fact, recent research provided evidence of this connection, and therefore it has been worth investigating the dynamics underlying the phenomenon in order to develop a new approach to the design of vertical traffic calming devices. In this paper, following an initial state-of-the-art review, an in-depth study on the dynamic interaction between vehicle and road profile has been presented by means of an ad hoc-developed mathematical model. The proposed simulation model has been used to evaluate the root mean square acceleration value associated with each vehicle/traffic calming device/crossing speed. Following the outcomes provided by numerical simulations, an experimental investigation has been designed and carried out on a vertical traffic calming device. Speed profiles of different vehicles have been acquired, and preliminary results seem to provide evidence of a different dynamic response for each vehicle type, yielding the basis to reconsider the design approach of such devices in order to control urban traffic speed.

Analysis of the Factors Influencing Speed Cushion Effectiveness in the Urban Context: A Case Study Experiment in the City of Bari, Italy

The installation of Traffic-Calming Devices (TCDs) is an extremely valuable countermeasure to prevent vulnerable road users from fatalities in urban contexts. Among all the TCDs, Berlin Speed Cushions (BSCs) seem to be one of the most promising because they reduce speeds but do not affect emergency vehicles. However, previous research on BSCs is limited and lacks some important aspects, such as the analysis of speeds at different distances from the cushion or the investigation of the influence of other context variables. In this study, BSCs of different lengths (2.20 m, 2.70 m, and 3.20 m) were deployed in the City of Bari on three roads belonging to the same area. To overcome the limitations of previous research, speeds were recorded using a laser-speed gun before and after the implementation of BSCs, in different conditions, in order to take into account the effect of the following factors: the time of day, day of the week, and average hourly traffic. An ANOVA analysis was performed, with speed as the dependent variable and the above-reported factors and the test road site (proxy variable for the cushion length) as factors, independently repeated for six distance ranges with respect to the cushion. The results reveal that speed evidently decreases immediately before (down to about 13 km/h) and after the cushion (down to about 12 km/h), time of the day is an important factor (speed decrease is much more evident during the morning than the evening), and the length of the cushion has some influence on speed decrease (the speed decrease is lower for the longest cushion).

Evaluation of Demand-Responsive Transverse Rumble Strip Effects on Drivers’ Behavioral Changes as a Traffic Calming Device

Evaluation of Demand-Responsive Transverse Rumble Strip Effects on Drivers’ Behavioral Changes as a Traffic Calming Device

Soft Passing over Traffic-Calming Devices by Controlled Suspension in Low-Speed Robotic Vehicles for Vulnerable People

The usefulness of golf carts for transporting patients in hospital facilities is well known. Nursing homes, medical campuses, and any type of related service require the low-speed transport of patients either in a seat, in a wheelchair, or on a stretcher. This type of transport is not limited to hospitals, but also includes other environments where there are people with special requirements. Think for instance of handicapped or elderly people that need a van because they have to go from their homes to any destination; therefore, the use of golf carts becomes relevant and attractive. Moreover, these carts could be automated for path following and deal with bumps, potholes, or sinkholes. In this context, the present research proposes a novel way to deal with this kind of road obstacle when the gentle transport of patients is a key element. In order to pass over these obstacles, a soft upwards displacement of the front and rear sections of the vehicle was achieved with magnetorheological dampers as part of the vehicle’s suspension system. In this way, people who need this gentle transport will not have any discomfort. Moreover, this work is aligned with the spirit of Automated Vehicles 3.0.

Non-Newtonian Fluid Speed Breaker

Speed bumps, as traffic calming devices, have been extensively used to reduce traffic speed on local streets. This study represents a unique application of Non-Newtonian fluid as Speed Bump. This technical paper relates to a device that reduces the speed of any over speeding vehicles travelling on a roadway. It is formed by a flexible material which consist of Non-Newtonian fluid in it i.e. each receptacle is impregnated with a dilatants shear thickening fluid. The material is placed under compression during impact when the vehicle strikes it and the fluid itself acts as means for controlling the resistance to deformation of the strip. Thus, if the vehicle travels at a low speed the fluid has a low viscosity and the strip is easily deformed, whereas if the speed of the vehicle is high the viscosity of the fluid is high and as a result has great resistance to deformation, thus forming a rigid obstacle to the passage of the vehicle. Drivers must always slow down when driving over the conventional speed breakers to prevent damage to their vehicle. However, the Non-Newtonian fluid Speed Breaker is sensitive to the speed of the vehicle. The vehicle needs to slow down only if it is over speeding.

Modeling the Influence of Roundabout Deflection on Its Efficiency as a Noise Abatement Measure

Challenges that emerge in roundabout design are mostly related to space constrictions and provision of appropriate deflection around the central island. This can result in speed profiles on roundabouts that might reduce their potential as a noise abatement measure. Because of this, the impact of a roundabout on noise levels and its applicability as a traffic calming device and a noise abatement measure should be investigated in the early design stage, by modeling noise levels. In this paper, the following hypothesis is tested: vehicle movement trajectories, defined during the fastest path performance check in roundabout early design phase, can be used as the road traffic noise sources when modeling noise at roundabouts using static noise model. This procedure (1) simplifies the preparation of the noise model, (2) results in a model that is closer to the real-world in terms of traffic flow conditions, (3) allows the noise calculations in the early stages of roundabout design, and (4) includes the influence of roundabout deflection on calculated noise levels. The abovementioned simplifications of the road traffic noise modeling process should encourage the optimization of roundabout geometry in terms of its noise reduction capabilities in the preliminary design phase of these intersections.

Operational effects of speed breakers: a case study in India

Traffic condition in India is highly heterogeneous consisting of vehicles of different static and dynamic characteristics. The speeds of all vehicles are non-uniform. Therefore, to regulate the speeds of different category of vehicles while travelling on a sharp turn or while approaching towards an intersection or buildings like schools and hospitals, traffic calming devices are provided on the roads. Speed breakers are one of the most commonly used traffic calming devices in developing countries like India. Geometry of the speed breakers are based on IRC 99 which says that the width of speed breakers should be 3.7 m and the height should be 0.1 m for urban roads. The codal provisions also suggest that the vehicles should be able to cross the speed breaker at an advisory speed of 20 kmph. However, it is observed that most of the speed breakers have faulty geometrical dimensions owing to various problems to the road users. The width of the speed breakers are usually observed to be narrowed down which increases the chance of road crashes due to sudden braking of vehicles encountering it. Further, it also leads to sudden slowing down of the whole traffic stream leading to traffic congestion. It also reduces fuel efficiency of the vehicles leading to overall increase in vehicle operating and maintenance costs. The present study reviews in detail the provisions provided in the IRC code for construction of speed breakers. Thereafter, a practical on field study is conducted to examine the dimensions of various speed breakers across various cities in India, and compare their dimensions with the provisions provided in the IRC code. Further, the operating speed of the vehicles while crossing the speed breaker is also noted down and compared with the suggested speed as provided in the code. Finally, a detailed comparison between speed reduction at the speed breaker and their dimensions has been analyzed. Speed reduction of different category of vehicles has also been examined in detail.

Utjecaj opreme za smirivanje prometa na razine buke u okolišu

Increasing numbers of people living in urban areas are being exposed to harmful action of environmental noise, which severely affects their health and quality of life. The predominant source of environmental noise in such areas is road traffic, and a frequently used measure to curb down this noise involves reduction of driving speed. The influence of vertical traffic calming devices, normally used to improve traffic safety, on the degree of noise reduction, is analysed in this study. The analysis was carried out on seven urban two-lane two-way roads, on which various types of speed bumps and speed humps are installed.

Effect of Speed Bumps on Pavement Condition

Speed bumps are efficient traffic calming devices that allow transport authorities to control vehicle speeds and improve safety in specific locations. Though frequently used in residential areas, they have become increasing prevalent in other higher volume roadways (particularly in developing countries), because of their effectiveness, low-cost of implementation, and easy installation process. However, in these countries there is no proper technical guidance for speed bump design and implementation, which is why one can often find these devices placed on an arterial highway or on roads where the proportion of trucks is high. The most important consequence of placing a speed bump on a road with large numbers of trucks is that the pavement deterioration process will accelerate as a result of the induced vibrations and bouncing of a truck’s suspension. In this paper the relationship between the bump geometry—length and height—and the dynamic load transmitted to the pavement is studied. A full truck model has been used to simulate the vehicle dynamics while passing over the bump, to estimate the demand imposed over the pavement. Damage was calculated for each simulation scenario using a combination of linear-elastic analysis and empirical damage functions. The geometry that leads to less damage is the circular, with a minimum length of two meters and a maximum height of ten centimeters.

Environmental Effects of Traffic Calming Devices on Residential Area using SUMO

Environmental Effects of Traffic Calming Devices on Residential Area using SUMO

Vehicle Speed Influence on Ground-borne Vibrations Caused by Road Transport when Passing Vertical Traffic Calming Measures

Traffic calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Vibration measurements were performed by the authors of this paper near the roads with traffic calming devices. The measurements were taken throughout two seasons: in the winter and in the summer in order to evaluate the influence of soil freezing on traffic-induced vibrations. The only car measured was Fiat Doblo (weight 1,405 kg), and its driving speed when passing a speed bump or a speed table was controlled (20 km/h; 30 km/h; 40 km/h). The results show that the Peak Particle Acceleration (PPA) values were higher in the winter season compared with the summer. The vehicles passing over the speed tables induce lower PPA values than those passing over the speed bumps.

Optimal design of traffic calming devices using computer simulation

ABSTRACT Speed control humps and dips are the most effective and widely used devices, to control vehicle speeds in urban areas. Their geometry varies from type to type based on the criteria used. This study aims at developing new designs for speed hump and dip using commercially available simulation and optimization software. The numerical simulation for vehicle-hump dynamics was developed using ADAMS software and then is linked to MATLAB software to determine speed hump/dip optimum designs that provide discomfort feeling to the driver if vehicle speed exceeds the specified limit, and tolerable comfort if speed is less than or equal the specified limit. The acceptable range of vibrations and shocks exposure resulted from passing over the humps or dips are based on British BS6841:1987 and ISO2631-5:2004 standards. These standards address human health and comfort level in terms of the acceptable range of whole body vibration exposure. The study shows that, for speed limits lower than 10 km/h and higher than 45 km/h, the optimal humps are more efficient than dips. On the other hand, the study shows that for midrange speed limits between 10 and 45 km/h, the optimal dips were superior over optimal humps.

Critical Analysis of Speed Hump and Speed Bump and Geometric Design of Curved Speed Hump

The motive of this study is to critically analyze speed humps and bumps on various accounts such as travel time delays, mileage reductions, exhaust emissions and propose a new traffic calming device, which can retain the positive impacts of speed humps and also reduce the disadvantages associated with them. The new traffic calming device, Curved Speed Hump (CSH), consists of a main speed hump which is a raised and curved area placed along a lane and a complementary speed hump, adjacent to it. Drivers can choose to adopt a curved path, thus moderating speeds and avoiding disadvantages of speed humps. The primary objective of CSH is to moderate the speed, rather than locally reduce it, using both horizontal and vertical deflection concepts. Various geometric parameters are discussed and their theoretical limits are proposed.

Analysis of Speed Profiles at Speed Hump under Various Dimensions & Simulating their LOS Using VISSIM

Speed is an important parameter in transportation to attain the design principles. But a fast-moving vehicle can be a forbidding to other road users particularly in heterogeneous traffic. However, at some of the location’s speeds are controlled by different traffic calming devices to ensure safety. One of the most adopted traffic calming devices in India is speed hump. In this context an attempt is made to study various aspects related to speed hump in Indian context. The present study was done in two phases. The first phase of the study aims to focus on performance of speed hump of different dimensions for different vehicles and establishes a statistical relation between the dimensions of speed hump and vehicular speed using multilinear regression analysis. Calibrated results had shown that there is more than 70% of variation in speed reduction due to change in hump geometry. This study also describes practical geometric design guidelines of speed hump for the use of practicing road engineers. The second phase of the study aims to estimate the performance of vehicles at speed hump by evaluating the delays and level of service of the selected study areas in presence of humps and in absence of humps using micro simulation software VISSIM. Results had shown that due to more number of speed humps Level of Service (LOS) is affected to large extent. These results can be used as a tool for designing hump geometry.

‘They installed a speed bump’: children’s perceptions of traffic-calming measures around elementary schools

ABSTRACT Growing scientific literature evaluates the impact of traffic-calming devices in terms of mobility behavior and safety, but little is known about their perceived impact from the point of view of children. Our study asks children about their perceptions of different traffic-calming measures around their schools. It draws on data gathered through eight focus groups, followed by walking tours with Grade 6 children (11–12 years old) (n = 65, 27 boys, 38 girls) from elementary schools in different urban contexts in Quebec, Canada. Qualitative analysis of the discussions shows that (a) vehicle speed is the main perceived threat for participant children; (b) children are confident about the effectiveness of self-enforcing traffic-calming devices that reshape the street geometry; and (c) they are skeptical about the effectiveness of ‘informative’ measures such as signs and lines (marked pavement). Our findings inform public policy for a more effective promotion of walking and cycling among children.