AN EVALUATION OF SPEED-CURTAILING BUMPS

A study was conducted in San Jose on the possibility of installing speed bumps on neighborhood streets to reduce speeding. The study was designed to evaluate the potential effectiveness of various types of speed bump configurations. Eleven different vehicles were tested on the six bump configurations, ranging from 2: to 3: in height, and semicircular to trapexoidal in cross section. The observers rated discomfort separately for each bump and speed. A vertical accelerameter and a noise level meter were also installed in each vehicle to provide a more objective rating. A movie camera recorded vehicle movement to determine any lateral displacement. Results indicated that discomfort is reduced by speeding up/ also that speed bumps present a specific hazard to some vehicles (bicycles and motorcycles) and a potential hazard to others. Firefighters on the back of the truck were bounced 6 to 12 inches in the air. Speed bumps would cause a 10 to 20 decibel sound level increase, and would cause damage to steering, wheels and shocks. All indications are that there is no one bump design that will effectively reduce the speed of all vehicles crossing it.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Corporate Authors:

  Public Works Journal Corporation

  P.O. Box 688
  Ridgewood, NJ  United States  07451
• Authors:
  • Turturici, A R
• Publication Date: 1975-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 73-76
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 106
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerometers; Automated vehicle control; Bicycles; Dump trucks; Fire vehicles; Motorcycles; Noise; Sound level meters; Speed control; Streets
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bumps
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127287
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM