TRAFFIC CALMING: CREATIVELY MITIGATING TRAFFIC SPEEDS AND VOLUME

Traffic calming incorporates both physical and visual features to mitigate inappropriate motor vehicle speeds and/or volume and create a safer environment for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Although some form of traffic calming in the U.S. dates back to the 1950s, it is still considered a relatively new and unique approach to managing the roadway environment. This article presents an overview of traffic calming, including a brief history and the policy shifts since 1991 which have led to its current popularity. The author summarizes traffic calming measures, including volume control measures: passive speed control measures; and active speed control measures such as vertical deflection, horizontal deflection, and constriction. Traffic calming results, community involvement in the planning stage, consensus building, emergency vehicle access, maintenance concerns, flexible design standards and historic preservation are also addressed in this overview.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10519629
• Corporate Authors:

  Civil Engineering News, Incorporated

  1255 Roberts Boulevard, Suite 230
  Kennesaw, GA  United States  30144
• Authors:
  • Reardon, L
• Publication Date: 2001-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 52-56
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering News
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Civil Engineering News, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1051-9629

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advisory groups; Bicycling; Communities; Constrictions; Deflection; Design standards; Drivers; Emergency vehicles; Historic preservation; History; Maintenance; Pedestrians; Planning; Public participation; Safety; Speed control; Traffic calming; Traffic lanes; Traffic mitigation; Traffic volume; Transportation policy
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; History; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00821143
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 17 2001 12:00AM