Road Humps, Speed Bumps and 'Sleeping Policemen'
Whether you call them road humps, speed humps or sleeping policemen they do the same thing, that’s right they slow traffic. Introduced as a road traffic calming measure these weapons in road safety have been very successful according to the DfT in urban areas. These speed bumps are usually made from asphalt or concrete in the UK as it slows motorists more than humps made from rubber, which have been used in the USA.
Road planners have also made roads narrow where they have placed speed humps so that the traffic is made to slow down to get past the traffic-calming device.
When negotiating these humps the Highway Code claims that cyclists and motorcyclists should be given enough space to negotiate them, it also claims that you should drive slowly and carefully within the traffic calming measures and give way to oncoming road users if directed to do so by signs. You should not overtake other moving road users while in these areas.
What does a Road Hump, Speed Bump or 'Sleeping Policeman' Look Like?
The traffic-calming device has a flat or round top, this runs from one side of the road to the other. However, if “Speed Cushions” are in use they will only cover part of the road. This in turn makes it easier for vehicles to position their wheels either side of the obstacle and not feel anything when they pass over it. This is designed so that emergency vehicles are not slowed by speed humps but other motorists just negotiate them as if they aren’t there - “Speed Cushions” from research carried out by road safety groups seem to be an ineffective way of slowing traffic.Warning signs are erected at the beginning of a road where these traffic-calming measures are installed.
A red triangle with a white background and a road hump on it and the text states: 'Humps for ½ Mile' – This means road humps for distance shown. This may vary.
A text Plate reading: 'Humps for 300yds' - This means that there will be road humps for distance shown and direction indicated.
You can also have a text plate reading: 'Humps 20yds' – This is a countdown that you are approaching speed humps and that you should slow down and take care.
Zebra and signal-controlled pedestrian crossings can be located on flat humps, if they are then usually motorists will have advance warnings of these traffic-calming measures.
Thin Road Humps
These are not road humps in the above sense but rumble strips. They are commonly found when approaching a hazard such as a roundabout on a dual carriageway. The rumble strips warn the driver of the approaching hazard by providing a visual, audible and vibratory effect. The rumble strips are to alert the driver that a hazard is up ahead and that you should reduce your speed as care is needed when negotiating the next piece of road. Just like their wider cousin the road hump, the rumble strip is used in the same way – both are used as traffic calming measures.
You might also like...
On several roads I drive upon, cars park domestically as near as possible to their houses, along one side of the road. The other side is a school with parking prohibitions.However, one of the group of drivers parks their car on the slight bend and right next to a tarmac speedbump and the road is also narrow, forcing me into the middle of the road only to negotiate the speed bump at its highest point and at the same time often having to negotiate the opposite side of the road speed hump also, near its high point.I have to reduce my speed to 1 mile an hour.
At the same time oncoming traffic is met quite often, and one has to stop and wait for the other driver.
If the domestically parked car on my left was not parking right next to the speed bump,(this is 7 am. time), traffic, though sparse, would flow and each car could pass slowly but normally over their speed bump and there would be no conjestion and no uncomfortable elevation of either one side nor all of the car.
I would never park next to a speed hump, and there are no house front doors visible,where these cars park.I have always considered this antisocial, illegal and dangerous.
Is the driver taking the Mic knowing that the speed bumps exist already for normal traffic calming and their awkward parking is thrusting drivers into a very severe claming measure which I believe is dangerous.
Or are they simply breaking the law.I think the law needs to be made clear on this kind of parking.
Cheers for any reply.
JT - 26-Jul-19 @ 8:44 AM
On several roads I drive upon, cars park domestically as near as possible to their houses, allon one side of the road. The other side is a school with parking prohibitions.However, one of the drivers parks their car on the slight bend and right next to a tarmac speedbump and the road is also narrow, forcing me into the middle of the road only to negotiate the speed bump at its highest point and at the same time often having to negotiate the opposite side of the road speed hump also, near its high point.I have to reduce my speed to 1 mile an hour.
At the same time oncoming traffic is met quite often, and one has to stop and wait for the other driver.
If the domestically parked car on my left was not parking right next to the speed bump,(this is 7 am. time), traffic, though sparse, would flow and each car could pass slowly but normally over their speed bump and there would be no conjestion and no uncomfortable elevation of either one side nor all of the car.
I would never park next to a speed hump, and there are no front house doors where these cars park.I have always considered this antisocial, illegal and dangerous.
Is the driver taking the Mic knowing that the speed bumps exist already for normal traffic calming and their awkward parking is thrusting drivers into a very severe claming measure which I believe is dangerous.
Or are they simply breaking the law.I think the law needs to be made clear on this kind of parking.
Cheers for any reply.
JT - 26-Jul-19 @ 8:35 AM
When approaching a speed bump today, with a car parked on my side, a car was coming towards me but the road was wide enough for us both to pass, however the approaching car pulled out to take the centre of the speed bump causing me to stop behind the parked car to avoid a collision and he hooted me ! There does not seem to be an etiquette for this in the Highway Code, so who was in the wrong ?
David R - 8-Jun-19 @ 12:55 PM
I got a parking ticket, for parking at the end of a line of cars, which was on a speed bump,.. No signs up to say otherwise, was not restricting any traffic not near any yellow lines, or other markings.. Was on a quiet street, can only do about 10 mile per hour anyway, is this right?
Sandy - 11-May-19 @ 1:11 PM
Scallywagg - Your Question:
I got a parking fine for parking on a wide speed bump with solid white triangles on. There were not lines at all on the road and it was in a park so was I in the wrong? I honestly didn't realise it was illegal! Please help Yours sincerely Sally knight
Our Response:
If it was in a park, there may have been signs on posts etc indicating no parking. We're still unsure about whether it's illegal to park on speed bumps in general.
TrafficSignsAndMeanings - 14-Jun-17 @ 2:45 PM
I got a parking fine for parking on a wide speed bump with solid white triangles on. There were not lines at all on the road and it was in a park so was I in the wrong? I honestly didn't realise it was illegal! Please help
Yours sincerely
Sally knight
Scallywagg - 11-Jun-17 @ 5:46 PM
Joy - Your Question:
Is it legal to park on speed humps?
Our Response:
Yes as long as there are no other parking restrictions in place and the bump/hump does not signify a pedestrian crossing.
TrafficSignsAndMeanings - 3-Apr-17 @ 11:16 AM
Mike - Your Question:
When new speed humps are done on a 20mph road and signs are put up to say no road markings at each end approx quarter of a mile each end but no signs near to speed humps And left for weeks before being painted is this right
Our Response:
Get in touch with your local highways department to find out when they will be painted. Speed bumps have to be clearly visible but it's not clear whether they must be painted or whether road signs./speed limits suffice.
TrafficSignsAndMeanings - 28-Mar-17 @ 12:34 PM
When new speed humps are done on a 20mph roadand signs are put up to say no road markings at each end approx quarter of a mile each end butno signsnear to speed humps And left for weeks before being painted is this right
Mike - 27-Mar-17 @ 8:17 AM
Re: History of Road Markings and How they were First Designed
These days glass beads are added when cold painting stripes or lines onto roads and parking…
Re: Driving When Approaching a School Crossing Patrol
Interesting comment in the rules regarding not seeing the lollipop person as an excuse regarding…
Re: What are the Different Types of Loading Restrictions?
Parked on a loading bay Sunday afternoon which said loading only 10-6:30 mon to Sunday, how is…
Re: Explain a Red Route
I was driving along the london bridge area and my car started overheating I stopped to check in order not to create traffic or hold up I…
Re: Road Markings that Indicate Parking Restrictions
I live in a cul de sac. At the end is a keep clear area and people are starting to park there. Is this…
Re: History of Cats Eyes and Their Function for the Road User
My cat thought this was the most heartwarming story
Re: Explain a Red Route
I broke down one evening near a commonly used parking area for a burger van. After several attempts to move my car we pushed it completely off…
Re: Traffic Light Rules in the UK
Hi I was in the left hand lane of an adjoining road to a main road. The green filter light had changed to just a green…
Re: What are the Differences in Waiting Restrictions Signs?
I have 2 roadsigns outside my house. X Red route No stopping mon - sat 7am - 7pm Except…
Re: Explain a Red Route
Im a new driver and i parked on a double red line in east london there was a sign there stated 7am-7pm no stopping but this was at 11 in…