TRAFFIC-CALMING SOLUTIONS A SURVEY OF SAFETY PROFESSIONALS
SURVEY TRAFFIC CALMING OPTIONS In January 27, over 1 traffic engineers, police officers and safety professionals from around the United States received a survey asking them to rate the effectiveness of various traffic-calming methods. The following results, based upon a response rate of more than 3 percent, offers some insights into the perceptions of those most experienced in implementing and monitoring various schemes to slow speeding traffic and increase pedestrian safety. Highlight Summary o More than 96.5 percent said they strongly agree (66.7%) or agree (3%) that driver feedback signs are effective in reducing traffic speeds on residential streets. This is compared to only 3.3 percent that strongly agree (and 33.3 % that agree) that speed bumps are effective. Rumble strips were ranked as being least effective. o Respondents perceived Police with radar guns as being the most expensive traffic-calming option. Speed bumps were perceived as being the least expensive. o Driver feedback signs were ranked as having the most immediate and long-lasting effect on calming traffic. This was followed in order by Police with radar guns, speed bumps, static speed limit signs, and rumble strips. The following provides detailed results of questions asked in the survey. *The survey was sponsored by Information Display Company, a Portland, OR-based developer and manufacturer of traffic control solutions.
1. Number in order from 1 to 5 the IMMEDIATE IMPACT that you believe the following options have on reducing average traffic speed on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS (1-most immediate impact; 5 = least immediate impact). o Rumble strips o Police w/ radar guns o Speed limit signs o Your Speed (driver feedback) signs o Speed bumps 1 1 8 6 8.6 8.6 74.2 61.3 4 2 Your Police w/ Speed Static Rumble Speed Radar Bumps Speed Limit Strips MOST IMMEDIATE -- LEAST IMMEDIATE
2. Number in order from 1 to 5 the LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS that you believe the following options have on reducing speeds on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS (1 = most impact over time; 5 = least impact over time). o Rumble strips o Police w/ radar guns o Speed limit signs o Your Speed (driver feedback) signs o Speed bumps o Static speed limit signs 6 5.67 5 4.48 4 3 2 1.65 1.77 3.1 1 Your Police w/ Speed Static Rumble Speed Radar Bumps Speed Limit Strips MOST EFFECTIVE -- LEAST EFFECTIVE
3. List in order from 1 to 5 what you believe to be the most expensive (1) to the least expensive (5) solutions (total cost) for the following calming strategies. o Rumble strips o Police w/ radar guns o Speed limit signs o Your Speed (driver feedback) signs o Speed bumps o Static speed limit signs 4.5 4 3.84 4.16 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 2.16 2.39 2.45 1.5 Police w/ Radar Your Speed Static Speed Limit Rumble Strips Speed Bumps LEAST EXPENSIVE MOST EXPENSIVE
4. List in order from 1 to 5 what you believe to be the ease of implementation for the following traffic calming options (1 = easiest to implement; 5 = most difficult to implement). o Rumble strips o Police w/ radar guns o Speed limit signs o Your Speed (driver feedback) signs o Speed bumps o Static speed limit signs 4 3.5 3 2.87 3.57 2.5 2 1.5 1 1.57 2.2.5 Your Speed Police w/ Radar Rumble Strips Speed Bumps EASIEST MOST DIFFICULT
5. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: Your Speed (driver feedback) signs are effective in reducing traffic speeds on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS. 7 66.7 6 5 4 3 2 3 Percent 1 3.3 Neutral
6. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: Your Speed (driver feedback) signs are effective in reducing traffic speeds on MULTI-LANE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. 7 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6.7 13.3 1 Neutral 7. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: The use of speed bumps is effective in reducing traffic speeds on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS. 35 3 33.3 3 3 25 2 15 1 5 3.3 3.3 Neutral
8. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: After installing a Your Speed (driver feedback) sign on a residential street or around a playground or school yard, a reduction in average traffic speeds is typically observed 9 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 Right Away With 24 Hours Within A Week After 1 st Month No Reduction Observed 9. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: Your Speed (driver feedback) signs have a LONG- LASTING effect on reducing traffic speeds on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS. 6 5 51.7 4 3 2 34.5 Percent 1 6.9 6.9 Neutral
1. Choose one of the answers below that best describes your response to the following question: Speed bumps or rumble strips have a LONG-LASTING effect on reducing traffic speeds on RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AROUND SCHOOL YARDS & PLAYGROUNDS. 4 35 37.9 34.5 3 25 24.1 2 15 1 5 3.4 Neutral 11. Choose all responses that apply: The biggest ADVANTAGES to using Your Speed (driver feedback) signs rather than speed bumps to slow traffic include 35 34.5 3 25 2 2.7 15 1 1.3 5 Ease of Installation They Don t Impede Emergency Vehicles Creates Less Traffic Noise Portability