Understanding speed bumps

For the past two years or more especially with the Federal Government ongoing  efforts to improve our road network, excess or inappropriate speeds  by drivers and riders on our roads beyond permitted and safe limits particularly in neighbourhoods and settlements where people live  have continued  to cause preventable road traffic crashes with severe injuries and […]

For the past two years or more especially with the Federal Government ongoing  efforts to improve our road network, excess or inappropriate speeds  by drivers and riders on our roads beyond permitted and safe limits particularly in neighbourhoods and settlements where people live  have continued  to cause preventable road traffic crashes with severe injuries and fatalities often to the non-motorized users (pedestrians and cyclists).As at today, the relevant traffic laws especially  the National Road Traffic Regulations,2012,limits speed on the express to 100km per hour for cars and 90km per hour for taxis and buses with the speed limit in built up areas limited at about 50km per hour or less. Despite this provisions, reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps indicates that excessive speed has accounted for about 2038 crashes that occurred between January to April, 2014.
In addressing the increasing cases of speed as a causative factor in most crashes over the years, relevant authorities have come to recognize the fact that embarking on speed management to improve road safety is a strategy that needs to be embraced. One of such measures is the use of speed bumps. However, despite this technological advancements and the necessity for the installation of these traffic calming devices, it is imperative for the public to be properly educated on their usefulness and the rules guiding their installation to guard against the increasing cases of illegal bump installed by communities to check road abuse leading to avoidable deaths.  
For emphasis, speed management is an important tool to improve the safety of motorists particularly vulnerable road users either on urban or interstate roads. This management, includes road users  education or awareness , enforcement or speed control,  engineering development and operation of the road infrastructure using speed bumps, speed humps, speed cushions or speed tables among others where they are needed on our roads .Notwithstanding  the efforts of relevant authorities to  educate the motoring public, there is the need for regular and increased education on  the variety of traffic calming measures, their roles, standards, and rational for their installation in addition to the need to shun illegal installation  or use of sub-standard or alternate materials such as woods by communities.
What then are speed bumps and what are their roles: Speed bumps are a group of family name of traffic calming devices that uses vertical deflection to slow motor-vehicle traffic on specific roads in order to improve safety conditions for motorized and non-motorized persons. Speed bumps reduces the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorised users; they lower vehicle speed, decreases truck volumes, and or reduces the amount of cut through traffic in a given area especially if they are properly installed, thus resulting in improved traffic environment for pedestrians and bicyclists. There are other types such as speed hump (or speed ramp), speed cushion, and speed table. The  use of vertical deflection devices is widespread and is commonly found where vehicle speeds are statutorily mandated to be as low 40 km/h, or 8 to 16 km/h  especially in car parks .Each of these devices can be made from a variety of materials, including asphalt, concrete, recycled plastic, metal, or  vulcanized rubber; Most vertical deflection devices are traditionally constructed of asphalt or concrete, with more permanent and greater effect in slowing traffic, due to the material’s rigidity and durability;  the rubber products are pre-shaped to standardized sizes and thus consistently meet industry standards making  it  easier to install or remove preformed rubber devices.
 Speed bumps is another type and this is a bump in a roadway with heights of between 3 and 4 inches (7.6 and 10.2 cm), and depth of less than or near to 1 foot (30 cm) It can be connected across the entire road surface while various sizes of it can be placed on a road, with two four-foot or six-foot devices on it with a space on either side. The space is for drainage, and to allow emergency vehicles (with a wider tire spacing than passenger cars and trucks) to pass over without hitting the speed bumps; Speed bumps generally slow cars to 8.0-16.1 km/h. The narrow nature of speed bumps often allows vehicles to pass over them at high speed while only interrupting the wheels and suspension, but hardly affecting the vehicle cab and its occupants.
 Dynamic speed bumps differ from conventional speed bumps as they are activated if a vehicle is traveling above a certain speed; Vehicles traveling below approved speed design will not experience the discomfort of a conventional speed bump. However, it allows the passage of emergency vehicles at higher speeds; in one design, rubber housing is fitted with a pressure relief valve which determines the speed of a vehicle. If the vehicle is traveling below the set speed, the valve opens allowing the bump to deflate as the vehicle drives over it, but it remains closed if the vehicle is traveling too fast. The valve can also be set to allow heavy vehicles, such as fire trucks, ambulances and buses to cross at higher speeds.