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Press releasesWhy sleeping policemen can give us the humpMake no mistake. Speed bumps aren’t just about slowing traffic down. Some motoring pressure groups argue that the real reason planning authorities introduce them is simply to obstruct and divert traffic on to other roads. Says Ronan Hart, marketing manager at breakdown service Autonational Rescue: " It's more about persuading motorists to divert away from shortcuts and Írat runs' to the main roads." While the speed humps can be genuinely useful near schools, hospitals and (arguably) retail parks, they are now just about everywhere in some highly inappropriate settings and residential roads. Very often they donÔt even slow down the very types of drivers they are aimed at - such as boy racers and law breakers! So called joy riders, who have stolen a car for 'fun', will drive fast over the speed bumps just for the hell of it.
And traffic calming devices that slow cars, slow emergency vehicles more. In particular, fire engines' longer wheel-bases, stiff suspensions and heavy vehicle weights sometimes force them to slow almost to a standstill to safely negotiate some humps. LondonÔs Ambulance Service has claimed that humps cause up to 500 deaths a year because its crews are delayed in reaching cardiac arrest victims. Meanwhile ordinary motorists complain that they can cause very expensive damage to cars that regularly bottom out and others argue that speed bumps add to pollution and noise because drivers then rev up to build up speed again. The fact remains, says Autonational Rescue, that speed humps are not always an effective solution to road safety concerns. Added Ronan Hart: “Poorly timed traffic lights, badly positioned stop signs and under-signed speed limits are some of the real reasons why our residential streets become rat runs and experience increased commuter traffic. “The answer’s not to obstruct traffic flow and push the problem into someone else's neighbourhood, but to improve and upgrade the traffic handling capabilities of our main thoroughfares. “If we keep the main roads working properly, with good and intelligent traffic management, then less rush hour drivers will want to use the rat runs anyway.” "This means implementing genuine improvements to the infrastructure of our main roads, as well as synchronizing traffic controls to accommodate vehicle speeds and keep traffic flowing where it matters.”
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