Should You Install Speed Humps or Speed Bumps?

If you are considering installing traffic calming measures, you may have wondered whether you should choose speed humps or speed bumps. Contrary to popular belief, these two terms do not refer to the same thing. There are some very subtle differences that make them suitable for different circumstances.

The Basics of Speed Humps:

Whether you choose concrete or rubber speed humps, they will share certain characteristics. Speed humps have a gradually raised area that extends across the whole roadway. These are usually approximately seven or eight centimetres in height and can be several metres wide, depending on their positioning.

Speed humps were designed to create a gentle rocking motion in the vehicle, so drivers will slow down to 20 to 30 kph. They can also be painted to indicate a change in the roadway or to act as a pedestrian crossing.

The Basics of Speed Bumps:

Speed bumps are far more abrupt than speed humps. They tend to be much taller, reaching up to 15 centimetres in height. This larger size means that drivers will experience significant discomfort if they fail to slow down dramatically before going over the bump. These may be considered to be an increased liability as there is also the possibility of vehicle damage if the driver is not alert and fails to slow down sufficiently. For this reason, many planners prefer to use speed humps as a traffic calming measure.

Making the Choice:

Unless you require vehicles to come to a complete stop to enter your property, the best option is likely to be speed humps. Perth property owners will reduce the risk of complaints from drivers while ensuring effective traffic management. If there is a significant risk of danger, you could use a combination of traffic calming measures such as speed humps in conjunction with rumble strips.

Rubber speed humps are highly visible and provide an effective method of slowing down vehicles with minimal risk of vehicle damage. While a driver may experience a little jolt if they fail to slow down sufficiently, they are not likely to damage the exhaust or bumper on their vehicle. In most cases, the reduction in speed resulting from installing speed humps will increase driver awareness and improve vehicle safety on your property.

If vehicles speeding around your property are causing safety issues, there may be a temptation to rush into installing speed bumps. However, this may not be the right choice for your requirements. Even if the issue is pressing, it is important to take a little time to assess your needs and determine the right choice. You may find that the less severe speed humps will provide an adequate solution with less liability and stress in the long term.

If you are considering installing speed humps, Perth property owners should speak to us. We have a wide selection of traffic calming measures including speed humps and rumble strips. The Image Bollards team is available to discuss your requirements and assist you in determining the solution best suited to your needs.

Removable Bollards to Make Controlling Traffic Easy

While permanently placed concrete bollards have some very good uses, they are not alway the most practical choice. In fact, for some aspects of traffic control, removable bollards are actually the best option. This type of bollard allows for temporary changes to create better access control.

Reinforcing Road Rules:

In a Utopian society, no one speeds, and having an “Emergency Vehicles Only” sign or a road marked “No Entrance” would be sufficient to keep restricted areas free of unwanted vehicles. In reality, there are always some drivers, who either accidentally or intentionally cause chaos in off limits areas. This can cause delays and problems for emergency or maintenance vehicles. There is nothing more frustrating than these vehicles being stuck behind an illegally parked vehicle or someone driving at ten kph while they figure out where they can make a U turn. With removable bollards, Perth property owners can reinforce the road rules where and when they need it. They can allow you to prevent access by unauthorised vehicles without restricting access completely.

Traffic Control When You Need It:

Whether you need to control vehicle access to certain areas seasonally or every day removable or retractable bollards can provide the answer. This type of bollard is easy to move, which means that you can prevent vehicle access, but allow it for authorised vehicles when you need it. For example, you may not want vehicles driving onto your property when you have forklift trucks and other heavy machinery operating in the yard. However, if you are expecting a delivery or there is some kind of emergency on site, you can remove the bollard to allow access.

You can also use retractable or removable bollards to control traffic flow around your property. For example, if you have delivery slots for vans to collect goods at certain despatch times, you may want to close off areas to additional traffic.

Avoid Parking Issues:

If your business premises are located in a busy area, you may find that shoppers and other visitors sneak onto your carpark and occupy valuable parking slots. This can be remarkably frustrating, particularly if you have team members who have flexible working hours. However, you can use removable or retractable bollards on each space to ensure that there are no unauthorised visitors in your carpark. Alternatively, if your team has set working hours, you could use a removable bollard at the carpark entrance as soon as everyone has arrived to completely restrict access.

Removablebollards offer high visibility, and while they may not withstand a high impact collision, they can be an excellent method of controlling traffic and ensuring pedestrian and vehicle safety on your property.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of installing a removable bollard, Perth property owners should speak to us. We are an established removable steel bollard supplier with a range of retractable and removable bollards. The Image Bollards team is also available to answer any queries you may have about any of the items in our product range. 

The Purpose of Installing Wheel Stops on a Car Park

Whether we like to admit it or not, there are always some drivers who neglect to put on their car’s handbrake. This means that they park up and step out of the vehicle without restricting its ability to roll. Without safety measures, this means that one of these vehicles could start to move by itself, with the potential to cause serious injury. Of course, there is also the chance that a handbrake could be defective rendering it useless. We only have to look to the recent death of Anton Yelchin, who was crushed by his own car when the handbrake failed to engage properly. While many of us would be concerned about safety, if you own a property with a private car park, there is also the possibility of liability if such an incident occurs. For this reason, many property owners consider installing wheel stops.

Aren’t Concrete Kerbs Enough?

Many make the assumption that a concrete kerb would be sufficient to prevent property damage or injury in the event of a handbrake not being applied or failing. However, as some car park owners have found, a concrete kerb does not provide adequate protection. This means that not only is there a risk of physical damage to cars and property, but also the potential for legal damages. Fortunately, wheel stops can help to prevent this.  A wheelstop can be installed to prevent this risk.

Australian Standards:

According to AS2890.1;20014, the Australian standard, when installing wheel stops, Perth car park owners need to comply with the specification for the physical dimensions mandated. The stop needs to average between 90 and 100 millimetres in height with an approximate width of 1650 millimetres. These dimensions can not only provide protection against property damage, but it can also help to prevent damage to the vehicle itself.

The Reasons to Install Wheel Stops:

If you are still unsure about installing wheel stops in designated spaces, you should be aware that these stops can control the kerb overhang that could be dangerous to pedestrians. With a stop in place, an allowance for pedestrians to walk by is created. Additionally, stops can inhibit vehicles from encroaching on the parking space opposite. This can prevent vehicles from banging into each other when parking and save space if your parking bays are limited.

Eliminating all potential for vehicle damage is not feasible, as accidents will happen. However, with the correct safety equipment, you can minimise the risk of accidents occurring on your property. This can not only reduce your liability, but it could help you to avoid the stress and frustration of dealing with an angry employee or customer who has suffered damage to their precious vehicle.

If you are considering installing wheel stops, Perth property owners should speak to us. We offer a range of durable wheel stops including rubber wheel stops. The Image Bollards team is available to discuss your requirements and recommend the solution best suited to your needs. We would also be happy to answer any queries or questions you may have. 

What are the Pros and Cons of Fitting Speed Humps?

If they are looking for speed humps, Perth business managers and safety professionals may wonder about the pros and cons of fitting them. It is a fact that rubber speed humps and other traffic calming solutions can have a beneficial effect on traffic. However, it is not all plain sailing; there are situations where fitting a speed hump may not be the best course of action. A badly place hump could actually cause more problems than it solves, so it is a good idea to examine all of your options. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of using speed humps on your property.

The Positive Aspects:

The initial point to note is that accidents are usually made far worse if the vehicle is travelling at speed. A difference of a few km/hr can make a real difference between life and death. A speed hump will absolutely reduce speed in the area it is located, used in conjunction with warning signs it can be a real game changer. Another positive is that employees that are working in the area will feel safer if speed humps are installed at the site. A more professional sense of safety will spread around the site and quite soon many business owners will notice that safety is taken seriously. Accident rates will decline and as a result, insurance premiums may also fall as well. If your site borders a residential area, you may notice that complaints regarding speeding and excessive noise may decrease.

The Negative Aspects:

If you choose a poor quality speed hump, you may notice that the vehicle speeds are not reduced by much. If your area borders a residential area, you may have negative reactions to reflective surfaces and/or warnings related to your speed humps. The noise levels caused when a vehicle (particularly a heavy vehicle) may be too much for locals to bear if they are braking dramatically before and then speeding up after the hump. The initial cost of installation could be prohibitive for some businesses. Drivers avoid humps by driving around them can cause damage to their vehicles increasing overheads and downtime. In the event of an emergency, the responding vehicles will be slowed down by speed humps leading to a longer reaction time.

Final Thoughts:

Many of the negatives can be countered with effective training for employees, but visiting drivers may be another matter. Metal humps will last longer than rubber ones, but they are much louder which will annoy local residents. In summary, the benefits usually outweigh the negatives, but it is probably a good idea to get a professional opinion before installation begins.

If you would like to know more about choosing the right speed bump for your needs, contact us. Here at Image Bollards we have a wealth of experience in providing quality solutions for safety and traffic management. We have a wide variety of products available and we can fit them for you if required. Our sales team is standing by to offer advice and answer any further questions you may have.