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.
