Speed humps

About this service

The design of traffic calming features must comply with the legislation which governs their use. The current legislation governing the provision of road humps is the 1999 Road Hump Regulations. These detail the rules governing the design and location of road humps.

Road humps cannot be installed on roads with speed limits greater than 30mph.

Raised junctions and speed cushions fall within the 1999 Road Humps Regulations.

The main advantages of road humps are:

  • Most effective way of reducing speed.
  • Can be adapted to from convenient pedestrian crossing points.
  • Ramp gradients easily adjusted for individual site requirements.
  • Speed cushions can be used on bus routes or on lengths where emergency services raise concerns.
  • Can be constructed in materials sympathetic to surroundings.

The main disadvantages are:

  • Often considered unsightly.
  • Can result in problems of both noise and vibration.
  • Unpopular with emergency services, buses and cyclists.
  • Costly to install. (Average scheme costs £50K to £150K)
  • Often result in the loss of on-street parking.
  • Cannot be used in isolation. Humps must be proceeded by a different form of speed reducing feature.

The Council is allocated funding by the Government, via our Local Transport Plan settlement, for what are known as 'Integrated Transport' measures, which are schemes principally intended to reduce accidents and encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. This is in line with the Government's objectives of reducing traffic growth by promoting alternative forms of transport and reducing road accident casualties, for which there are a number of national targets.

The assessment process for schemes to encourage walking and cycling incorporates criteria and factors that relate directly to the Council and the Government's transport objectives, priorities and targets and provides an evaluation of the local highway environmental and the need for a scheme. This enables requests to be prioritised.

This funding is also used to provide a limited number of other transport improvements such as traffic calming as the Council has no other funding available for this type of scheme.

Contact Details

Email: transportplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk
Fax: 01225 751600 (Traffic Services) 01225 713207 (Transport and Development Group)
Postal Address:
Transportation and Development Services
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD

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Last updated: 23 June 2009