Traffic calming is where traffic is encouraged to slow down in a specific section of a road. It’s achieved by education, enforcement and engineering. Below you will see multiple examples of traffic calming in use around London.
Education
Education mainly consists of signage and road markings. Some signs can be activated by traffic to warn of excessive speed.
School signage
Notification of schools in the area can be painted on the road or signs can be used.
Standard triangular warning signs advising of a school can also be augmented with flashing amber warning lights and restricted speed limits.
Sometimes residents of a neighbourhood will make a sign.
Restricted speed areas
The speed can be painted on the road like this.
Or speed limits can be signed and accompanied by a painted warning on a different road surface.
Warnings of potential hazards ahead such as a sharp corner might be accompanied by SLOW painted on the road.
Enforcement
Enforcement is the least popular method of traffic calming. It is design to punish those who break the speed limit and is done so through speed cameras and red light cameras.
Engineering
Rumble strips
Gates
Gates can be used at selected times. Beyond the gate you can see that the road is entirely made of a brick surface. As this creates more noise it makes drivers aware of their speed.
Courtesy crossings
A courtesy crossing is not a pedestrian (zebra) crossing, but it is a place where motorists are encouraged to slow down to allow pedestrians to cross. They are always marked with a differing road surface, such as bricks.
Narrowings and chicanes
Narrow road feel less safe to drivers and they tend to drive more slowly on them automatically.
This image shows a small narrowing marked by bollards on an already narrow road.
This narrowing is near a park and school. It shows tactile paving where pedestrians will cross.
This narrowing is very near a school.
The road on this humpback bridge has been artificially narrowed by placing a wide pavement on one side for pedestrians and cyclists.
Narrowings can also be effected by road markings, median strips and giving more room to cyclists
Speed cushions
Speed cushions are low-key traffic calming measures. Most cars have a sufficient wheelbase for the wheels to drive either side of the cushion, but they still encourage drivers to slow down.
Speed tables
A speed table is an elevated portion of the road. They are often used at pedestrian crossings or on corners with heavy pedestrian traffic, but not heavy enough to warrant a controlled crossing. The surface of the speed table is usually varied from the main road surface by using bricks or other coarser finishes.
Speed bumps/sleeping policemen
Note the two white triangles which visibly warn drivers to slow down. Speed bumps like this are often signposted, too.
Darren has owned several companies in the automotive, advertising and education industries. He has run driving theory educational websites since 2010.