According to data from the National Safety Council, speeding was a factor in 26% of all traffic deaths in 2019, killing an average of 25 people per day. When drivers incur personal injury due to another’s negligence, it can be a traumatizing experience. Read on for a discussion on the pros and cons of speed humps and personal injury risk reduction.
Benefits of Speed Humps
One of the obvious benefits of speed humps is their ability to reduce a vehicle’s speed, which lowers the risk of accidents resulting in personal injury. Typically, speed humps can reduce the speed of a car to 10 to 15 miles per hour while going over the hump, and 25 to 30 miles per hour between speed humps in a series.
Research has shown that speed humps reduce the risk of child pedestrians being struck by vehicles. When drivers are not able to speed, their sense of awareness of the driving environment around them is also enhanced, often further enhancing their safe driving behaviors.
As opposed to traffic signs such as a “Slow” sign, speed humps do not lose effectiveness over time. For drivers who commonly pass a warning sign, they may disregard the sign over time. The physical presence of a speed hump ensures that drivers will adhere to proper safety precautions each time, or risk causing expensive damage to their vehicle.
Concerns Regarding Speed Humps
Although the aforementioned benefits of speed humps are numerous, there are some critics who raise concerns with the use of this type of traffic control device. For one, speed humps can cause significant damage to a vehicle. While this may seem like a fair consequence for negligent drivers, it can also affect responsible drivers going at a regular speed if the associated warning signs are not clear or obstructed by bad weather. In these conditions, the damage a speed hump can do to a vehicle can also cause personal injury to drivers who are not prepared for the physical jarring that a speed hump can give a vehicle.
In addition, concerns are often raised regarding the ability of emergency services vehicles to quickly traverse roads with speed humps installed. To combat this issue, some municipalities have opted for an offset form of installation. In this model speed humps are installed in a staggered formation between lanes. This allows emergency vehicles to weave in between lanes in a slalom formation, provided all vehicles have safely moved to the side of the road.
Another way to accommodate emergency service vehicles is to utilize a speed cushion configuration. Since ambulances and fire trucks have wider axles than standard vehicles, speed humps can be designed with this in mind, allowing a gap large enough for drivers of these vehicles to cut through the speed hump unimpeded.
When to Contact an Attorney
Speeding is one of the most common and most dangerous forms of negligent and reckless driving. For years, the attorneys at H&P Law have been helping accident victims in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada as they fight for their rights to fair compensation after an accident. Contact H&P Law today to review your case and discuss your options.
