While speed humps aren’t exactly something many people pay attention to when going about their day, the positive impacts they have are undeniable.
While the Land Down Under is famous for our calibre of road trip routes on offer, there is a darkside to our nation’s reliance on automotive transport. As of March 2022, figures show that Australia has a road fatality rate of 4.4 people per 100,000.
Although this figure is significantly better than many other developed nations, it’s an alarming 2.4% increase when compared to the same period twelve months earlier. Thankfully, the presence of road safety tools such as speed humps are working wonders when it comes to improving the welfare of Australian communities – even if we don’t realise it.
Five Surprising Benefits Of Using Speed Humps
Speed is the primary factor in most vehicle accidents, and it’s known to increase both risk and severity. As drivers move faster, they have less time to respond to road conditions, and any resulting collision causes more damage.
As a preventative road safety tool, speed humps are parabolic vertical traffic calming devices intended to slow traffic speeds to create a safer environment. While materials such as asphalt, plastic and steel are often used, rubber speed humps are regarded as the most durable and inflict the least amount of damage to cars, they can even be sound absorbing making them perfect for residential estates, retirement villages and hospitals.
Given their widespread use throughout residential areas, schools and parking lots, the benefits of deploying speed humps as a road safety tool go far beyond simply getting drivers to slow down.
They Save Lives – According to a study conducted by the National Institute Of Health, speed humps have led to a 53% – 60% reduction in the odds of automobile injury or death among children. Conducted over a five year period, the research showed that the presence of speed humps helped to make children’s living environments safer.
Lower Collision Odds – Close proximity spaces where blind spots occur, such as commercial car parks and tight driveways, can benefit from speed humps. Thanks to their ability to control the speed of oncoming traffic, this helps to ensure that surrounding pedestrians, vehicles and assets are safe from possible collisions or accidents.
Noise Reduction – Roadway noise is the collective sound energy emanating from motor vehicles. It consists chiefly of road surface, tyre, engine/transmission, aerodynamic, and braking elements. As speed humps have been proven to reduce speeds by as much as 40%, a hidden benefit not commonly recognised is their ability to reduce excess noise from traffic.
Low Maintenance – Business owners have a responsibility to do their part when it comes to car park road safety, and opting for rubber speed humps not just helps to address this, but they’re also a wise investment for the future. Thanks to their incredible durability, choosing rubber speed humps means that they won’t need to be replaced in the near future.
Effective Visual Tool – While speed humps are a popular road safety tool due to their ability to physically slow cars down, their distinctive black and yellow paint also acts as a visual aid. While road signage is commonly used for this, speed humps have the double advantage of completing both aims successfully.
In Australia, road safety is an extremely serious business – and it should be. Although getting behind the wheel of a car is something that many of us do multiple times per day, the likelihood of an accident is sadly on the rise. If you’re on the hunt for speed humps to install at your workplace or business, it’s important to partner with the experts – but where do you find them?
Partnering With The Road Safety Professionals
At Speed Humps Australia, we’ve spent 20 years focusing on one thing: to provide one style of product, and to do it exceptionally well. We have worked tirelessly to develop specifications that do not fade or deteriorate, are easy to install, and are made from high-quality, recycled rubber for minimal environmental impact.
With just a handful of our clients around the nation including KFC, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Shell and various Local Governments, our rumble bars, speed humps and wheel stops have been purposefully designed to meet Australian Standards and to truly go the distance.
As our design and production is all handled in house and supplied Australia wide, get in touch with us today to request a quote or discuss how we can help with providing a tailored solution to your unique project requirements.