Speed Ramps and Speed Humps - Traffic Management Products
Regular Speed Ramps | Heavy Duty Speed Ramps | Instant or Temporary Speed Ramps
Speed ramps or speed bumps sometimes refered to as 'Sleeping Policemen' are a proven way to limit the speed that vehicles move around a traffic system. Speed ramps or speed humps normally slow vehicles to between 5-10 miles per hour.
Individual speed ramps or humps should not be used on their own. The health and safety at work recommendation is that speed ramps or speed humps should be repeated at intervals along a route and should not be used within 15 m of a junction or bend. The ramps or humps are only suitable for routes where vehicles can go over them safely.
Whenever speed ramps or speed humps are being used warning signs must be displayed. The speed ramp or hump warning signs should be clearly visible, and should be far enough away from the ramp or hump to allow drivers to change their speed safely. The humps or ramps themselves should also be clearly marked.
When designing your traffic management system bare in mind that some vehicles may not be able to go over speed ramps or speed humps safely (for example, most industrial lift trucks or some caravans). Also, some emergency vehicles need to avoid speed humps or ramps (for example, ambulances carrying patients with spinal injuries). However, it is often possible to include some type of bypass to allow these vehicles to avoid going over the ramp or hump.
Sometimes speed cushions are used instead of speed humps. Speed cushions work in a similar way as speed humps, but do not stretch across the whole road. Instead, they leave some space clear for certain types of vehicle to drive through or straddle the raised areas (for example, cyclists or larger emergency vehicles).
For help with correct signage which should be used to complement or within your speed ramp, speed bump traffic management system please have a look at the Traffic and Site Management Signs section on the web site.
