Speed humps/bumps

Started by SureshD • 29 replies • 14981 views

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SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Does anyone have any anecdotes to share about the subject?

We have a 1500 ft main roadway central to our 98 home community with three dead end spurs/culdesacs along the way.

Speeding is a big problem.

The current President lives at the fartest point from our single entrance/exit on one of the dead ends.

Previous casual inquiries about the subject to the Pres. were met with a less-than-enthusiastic response. Citing: "then I have to pass ALL of them!" or similar.

Recently a petition was circulated for another issue in which the Pres. is not supportive.

At that time many of those living on the 1500 ft section were "straw polled" about the need for bumps.

Most were supportive with a few requesting a bump be put in front of thier lot!

We have to settle the current petitioned issue first but I sense another petition may be necessary if we want to pursue the bumps.

Now what I'm looking for is your experiences.

Please spare me the questions about why petitions are/were required, BOD recall, etc. There is meet. attend. apathy until the right issue comes up. Plus meet. agendas are not part of the notice posting at this time so people don't know when/what items are being discussed.

Anything is OK. The addition, removal, effectiveness, etc. of the subject.

TNT, Sam

PeterB1 (Florida)
Posts: 257

Posted:

We (HOA) have a private, paved road of about one mile in length. Speed has always been an issue and nothing (yet) has resolved the problem.

Several years ago, a major brawl erupted between the 'we need' and the 'don't want' concerning speed bumps. Turns out there is a correlation between how far you live from the entrance and how opposed you are to speed bumps.

The compromise was the addition of what look like road reflectors. They are annoying - but not enough to slow you down.

Our current campaign is to report speeding parcel delivery trucks to their home office. Seems that they are the big (but not the only) violator. Since that accounts for about 10 trucks per day, that would have some impact.

We are still looking for the magical device that has zero impact on the driver following the speed limit and an increasing impact on those exceeding the speed limit - the faster you go, the greater the impact.

peter

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Sam,

We had a similar issue and discovered that installing additional speed limit signs helped a lot. We started with just paper signs on poster board to see if it would help and it did. We then went to the expense of paying for additional signage.

It's an option (the paper signs) that can be tried for minimal expense and see if results happen.

Tim

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

SureshD,

There are different types of speed bumps -- the newer ones allow emergency vehicles to pass through more easily. If your street are private you can install the speed bumps w/o city/co approval. However if you have public streets the city/co may require prior approval. Some jurisdictions may require additional approval from the F.D. (speed bumps can pose a problem when transporting patients).

IMO, I hate speed bumps. If the newer ones are installed with the opening in the middle, speeders can get through w/o slowing down even though it's illegal to do so if yours is not an emergency vehicle.

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Thanks for the replies so far keep them coming!

Road(s) is/are private.

Our neighboring community (built by the same developer) has already installed them.

Signs useless. Even the "Caution children playing".

I hate bumps too but it will be worse if we have to bury a child or ANYONE for that matter!

ChrisP5 (Missouri)
Posts: 165

Posted:

Our city has installed speed tables, which may be what you are calling speed humps, that have worked pretty well. Vehicles can pass over without any issues if they are going the speed limit but if you go over going too fast it has the same impact as driving over a speed bump too fast.

I am not sure how wide your road is but speeding tends to increase the wider the road is. On some of the wider roads our city has built medians (often planted) 2-3 feet wide every so often. Because cars will be hitting a narrower stretch of road every so often they tend to slow down. These would be more aesthetically pleasing but not a cheap option.

LynetteB (Texas)
Posts: 141

Posted:

We have a member or two who want speed bumps in our place. We have a mile long road that circles around our subdivision. We have had some problems with speeding. Those who want speed bumps want them in a location that they will not necessarily be going over them and those opposed are the ones that will have to go over them daily. Funny how that works.
I am the Pres of our association and although I am currently opposed to the speed bumps, I am only one vote on our board. I could easily be out voted. If I were to be in support of the speed bumps, it is likely that we would have them by now, but not because I am the president, but because I do research, get bids and I am very persistent when it comes to issues I support. On the other hand, if I had several members coming to me and making the request or emailing me about it, I would have to either change thier mind or support it because as a board member, I represent the whole association, not just my own agenda.
I also have kids and still do not want a speed bump.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SureshD on 03/21/2010 4:28 AM
Does anyone have any anecdotes to share about the subject?

We have a 1500 ft main roadway central to our 98 home community with three dead end spurs/culdesacs along the way.

Speeding is a big problem.

The current President lives at the fartest point from our single entrance/exit on one of the dead ends.

Previous casual inquiries about the subject to the Pres. were met with a less-than-enthusiastic response. Citing: "then I have to pass ALL of them!" or similar.

Recently a petition was circulated for another issue in which the Pres. is not supportive.

At that time many of those living on the 1500 ft section were "straw polled" about the need for bumps.

Most were supportive with a few requesting a bump be put in front of thier lot!

We have to settle the current petitioned issue first but I sense another petition may be necessary if we want to pursue the bumps.

Now what I'm looking for is your experiences.

Please spare me the questions about why petitions are/were required, BOD recall, etc. There is meet. attend. apathy until the right issue comes up. Plus meet. agendas are not part of the notice posting at this time so people don't know when/what items are being discussed.

Anything is OK. The addition, removal, effectiveness, etc. of the subject.

TNT, Sam

The president of a BOD does not vote except to break a tie.
If you could get 51% on a petition it would be almost a 'done deal'.

LynetteB (Texas)
Posts: 141

Posted:

JohnB26,
That is not the case in my POA. We have a 5 member board and although it is not required for us, all of our officers are currently board members. We all have equal votes.

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Keep 'em coming but let's not get "hijacked" into officer can's & cant's or other peripheral issues.

Thanks, Sam.

GeorgeG5 (California)
Posts: 19

Posted:

I have lived in two association developments. The development I currently live in has neither installed speed bumps nor considered doing so.

The first association development I lived in installed speed bumps approximately three years after I moved there. The house I bought was at the end of the longest street in the development. If that development had installed speed bumps before I bought my house, I would not have considered buying it. I am convinced that the installation of speed bumps on a long street generally lowers the re-sale value of houses near the end of that street.

In both developments the posted speed limit was (and is) 10 mph. As far as I know, a vehicular accident due to speeding has never occurred in either development, even though some residents and visitors at times have broken (and continue to break) the posted 10 mph speed limit.

Theoretically, speed bumps slow down sporadic speeders and thereby afford a measure of protection for unsupervised children and unrestrained pets. Ironically, one such offender in my former development claimed that, by hitting the street bumps at a fairly HIGH speed, he was able to minimize the jarring effects of the bumps. Furthermore, because the bumps had not, for proper street drainage, been extended from curb to curb, drivers sometimes dangerously lurched to the right so that only two of the wheels of their vehicles would be affected.

Any association installing speed bumps should be prepared for resulting damage claims--justified and unjustified. Within a few months, the bumps in my former development became gouged, chipped, and dented by repeated confrontations with vehicle undercarriages.

The potential disadvantages of speed bumps are numerous and varied. For a lengthy list, see Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_bump). I quote below part of what Wikipedia has to say on the subject:

1. "The city of Modesto in California, U.S. produced a fact sheet which contains the following disadvantages:

* Slow response time of emergency vehicles;

* May divert traffic to parallel residential streets;

* There is a possibility of increased noise and pollution for residents living immediately adjacent to the speed humps."

2. "The British town of Eastleigh state the following as disadvantages:

* Can cause damage to some vehicles;

* Can increase traffic noise, especially when large goods vehicles pass by;

* Signs, street lighting and white lines are all required and may be visually intrusive;

* Can cause discomfort for drivers and passengers

* Can cause problems for emergency services and buses.

* Drivers are distracted by the bumps, therefore ignoring other hazards such as children;

* Humps can impede or slow emergency vehicle access to areas."

3. "Other sources argue that speed bumps:

* Increase pollution as traffic travels in a lower gear using significantly more fuel per mile;

* Are a substitute for active enforcement;

* Increase noise by both traversing over the bumps and by using more engine revs than normal;

* Cause spinal damage or aggravate chronic backache."

4. "A potential may exist for liability or at least a law suit for when a driver damages his car by going too fast over speed bumps."

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Are the speeders residents, guests or delivery personnel.

If they are identified as residents and guests, send warning letters (this works if it's young drivers and parents are unaware of the speeding).

If they are identified as delivery personnel, contact the company with date and time.

If they are guests, contact the resident they are visiting.

Publish the incidents in your newsletter (not names but quantity of notices).

Just some more suggestions.

Tim

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

The drawbacks vs. the benefits often are a wash; while it will slow people down to go over them they often race away from them and if at all possible drive around them even in the grass. They can cause damage on cars with low body clearance and cause slow responses from emergency vehicles. Another option is installing rumble strips; these are the cuts in the pavement along the edge of highways to let you know if you are drifting off to the side but can be done the entire with of the road. They can also be a series of small humps 1" high and 3" wide set in a series, these can be permanent or there are products that can be moved from place to place; do the speed limit and they’re barely noticeable.

Bump, hump or rumble strip you need to keep in mind that these devices will also interfere with people walking and on bicycles, motorcycles, etc. and could become a liability hazard. You could also contact your Associations insurance carrier for ideas. Insurance companies study stuff like this ad nauseum.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

JerrellC (Florida)
Posts: 83

Posted:

Sureshd I agree with George from Cal. I live in a HOA with 473 homes in Florida. The thought of speed bumps was talked about in our subdivision also but after looking into the pros and cons of them the board desided that it was not worth the liability problems that could come from them. They found out also that 75% of all the people in the subdivision would have to agree to have them, and the Fire,police, and rescue departments are against them. There are many studies made by several states and agencies on speed bumps, speed humps, etc. In Florida The Florida Technology Transfer Traffic Information Program Series (TIPS) from the Florida Section(district 10) of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The Institute of Transportation Engineers Newsletter FSITE are reprinted by the Florida Technology Transfer Center at the University of Florida. This program series contains 85 studies (dated 3/6/2009) in all areas of traffic control and design. This study has recommended against speed bumps, Humps. Several cities have ordanaces against them. Click on the above (Tipps) and you will get information on speed limits, children at play signs, and speed bumps,etc or anything else involving traffic on the public highways. Most developments have found out it is better and cheaper to have periodic police inforcement to control speeders. Generally its not to many people that do speed above the limit. Ours is 25MPH in the subdivision. Once tickets are given out and word gets around that speeding will not be tolerated it generally solves the problem. JerrellC

JerrellC (Florida)
Posts: 83

Posted:

KevinK7 (Florida)
Posts: 1,343

Posted:

My neighborhood had them installed, but has used a MSBU instead of the Association to get the speed bumps installed because our roads are not private, but since their installation, it had only caused some problems:

Speeding on the side streets, some cars drive on peoples yards to get around the humps, and larger SUVs just drive over them like they are nothing...

While this is not how everybody treats the humps, for a neighborhood with a residential speed limit, It is my personal opinion that the humps are a major inconvenience...

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Thanks folks. No side roads to avoid them here. As far driving around them, warning signs are placed on each side to prevent that so they cannot be circumvented in this case. Increasing speed to lessen the effect, possibility.

GeorgeG5 (California)
Posts: 19

Posted:

Suresh,

In your latest post you wrote: "Increasing speed to lessen the effect, possibility."

In my own earlier reply to your original post, I had written:

"Ironically, one such offender in my former development claimed that, by hitting the street bumps at a fairly HIGH speed, he was able to minimize the jarring effects of the bumps."

This person's seemingly counter-intuitive claim is supported by James J. Fazzalaro in a 2006 Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research (OLR) report titled "Speed Bumps and Speed Humps." Fazzalaro, the report's principal analyst, says that with speed bumps "the peak vertical acceleration, and thus the occupant discomfort associated with this, are greatest at relatively low speeds and decrease as the speed at which the vehicle encounters the bump increases. This is because the vehicle's suspension tends to absorb the vertical forces before the vehicle body has time to react. This is why bumps are used where traffic is already going at a relatively slow speed." Street humps, Fazzalaro notes, are another matter altogether: "With speed humps, as vehicle speeds increase, the vertical forces on the vehicle increase and occupant discomfort increases as a result."

Any association seriously considering the installation of speed bumps or speed humps should carefully study all that this OLR report has to say about each of these (and other) kinds of traffic restraints. For example, the report contains the following passages:

1. "Generally speaking, if a municipality encounters liability problems for damage vehicles may sustain after going over one of these traffic calming measures, it is more likely to be related to things like whether motorists were properly warned of their presence, and whether the measures were properly constructed according to specifications and adequately maintained than the decision to employ them itself."

2. "There appears to have been at least two unpublished Connecticut court decisions that ruled against the use of speed bumps by private property owner associations based on the argument that they adversely affected emergency vehicle response times to the extent that it constituted a public nuisance. The decisions were summarized in the May 1980 issue of the ITE Journal, but they do not appear to be otherwise available. The decisions may have limited applicability . . . in that they involve (1) use of these devices by private property owners and not public authorities and (2) only the use of speed bumps and not speed humps or speed tables."

3. "In the ITE Journal for May 1980, Allan Davis reported that a January 1980 judgment of the Stamford Superior Court had ruled against the use of speed bumps by a private association some of whose members sued over their installation. (It appears the case may have arisen in Darien.) The court apparently ruled their use to be a nuisance based on testimony that emergency vehicles could be delayed up to three minutes in their response time and that the delay can cause serious injury, loss of life, or increased property damage. The court also ruled that the use of the speed bumps obstructed the plaintiffs' right-of-way in derogation of their property rights.

"The article also mentions that the court cited a previous case in Greenwich where a court found that speed bumps (again used on certain private roads) constituted an absolute public nuisance, again, largely based [on] the fire and police chiefs testimony that there would be a delay in response time and the testimony of emergency medical personnel that patients could be in danger of suffering additional injury if treatment was continued while navigating the speed bumps. (ITE Journal, May 1980, “Speed Bumps Enjoined in Connecticut”, p. 16)."

The full OLC report is available online (http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-r-0567.htm).

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Not sure if I may have confused you or what George. My point (about the speed thing) is that if speeding up lessens the effect then that would be a possible occurance as there are no other roads to use to avoid them and that(using the neighboring development's implementation) warning signs on either side of the road adjacent to the humps prevent "driving around" them. Y'all have posted A LOT of good stuff to consider. I am going to speak to BOD and general members of the neighboring comm. to see how things were done, the feedback, and any other possible info they can share.

Thanks Again. I hope I better explained it that time.

TNT, Sam ;)

BobS14 (Idaho)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I've seen alternative to Speed bumps on the web. There are those typical
radar speed signs, but I don't think they offer much incentive to slow down
when there's no recourse for the HOA to take. This device takes photos
of speeders via the built in Radar apparently and the HOA can send tickets
or warn residents etc. something to consider anyway.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

http://www.speednabber.com/

Bob S.

AlexL1 (Florida)
Posts: 305

Posted:

We are also considering the installation of additional speed bumps. The speed at which these inconsiderate characters drive is appalling. You mentioned the liability issue.. not sure if I fully understand that. If one of these FAST drivers damage their vehicle due to speed over the bump, why is that an issue for the HOA? It is the speeder's responsibility.. We should protect the little kids that/who are driving their bicycles in and out of the streets. Signs do not do any good

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Alex, others,

I'm (the OP) still checking the responses here, thanks.

I agree Alex, most all of the communitees surrounding us have them.

Some are asphalt some are prefabbed rubber, plastic, etc.

We have one asphalt bump immediately after the "IN" gate. I question this as it shouold be before it to prevent those who "dare" the gate when entering. A few times a year the arm is knocked off.

DanielH1 (California)
Posts: 482

Posted:

We have speed bumps but people still complain about speeders. People will find a way to gun it somehow, no matter what you put in.

Lucky for me, I had the foresight to buy a lot at the end of the complex. Nobody ever speeds by because there is no where to go.

My advice: put in what speed bumps or devices that make sense but also explain to people that buying a poorly located lot has consequences.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnB26 on 03/21/2010 12:58 PM

The president of a BOD does not vote except to break a tie.
If you could get 51% on a petition it would be almost a 'done deal'.

That's news to me, and probably about 100 + HOA boards here in Kentucky.

It's possible YOUR governing documents might state that, but I don't know of a single other one of which I've ever been in contact that does.

Our BOD president votes. On everything except motions of which he/she must abstain for ethical reasons.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Any time a community here begins to research adding speed humps, one or another of the local fire departments attends their meetings and requests they not do it.

I'll be interested in seeing what their objections are as we have a committee this summer that is going to be holding a community meeting to discuss them. Our local fire department captain has asked to present during the meeting.

JerrellC (Florida)
Posts: 83

Posted:

MicheleD Our president also votes on anything requiring a BOD vote. The membership can ask questions, make comments, suggestions, etc. but does not have any voting power at these meetings. Oh about speed bumps, or humps I thought it has been talked and discussed about many times over that they are not recommended by several authorities, and several states. Some cities in Florida has ordinances against them. Theres also a liability factor for an accident and/or damages from them. Look again at my thread on the study made by the institute of trafic engineers the technology transfer section TIPPS with the University of Florida. This study will tell you anything you want to know about traffic control and design. It also requires a 75% majority for people in your development to approve them. I guarantee you police and fire departments will not ok them also. JerrellC

JohnM3 (Florida)
Posts: 288

Posted:

Suresh do a vote send out a yes no for speed bumps in your next invoice mailing to a central mailing address an count the votes an do what the group wants an stop all the legal eagle nonsense........we are voted into office to get things fixed an d done not ta;k it to death we have 12 to 24 speed bumps an will not remove any of them...you cannot get cops out of their cars to write tickets plus because we own the streets they refuse to write tickets 18 years ago we installed the bumps an slowed down all traffic. Do the research no matter where you are in my city you are within 2.0 miles from a hospital so whats the big rush to get to a house with a fire engine an a ambulance ????

DennisB6 (Florida)
Posts: 11

Posted:

Why not ask the local police if they would be willing to temporarily install one of those speed check radar speed signs. If you put them up once in a while - I bet people will slow down. Our streets are private but the police dept. says they would set them up on our roads.

Dennis
Port St. Lucie FL

SureshD
Posts: 268

Posted:

Since my last post...

Thanks again for the continued responses.

I happen to currently work for the city I live in and due to the technical nature of my job I have entered MOST of the PUDs contained therein. MANY have speed bumps of various designs so I can say there is no ordinance preventing them and if the PD or FD don't like them they have not been succesful talking the communities out of them.

I have found meeting minutes form the various city planning committee meetings discussing the "plans" where some officials were concerned about the width of our streets. Good stuff.

JerrelC- Thanks for the study info.

Aparently liability is not a significant concern in S. Fla. since there must be several dozen different attorneys/lawyers involved with the operation of these communities and yet they are installed. So much for your guarantees.

As far as requiring 75% membership... please include in these comments that it applies to your HOA. Our HOA has 100% control over the common area UNLESS it (a capital expense for thier installation) exceeds a percentage of the annual budget (~20% for us if I recall) at which time 66% vote is required.

3 - 5 speedbumps along a 1500 ft road will not reach that threshold.

JohnM3- I agree with your sentiments about enforcement. Fire Station #3 is 0.6 miles away, two hospitals each 4.0 miles away.

DennisB6- We have speed limit signs, children playing signs, etc. It all comes down to respect. Time to "install" some respect.

We are leaning towards removable ones so that if the community will "learn" to slow down they could be removed (and replaced if re-training is required).

JohnM3 (Florida)
Posts: 288

Posted:

Good luck uresh we tried the temp speed bumps they snapped first speeder went to 4 different sizes an that stopped them no-removeable. City complained like hell we laughed an they threatened to not sweep our streets so we do that also Miramar Florida
Good luck
JM

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