Galway Cycling Campaign -Feachtas Rothaiochta na Gaillimhe

Area Wide Traffic Calming

© Galway Cycling Campaign, April 1999

1) What is traffic calming?

Traffic calming is the use of simple and cheap road engineering to reduce vehicle speeds in the treated areas.  Traffic calming schemes are typically applied in residential areas.    

2) What is involved and aren’t there legal obstacles?

No, traffic calming is expressly provided for under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act (7) 1994.  Which states " A Road Authority may in the interest of the safety and convenience of road users, provide such traffic calming measures as they consider desirable in respect of public roads in their charge."    This legislation then specifically mentions; speed ramps, speed cushions, speed tables, chicanes, rumble areas, bollards, posts, poles, modified junctions, modified road widths, planting and other similar road works.  

3) Aren’t these all experimental measures requiring prior testing and evaluation?

No, the speed ramp was first used in the Dutch city of Delft in 1970 and within a few years they were in place in at least four other cities.  Design standards for such measures have been available since 1976.  There are now literally thousands of traffic calming schemes in place all across Europe using well established and tested techniques. 

4) Doesn’t traffic calming  encourage joyriding?

It has been suggested to us that traffic calming attracts joyriders thus limiting its potential for use in Galway City.  In an extensive review of literature which covers such schemes all over Europe we have been unable to find any reference to a similar effect in any other country or city. 

5) What are the effects of Traffic Calming?

A) Accidents

•      A recent study from the UK found that in traffic calmed areas accidents to child pedestrians fell by 70%, accidents to child cyclists by 48%, accidents to all cyclists fell by 29% and there was an average 60% reduction in all accidents. [1]        
•     In Holland a reduction of more than 80% in injury accidents is reported to have occurred in traffic calmed areas. [2]
•      From Denmark it is reported that traffic calming schemes have achieved a 45% reduction in injuries.
•      A study of schemes in 6 German Cities saw a reduction in injuries of 30-56%

B) Traffic Congestion

There are already too many cars on our roads, won’t traffic calming increase delays and make congestion worse?  The available evidence suggests that traffic calming actually reduces traffic levels significantly.  In the UK by anything between 4% and 70% with average 27% reduction in traffic.  In Holland it is reported that reductions in motorised traffic of 16-25% have been seen.

6) How does it affect the emergency services?

The emergency services must obviously be fully consulted on every scheme.  It is possible to use traffic calming measures such as speed cushions that do not hinder access by fire engines while still slowing cars.  There are well established techniques available for ensuring a minimum of interference with emergency service vehicles. [3]

7) Home Zones/play streets

A Home Zone or "Play Street" is a more sophisticated form of traffic calming that has recently become popular.  The idea is to reclaim residential streets for those who live in them.  Pedestrians and cyclists are given priority over motorised traffic and cars travel at little more than walking pace, 5-10 mph.  This reduces the levels of noise and air pollution and provides children with safe play areas outside their own homes.  The emphasis is not merely on slowing traffic but on creating an attractive environment for all through the imaginative use of street furniture, planting and landscaping.  The net result is a streetscape in which residents of all ages from senior citizens to the very young can once more interact and enjoy each others company. [4]    There are estimated to be 4,000 of these schemes in place in the Netherlands. [5]

8) Isn’t Traffic Calming Expensive?

In the UK, round top speed ramps are said to cost in the region of £500, flat top humps £5,000, speed cushions can range from £200-£1,000, raised junctions £5,000-£10,000, road closure with cycle gap £2,000, chicane £2,000 and rumble strips £2,000 per 10 square metres.  [6] In Galway some private housing estates already have their own traffic calming measures installed.   A reduction of Galway's injury accident levels by 60% would result in savings of anything up to £6 million annually. [7]

© Galway Cycling Campaign, April 1999

For more information contact the Galway Cycling Campaign at Galway One World Centre, the Halls, Quay St., Galway.