We have some welcome, new speed bumps on Melville Parade. I note that I can drive in the middle of the road in my mid- size car with barely a bump noticeable.
I think that this probably means that the bumps will have almost no effect on speeding vehicles unless such vehicles are racing side- by- side.
Our City engineers report that Main Roads are convinced the central unbroken separation line (an offence to cross them except to turn right into a street or crossing) and raised pavement markers will prevent this activity. Melville Parade is a 2008/09 project and fully funded by Main Roads (It was delayed as Main Roads finalised the Standards and agreed upon the design.)
Surely the existence of circular black tyre tracks, indicating doughnuts at the intersection, would indicate that demonstrated behaviour is at odds with the expectation that drivers abide by the law. The speed bumps are not there to modify the behaviour of law- abiding drivers, but rather to slow down those who have an alternative set of values. It is probably unlikely that a solid white line in the middle of the road will prevent these drivers from just speeding through the gap between the bumps.
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5 comments:
Nothing is going to stop drongos doing donuts Pete. I'm not convinced that "traffic calming" systems do much except inconvenience the rest of us. Perhaps peak oil will solve the problem eventually when cars are all-electric and have speed limiting navigation systems and mandatory traction control ;-)
Peter, I entirely agree with you.
From my window I often see cars simply driving in-between! Main Roads should have erected the same type of speed bumps that were done earlier. If they did this and also erect a solid fence along the freeway at the same hieght as the wire fence which would reduce traffic noise sig, it would complete the picture!
The only thing these sort of speed bumps will do is inconvenience the law abiding drivers who weren't speeding in the first place. The gap in the middle is a curious inclusion I must say. I'd love to see restrictions on the size of the engine in the vehicle commensurate with your age and experience. In the same way you gradually can ride a bigger better motorbike. There will always be drongos out there.
Just taken the dog for a walk down Melville Parade and guess what? Three cars in line go through the middle of the alleged speed humps, no slowing down; they weren't there!
Why waste money on this type of 'calmer'? Take them right across the road if you are going to have any at all. Can't see double white lines having any affect on these idiots. Maybe a centre island between the humps might do something but then a continuous hump would do this anyway.
Alternatively my thoughts go to those who might need an ambulance and get a lumpy ride along MP.
Bit more thought needs to go into which is the best type of calmer so as to standardise instead of the rather haphazard multitude of different designs we have throughout the State.
I have to agree with other comments on this blog Peter - traffic calmers don't do much but uncalm us!
Some thought with reference the cafe strips in Vic Park, Leederville and Mt Lawley need consideration. Perhaps a lower (30 or 40kmh) speed limit and a commitment from the constabulary to position the multinova there for periods may prove more effective, as with similar restrictions in school zones - which interstingly also do not have traffic calmers in the form of speed humps.
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