Since the 1980s, various solid road humps have been the primary method of reducing vehicle speeds in vulnerable areas. This article examines how the speed bump has evolved Alongside speed cameras, road humps are arguably the most complained about pieces of street furniture. Solid speed humps rely on vertical deflection to deter drivers from crossing them at high speed. Contrary to their intention, in practice solid humps often not only penalise faster vehicles, but slower ones too. This is due to the way that vehicle suspension interacts with vertical obstructions. As well as potentially causing harm to vehicle occupants and damage to the vehicles crossing them, solid speed humps hinder the passage of emergency service vehicles often causing serious and potentially fatal delays. Solid humps cause severe problems for buses, and at the request of bus companies are prohibited by most highway authorities from being placed in bus lanes.
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