Traffic calming
When do we use traffic calming?
Structures that slow traffic down can be useful:
- on residential roads or through villages where there are speed limits
- where there is a need to introduce a 20mph speed limit.
Types of traffic calming
- Central islands can make wide roads seem narrower. They can prevent overtaking and make it easier for pedestrians to cross a busy road.
- Gateways warn drivers that the character of the road is about to change and that they should slow down, at village entrances for instance.
- Road humps are only used in roads with a speed limit of 30mph or less and usually where there is good street lighting. Although effective, they can cause problems for emergency services and buses. Other measures are used where possible.
- Kerb build-outs reduce roads to a single lane so that drivers have to be prepared to give way to oncoming traffic.
- Priority working means one direction of traffic is given right of way with traffic signs and markings. This can be used in combination with a build-out, narrowing or pinch-point.
- Changes of surface texture and colour are used to alert drivers to a change in road layout.
Introducing traffic calming schemes
Most traffic calming schemes happen in response to requests from local residents. Many more requests are received in a year than can be met from our budget, so each site is assessed to decide how urgent the changes are.
We take into account a number of factors including:
- the number of reported crashes resulting in injury
- the speed and volume of traffic
- whether there are schools nearby
- the width of the road.
Each factor is scored, and sites ranked in priority order. We review the list of sites each year, and it is approved by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment.
Initial proposals are then drawn up for roads with a high priority. Local residents are consulted and majority approval means the scheme will go ahead when money becomes available.
Funding for traffic calming is very limited and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to look at any of the schemes on the list before the next assessment is carried out.
We finance most schemes across East Sussex, although Hastings Borough Council has funded many of the schemes in Hastings.
Find out more
To find out more about:
- road safety concerns related to the layout of a highway, such as junctions, roundabouts and traffic signals
- speed limits
- traffic calming
- vehicle activated signs
- warning signs and road markings
- casualty data
- traffic management
please contact the Traffic and Safety group.
For information about types of pedestrian crossing and how we decide where to put them, please see our pedestrian crossings page.
