PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICE INSTALLATION

Traffic-calming devices are often used on local roads in residential areas, where the main function of the road is to provide accessibility, rather than mobility. Average speeds on these roads should be much lower than on collectors and arterial streets. Given the presence of bicycles, pedestrians and homes, it is expected that installing traffic-calming devices will effectively slow down traffic while making the community safe and livable. However, adjacent community activity is also found along arterial roads or highways in some older town centers where traffic calming has not widely been used to slow speeds for through traffic. Unfortunately, traffic calming devices are not always received with enthusiasm from the driving public or neighbors and the acceptance of traffic calming devices along arterial or collector roadways has not been widely studied. In this study, surveys were conducted in two Connecticut towns in which traffic-calming devices have been recently installed on more major streets with through traffic. Residents whose houses are along the roads where the traffic calming devices were located as well as the road users were interviewed. Information regarding the acceptance of the public and residents to speed humps, medians and winding pattern streets were assessed through personal interviews with 183 individuals. The results suggest that traffic calming devices are perceived as being effective in slowing down the traffic. Although both positive and negative opinions were generated to three kinds of traffic calming devices, medians and winding roads were more positively viewed than the speed humps. Residents prefer the types of traffic calming devices that also improve their living environment. Several demographic characteristics were correlated to the respondents ’ opinions regarding traffic-calming devices. Suggestions regarding the use of traffic calming devices on arterials or collector roads are provided at the end of the paper.