I fully support the many calls for limiting or preventing the use of e-bikes and scooters for the safety of our children. Anything we can do to improve the safety of our children is a must.

There is another measure I would like to bring up that can also have a great impact on the safety of our streets, and that is the installation of speed bumps.

Now, speed bumps are often criticized. Some argue they are annoying, damage cars, or slow emergency vehicles. While those concerns deserve consideration, the evidence overwhelmingly shows that the safety benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.

Part of the growing support for restricting e-bikes and scooters is because of the danger that excessive speed creates in residential areas. The same logic should apply to cars. If we are willing to limit children’s ability to travel too fast in the interest of safety, why shouldn’t we also support measures that slow thousands of pounds of steel driving through neighborhoods where children play?

Speed bumps are one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce speeding. According to the Federal Highway Administration, they typically reduce the speeds of the fastest drivers by about 5 to 10 mph. That may not sound like much, but it can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

Studies have consistently found that speed bumps reduce crashes. In fact, Federal Highway Administration studies have found crash reductions ranging from roughly 33% to 48% after speed bumps were installed. Speed matters because a pedestrian’s chance of serious injury increases dramatically with every additional mile per hour. Research from the AAA Foundation found that at around 23 mph, the risk of severe injury is about 25%. By 31 mph, it rises to 50%, and by 39 mph, it reaches approximately 75%. Simply slowing vehicles by a few miles per hour can save lives.

One of the most common complaints is that speed bumps damage vehicles. Properly designed speed bumps are intended to be driven over safely when motorists travel at the appropriate speed. If someone is repeatedly hitting them hard enough to damage their car, perhaps that says more about how they are driving than about the speed bump itself. In many ways, that is exactly why such measures are needed.

Emergency response times are a legitimate concern, which is why speed bumps should be used where appropriate, not on every road, but especially on local residential streets and within residential developments where children crossing the streets and playing is much more prevalent. The goal is not to inconvenience drivers. It is to encourage safe driving where it matters most.

No one enjoys slowing down for a speed bump. But if the choice is between adding a few seconds to a driver’s trip or reducing the chance that a child is seriously injured, the choice should be an easy one. A few seconds of inconvenience is a small price to pay for a safer neighborhood.

Concerned resident

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]