One of the top concerns for all residential communities should be keeping traffic under control, especially in grade school neighborhoods. Speed bumps, traditional stop signs, and crosswalks are all important traffic control devices to maintain safe streets. Here are reasons why it’s helpful to include signs that display neighborhood speed limits.
After decades of social conditioning with signs and fines, it’s clear most communities don’t want to be near drag racing. States set highway speed limits while local officials decide neighborhood speed limits. It might not have been true in the early days of automobiles, but these days, young drivers know better than to see how fast they can drive on residential streets. Most people have a sense of neighborhood speed limits, but more aggressive drivers need reminders.
Speed limit signs serve as reminders to all drivers to pay attention to safety and the law. Many people speed on freeways to pass other cars or take advantage of empty lanes and never get cited. Not much tolerance, however, exists for speeding in a residential zone, where speed limits typically top out around 25 mph.
In order to confirm a community is serious about preventing speeding, it’s necessary to post ocassional signs that remind motorists how slowly they need to drive. Speed limit signs, particularly those that accompany warnings of heavy fines, are instantly recognized by all drivers.
Traditional speed limit signs work well, but the most effective traffic control devices are electronic signs with LED lights. Driver feedback signs display how fast passing motorists are moving. They can be programmed remotely to include additional messages, such as information on detours and scheduling for road work.
Drivers exceeding speed limits typically reduce their speeds when approaching these electronic signs that use radar technology to monitor traffic. They understand from getting or hearing about expensive traffic tickets that the presence of radar is like being monitored by law enforcement, especially if cameras are included. No one wants a speeding ticket on their driving record because it looks bad, draws penalties, and boosts insurance rates.
Traffic data can be monitored from a central location with IoT-based driver feedback signs, which can alert local officers in the area. TraffiCalm develops these signs for multiple states and other nations. The company also manufactures various other types of signs with LEDs and flashing lights, such as its Push 2 Cross system for crosswalks. A major advantage to using flashing lights is that they are easily noticed by drivers.
The most effective way to enforce neighborhood speed limits without hiring actual traffic control officials is to remind drivers of speed limits through signage. A mix of traditional and electronic signs provides the most reliable traffic calming solution. Contact Zumar at our Arizona, California or Washington location to learn more about signage that promotes safety in your community.