Traffic Calming

Roundabouts, curb bulb-outs, and speed humps are all are forms of traffic calming, which offer promise if properly applied to curb speeding and some forms of aggressive driving. Pedestrians especially benefit from traffic calming. Traffic calming employs physical changes to the roadway, signage or operation changes, and can be thought of as a "silent policeman" enforcing speed limits where no law enforcement are present.

Traffic Calming: State of the Practice
At the local level, traffic calming responds to public concerns about speeding and cut-through traffic. Citizens look to their elected officials, and elected officials look to transportation professionals for technical solutions. The purpose of this report is to provide balanced information so readers can make their own informed decisions. Contact ITE.

Traffic Calming Website

The Federal Highway Administration has financially supported the Institute of Transportation Engineers to develop a Traffic Calming Website in the interest of information exchange.
Within the traffic calming website:

Traffic Calming Library
The Traffic Calming Library contains a searchable database of reports, articles and other documents related to traffic calming.
Selected Reports
This section of the Traffic Calming Web site allows you to view two full text reports and portions of a third report online.
Traffic Calming Seminar Instructional Material
ITE and FHWA developed a 1-day seminar for transportation professionals on Traffic Calming.

For additional information on traffic calming, visit the FHWA Office of Human Environment Website.

Return to top