While some drivers may find speed bumps slightly inconvenient, they actually serve a significant purpose. Speed bumps are a critical component in helping to prevent both serious and minor traffic related injuries, including fatalities. There are many valid reasons why business owners would want to have speed bumps installed in their parking lots.
Here are 4 beneficial reasons to consider installing speed bumps:
1. Speed reduction
The primary purpose of a speed bump is to alert drivers to slow down and reduce their speed. In high traffic areas such as a parking lot, speed bumps may play a vital safety role, as driver visibility may be limited by so much activity. In a parking lot there are often multiple vehicles arriving at once, attempting to pull into parking spaces and back out, as well as trying to leave. Adding to the congestion, are multiple pedestrians walking on foot, riding bicycles, or attempting to cross from many different directions.
Parking lots aren’t frequently patrolled by police, so a speed bump can be an effective means for enforcing speed control among drivers.
2. Pedestrian protection
Crossing a street or parking lot can be dangerous for a pedestrian, especially for the elderly and children. Although pedestrians should always be aware of their surroundings, they cannot always control or predict a speeding driver barreling towards them, potentially putting their life at risk. By adding speed bumps in parking lots with heavy foot traffic, this will alert drivers to slow down and be cautious, and also provide critical safety protection for pedestrians.
3. Traffic control
Some drivers who prefer to drive at a higher speed will avoid areas known to have multiple speed bumps. This may not only lessen the amount of traffic congestion in a busy, crowded location, but may protect innocent people from potentially crossing paths with a reckless driver.
4. Noise reduction
Anytime the volume of traffic along with vehicle speed are reduced, the noise levels tend to become reduced as well.
Speed bumps serve many beneficial purposes, including playing a crucial role in protecting the safety and well being of pedestrians as well as drivers from potential speed related accidents. Speed bumps may reduce injuries and fatalities and provide an extra level of security in high traffic areas, especially in parking lots where there aren’t a lot of police or patrols, but rather large numbers of pedestrians who still require some extra protection from potential harm.