"Coventry's roads boss wants to scrap speed humps"

[dutchman]

But speed cameras could return...



Coventry’s roads boss would like to scrap speed humps across the city in a bid to reduce pollution and damage to cars.

But Cllr Jayne Innes, the council's cabinet member for city services, said the city was exploring other ways of reducing speed - including the possible re-introduction of speed cameras in the city.

There have been no fixed speed cameras in Coventry since 2013 when West Midlands Police switched them off across the region.

The idea of removing road humps across the country has come after the government’s environment secretary, Michael Gove, said local authorities should consider “improving road layouts and junctions to optimise traffic flow, for example by considering removal of road humps”.

Some people argue they double the amount of harmful gases that are emitted from vehicles as they speed up and slow down repeatedly.

But road safety representatives stress their importance in keeping people safe and insist they have saved lives for decade.

Cllr Innes told the Telegraph she would like to see speed bumps removed.

Cllr Innes said: “On a personal level I’ve never been a fan of speed bumps.

“Tackling excess and dangerous speeds is, and has to be, a priority. But I think there are better ways of doing this than with speed bumps.

“Speed bumps can lead to increased air pollution, they can also create a lot of noise as cars go over them, which can be a real nuisance to nearby homes; and they can damage cars and other vehicles.

“In Coventry the trial of bus lane suspensions is going on. The leader of the council, Cllr George Duggins, and I are pressing forward with this to improve traffic flow and also improve air quality.

“It’s proving popular with Coventry people and we’ll be saying more about the bus lane suspensions soon.

“We are also looking at other ways of cutting speed, such as rolling out bright LED vehicle activated signs and digital speed cameras.”

Not everyone thought the removal of road humps would be a positive move however.

The AA said to dig up road bumps would be expensive, and questioned whether it was a good way to spend money.

And head of road safety at the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents, Kevin Clinton, said the removal of speed bumps would actually create more of a risk to road users.

He said he believed the road feature was actually a proven way to reduce casualties and a main reason why deaths and injuries have decreased in the last few decades.

[rebbonk]

Exactly what experience has this woman (or the gnome before her) got as regards traffic flow and management? None I'll bet: yet they'll tinker with what we have because they think they know better, and they refuse to tackle the root cause for fear of being called non PC. - Too many cars in too small a space; ergo, we're overcrowded, but they still invite people to come to the city.

[Melisandre]

I agree with you fully Rebbonk I 've said the same many times more houses more people more traffic more pollution goodness even Nuneaton can't cope either with the amount of traffic and more houses are being built over there with Bedworth to what impact is that going to have on Coventry. I notice more houses being built on Eburne Rd off Aldermansgreen Rd how much more can we take my biggest concerns are the emergency services getting through especially when the whole of Coventry comes to a stand still when there are accidents especially on the motorway.

[dutchman]

Speed bumps are totally superfluous where I live. The road is so congested with parked cars that traffic can only move at a snail's pace!

[rebbonk]

When I worked for Austin Rover Group I often had to visit a factory (Old SU Carbs IIRC) in Birmingham known as Ashold Farm. The drive way there had sleeping policemen every few yards. Someone (not me) actually proved just how useless sleeping policemen were if you hit them at high enough speed. After the first one, you simply didn't feel the others.

[Jock Strapp]

I suppose that installing these speed bumps was very costly. The removal of them will require a lot more cash to be thrown at them.
Who cares? Its only rate payers money The penalty for speeding isn't severe enough. Perhaps if cars were fitted with a spike on the steering wheel with the pointy end between the drivers eyes there would be no more speeding.