IMPROPER SPEED BREAKERS: ROAD TO DEATH

AND HINDRENCE TO LIFE

The roads of different categories are designed for certain design speeds, which the vehicles are
required to maintain proper functioning of the roadway system. To ensure that the required
speeds are maintained, it is practice to provide certain control measures. These measures can
ensure improved traffic movement with better safety and convenience. Traffic scenario has
changed drastically over the past decade. An increase in the number of vehicles has led to
increase in the number of the accidents. Scenario of traffic safety is worsening day by day in our
country which requires proper attention. Accident data reveals that more than 1.5 lakh people die
in road accidents every year which is significantly high as compared to other developed
countries. Analysis of various accidents shows that the main causes of accident are inappropriate
speed, lack of road safety awareness, driving under the influence of alcohol and narcotics and
violation of traffic rules. To reduce the frequency as well as the severity of accidents various
traffic calming measures are used.

There can be various definition of traffic calming measures but the main aim of a traffic calming
measure is to reduce the speed and provide a safe environment for non-motorized and motorized
traffic. It may be defined as “Traffic calming is a set of engineering measures to reduce speeds
and volumes of motor vehicles in local area and thereby increasing road safety.”[1] The traffic
signs and other visual traffic control devices especially the speed control signs are generally
found to be less effective when used alone.[2] However their performance can be significantly
improved when used in combination with physical traffic calming measures like speed breakers.
In the present world people spend a great amount of time travelling from one place to another for
various purposes. Thus the importance of a comfortable journey without any significant delay
has increased manifolds. This requires the traffic calming measures like speed breakers to be
designed keeping in view these two factors i.e. comfort and delay. This paper focuses on the
problems associated with the speed breakers, suitable measures and measurement of discomfort.
 BASICS OF SPEED BREAKERS

Out of the various traffic calming measures speed breakers are one of the most widely used
devices and they are found to be very effective. In India, based on locality, place and other
factors, speed breakers are provided on the roads as per IRC: 99- 1988. A speed breaker is a
hump surface across the roadway having a rounded shape with width greater than the wheel base
of most of the vehicles using road. The various types of speed breakers are:-

1. Speed bump- Speed bumps are the devices that use the vertical deflection on the road to
slow down the moving traffic. They are suitable to reduce speeds of the vehicles to
around 40 kmph for roads and/or 8 to 16 kmph for car parking. They are generally 1 to 3
feet long and 7 to 15 cm high. The speed bumps reduce speed considerably, avoid
accidents and reduce severity of crash. However the provision of bumps may cause
significant discomfort to drivers as well as passengers, increased damage to the vehicle,
increases response time of emergency services, it requires additional road markings and
traffic signs and it causes increase in traffic noise and pollution.
2. Speed hump -The speed humps are rounded, raised areas placed across the roads. They
are generally 10 to 14 feet in length in the direction of travel and is 7 to 10 cm high, thus
making them different from the speed bumps. The profile of a speed hump can be
circular, parabolic or sinusoidal. They are tapered as they reach the kerb on each end to
allow proper drainage. Speed humps are suitable where low speeds are desired. The
speed humps are inexpensive and relatively easy for bicycles to cross if designed
properly. Speed humps cause a rough ride for drivers as well as passengers and can cause
severe pain for people with certain skeletal disabilities. They force large vehicles, such as
emergency vehicles and those with rigid suspensions, to travel at slower speeds, they may
increase noise and air pollution and have questionable aesthetics.
3. Speed table- Speed tables are flat-topped speed humps and are long enough for the entire
wheelbase of a passenger car to rest on the flat section. Their long flat fields give speed
tables higher design speeds than Speed Humps. They are 22-24 feet long and 7-10 cm
high and are good for locations where low speeds are desired with smooth ride for larger
vehicles. If pedestrian markings are used over the flat section it is referred as raised
crosswalk. They can be expensive and may increase noise and air pollution.
4. Speed cushion- Speed cushions are a type of speed hump designed to avoid the negative
impacts that vertical deflections have on emergency vehicle response times. Speed
cushions are made up of several small speed humps installed across the width of the road
with spaces between them. They force normal cars to slow down as they ride with one
Speed bump Speed hump Speed hump both wheels over the humps. Meanwhile, they
allow fire engines and other large vehicles with wider axles to straddle the cushions
without slowing down. Thus it results in movement of emergency vehicles as well as
heavy vehicles with no discomfort to vehicle occupants and no delays.

ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES

The study is essentially about the effects of speed breakers on traffic performance. There
are various effects of speed breakers such as a considerable delay, damage to the vehicles
and significant discomfort to vehicle occupants and more fuel consumption due to
acceleration and deceleration. Hence, there is a strong need of comprehensive study to
analyze the effects of speed breakers.
Recently study conducted at accident spot at Maninagar area of Ahmedabad city, where
an accident occurred due to speed hump. A one person fell off from scooter and died.
After analysis of that hump it was found that the hump was not as per the standards laid
down by IRC. Analysis of various humps across city reveals that a few of the humps
provided as traffic calming measures are of improper dimensions and not as per the
standards laid down by IRC. This requires serious attention as this ignorance in provision
of speed breakers can result in fatal accidents.
Problems associated with the speed breakers: As discussed above in the introduction the
main causes of road accidents include inappropriate speed, absence of safe crossing
facilities and violation of traffic rules. Speed breakers are one of the most suitable
measures for reducing road accidents and increasing safety of road users. The
effectiveness of speed breakers can be determined by nature of the problem, local
community involvement and the design. Though speed breakers can be very effective
traffic calming measures, there are certain disadvantages which must be keep in mind:
1. Speed breakers are very effective in reducing the speed of vehicles but people
may not accept it readily and can cause a public outcry if public is not consulted
in prior
2. They are uncomfortable and painful to people who suffering from medical
conditions such as back problems.
3. Road users, especially, the two wheelers try to avoid speed breakers to remove all
possible discomfort caused by speed breakers.
4. Speed humps are a major problem for emergency vehicles such as ambulances
and fire engines. It is found that in USA about 85 people die due to delay of
emergency vehicles because of speed breakers
5. Different vehicles respond differently with heavy vehicles like buses, trucks and
other public transport vehicles are prone to discomfort unless humps are traversed
at very low speeds.
6. Speed humps have been known to cause accidents and injuries.
7. Vehicles may get damaged frequently even at normal speed levels. This problem
is more severe with older, heavier vehicles and the vehicles with low ground
clearance.
8. Speed breakers cause atmospheric pollution from the acceleration and
deceleration of traffic at speed breakers.
9. Use of speed cushions encourages the use of larger vehicles which are more
polluting.
10. Speed breakers create additional traffic noise. Heavy vehicles generate
substantially more noise than before, not only this a heavy vehicle traversing a
hump generates a considerable amount of vibration to the adjoining properties..
11. It is observed that the road surface near the humps shows development of
potholes and signs of subsidence which requires a greater road maintenance cost.
12. Practically provision of speed breakers is not a complete solution to improve road
safety or to reduce the accidents. This is because in many of the cases it is found
that accidents are caused due to careless driving of the car driver or of other
factors that are not solved by the speed breakers.
Remedial Measures:

A few remedial measures for associated with speed breakers are given below:

1. A few remedial measures for associated with speed breakers are given below:
2. It should be provided with proper road marking and proper signage and signage should be
properly located and maintained.
3. The speed breakers that have properly designed profile causes a reduction in the
discomfort. This encourages the road users to reduce their speed at approaches of speed
breakers
4. Use of speed cushions should be encouraged. This because it is observed that the
vehicles involved in crashes due to over speeding are generally four wheelers having axle
width which less than spacing between the cushions. This forces the four wheelers to
slow down while allow emergency and heavy vehicles to straddle speed breakers without
any discomfort.
5. At signalized intersections, we have observed that speed breakers are provided at many
locations. As such intersections signals are being properly followed and also they are
manned intersections to enforce the traffic regulation. Thus, these speed breakers are
found to be causing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration delays such practices
should be discouraged.

Measurement of Discomfort

A few measuring and evaluating methods have been developed to study the comfort in vehicles.
The number of factors affecting the comfort of vehicle occupants is temperature, air quality,
noise, light and vibration. In the authors also focus the study of vibration while crossing the
bump and tried to identify the severity of bump by making various study. A body is considered
in vibration when it oscillates relative to a reference position. When studying the effect of
vibration in human body, it should be taken into account that it is constituted of different parts
with different behaviors when excited by oscillatory movement. Kozawa and Susuki1 developed
1
M C Gameiro da Silva, “Measurement of comfort in vehicles”, Article in Measurement Science and Technology,
April 2002.
a portable ride comfort meter in 1986 giving an index called Vibration Number (VN) as an
objective measure of comfort of passengers. To develop this apparatus, a subjective evaluation
test of whole body vibration was carried out using a dual-axis vibration table. The index scale
has range between 0 (no vibration) to 100 (maximum vibration). The VN was obtained through
multiple regression analysis performed with data from subjective evaluations 1. Ford Motor
Company developed a vibration simulator in that the road profiles were reproduced in laboratory.
In the vibrator simulator, a set of computer-controlled actuators creates vibrations in the seat as
well as in all parts of the car and VN was measured. In another study, a Society of Automotive
Engineers pad was developed to measure the vertical and horizontal acceleration on speed
breakers. It is a semi rigid circular pad consisting of an accelerometer that placed between seat
and individual. It is of 200 mm diameter plastic pad. The accelerometer was calibrated for the
acceleration readings. The peak, root-mean-square (rms) and root-mean-quad (rmq) horizontal
and vertical accelerations were determined for the test. Rms values are used to relate the
vibration and discomfort. An analytical approach was used to establish the criteria of discomfort
for speed breakers.2

LANDMARK CASES ON SPEEDBREAKER LAW

a) J P Sanghi and Anr v. State of Madhya Pradesh and Anr. 1984JLJ172

This was one of the first cases which was filed which dealt with the relation of road
safety and improperly constructed speed breakers.The petitioner in this case had
submitted that “in the town of Jabalpur itself a number of speed breakers have been
constructed and in some cases they are so high that even at very ordinary speed of the
vehicle they endanger the vehicles, their silencers, petrol tank and chambers hit the
humps of the roads and sometimes cause serious damage.”
This case was filed in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh praying for removal of all
speed beakers from town and from all national highways in the territory. Additionally, it
was prayed that directions be issued by the Court to put appropriate safety signs on roads,
cautioning the drivers wherever such road humps or speed breakers were erected and also
that the roads be properly maintained.
2
Philip A. Weber, Towards a Canadian Standard for the Geometric Design of Speed Humps, Dept. of Civil and
Environmental Engg., Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, April, 1998
In this case the court held that there was no provision in the Motor Vehicles Act 1988
providing guidelines for construction of road humps or speed breakers. The court further
held “ In our opinion, it is not necessary for us to issue a direction to the State
Government to frame rules Under Section 91 but it is directed that unless such rules are
framed, the respondents will examine the matter and prepare a scheme conductive to the
purpose for which the road humps and speed breakers are erected and also conducive to
the safety of the persons travelling in vehicles and their property that a reasonable
design and scheme about road humps a may be prepared and all the speed breakers and
road humps may be made uniform in accordance with that scheme within six months.”

b) Kumudben Sureshchandra, v.  Jamnagar Municipal Corp 1996GLH(1)491

This case was under Section 85 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Section 203 of
the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act 1949. It challenged an order
holding the corporation solely responsible for the accident which had occurred while
passing over the speed breaker.
The High court quashed the lower court’s order on the premise that even though the
Municipal Corporation was negligent and did not construct an appropriate and safe
speed breaker, the driver was also negligent as he permitted more than one pillion
driver to ride behind him.
The court also held “In the instant case, the erection of the speed breaker itself was
not permitted by any law; and to add to its gravity, no signboard is kept to indicate
existence of such a speed breaker; no markings are painted on the speed breaker and
no light is provided. These ought to have been provided so that the speed breaker is
made visible. If painting on the speed breaker is defaced, it is the duty of the
Corporation to see that the same is painted.”

c) KewalSemlani v. Commissioner of Bombay and Ors. 2005(4)BomCR25

In this case the petitioner had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging the
extremely poor condition of roads in Mumbai that lead to many road accidents and
caused inconvenience to Mumbaites.
 The court had recorded “It is mentioned that a circular had been issued by the Chief
Engineer (Roads and Traffic) to Assistant Commissioners of all the wards directing
them to give a status report of the speed breakers indicating the number of speed
breakers authorized by Traffic Police Department and the other speed breakers
which have been constructed without permission and out of them how many
unauthorised speed breakers (constructed in contravention of specifications) have
been removed.” The court in this case had also issued direction to be read with the
IRC guidelines for speed breakers.

d) Guru Hanuman Society of India v. Govt of NCT of Delhi &Ors

This writ petition is pending before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi and broadly
pertains to the construction of speed breakers on public roads in Delhi. The court by
its previous order dated 04.09.2017 had directed the Govt. of NCT of Delhi “to
constitute a Body/Committee that will constantly meet from time to time and review
the situation. The role of the committee is to collect data and also ensure that
unauthorized speed breakers in terms of the location as well as the dimensions are
appropriately removed within the timeframe indicated with regard to each of the
localities/zone.”

The court in this case had also issued a mandamus vide order dated 25.05.2016 by
which they had given guidelines regarding (a) speed breakers being constructed in
compliance with IRC specifications (b) appropriate signage indicating the speed
breakers on roads as per IRC guidelines

CONCLUSION
From the study, it is concluded that speed breakers are effective means of controlling speed as
well as reducing frequency and severity of accidents. However, they also means of accidents at
some locations where no standards are followed and placed at random locations. Speed tables are
provided in public transit routes such as in BRTS lanes near the stations where speed of transit
vehicles already to be low. It increases operating cost as well as causes significant discomfort to
passengers. It is also suggested the effect of the comfort also to be measured after
implementation. In India, there will be a strong need for a proper study before and after
implementation of speed breakers to check their effectiveness.

REFERENCES
Websites-
1. www.lawgic.com
2. www.ldp-india.org
3. www.ijerd.com
4. www.lawoctopus.com
5. www.indiankanoon.org