Traffic Calming
Blaenau Gwent Council is responsible for the provision and maintenance of traffic calming measures in its area. These are used to control the speeds at which drivers travel, with the express purpose of reducing levels and severity of road accidents. Each road is considered on its own merit, depending on schools, accident rates, speed and volume of traffic.
Speed Control Humps
Designed for use on well-lit 30mph roads, these offer a means of controlling vehicle speeds. They can be an important component in the accident investigation and prevention process, and in wider traffic management measures. Road humps are an extremely effective means of keeping vehicle speeds low. The standard round-topped kerbt-to-kerb hump has been proved to be effective. At low speeds vehicles can cross these humps without causing undue discomfort to passengers or damage to the vehicle, but as speeds increase, they become increasingly uncomfortable.
Build Outs and Pinch Outs
These can be extremely useful in improving crossing conditions for pedestrians. The narrowed carriageway at these points mean that pedestrians, particularly children, have less carriageway to cross, and can therefore complete their crossing movement more quickly. An additional improvement is that build outs forming the extremities of sheltered parking areas can be extended beyond the limit of the parked vehicles can see and be seen by approaching drivers before starting to cross. Tactile surfaces should be provided to indicate the edge of the build outs, as recommended in the Disability Unit Circular 1/91. Chicanes are not generally appropriate at locations where crossing activities take place, as drivers may be concentrating more on how to manoeuvre through the feature than on approaching pedestrians.
Chicane Scheme
The Traffic Calming Regulations 1993 allow Local Highway Authorities to construct a wide range of horizontal deflection features, including chicanes. Attitude surveys which have been conducted on traffic calming schemes seem to suggest that the public tend to dislike horizontal deflections more than they dislike road humps.
