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Traffic calmingUnited Kingdom

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Traffic rules
United Kingdom

56. Traffic calming

Traffic calming refers to road-design measures intended to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety, particularly in areas where vehicles interact closely with pedestrians and cyclists. These measures can include speed humps, raised crossings, narrowed road sections, chicanes, traffic islands and changes in road layout or surface.

The purpose of traffic calming is to encourage drivers to travel at a lower and more appropriate speed rather than relying only on speed-limit signs. The measures used and their legal requirements differ between countries.

Traffic calming
Traffic-calming road narrowing at the entrance to Hale from Halebank. (Hale, England, United Kingdom)
Wikimedia.org • Rodhullandemu • CC BY-SA
What is traffic calming?

Traffic calming is the use of road-design measures to reduce vehicle speeds and create safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

What are common traffic-calming measures?

Common measures include speed humps, raised crossings, chicanes, narrowed carriageways, traffic islands and redesigned intersections.

Where is traffic calming commonly used?

Traffic calming is commonly used in residential areas, school areas, town centres and other places with significant pedestrian or cyclist activity.

1 United Kingdom 2 Motorway 3 Speed limit 4 Bike path 5 Pedestrian warning 6 Bridge 7 Speed bump 8 Toll road 9 One-way traffic 10 Quay 11 Slope 12 Bus lane 13 Bus stop 14 Dead end 15 Stop sign 16 Give way 17 Roundabout 18 Road narrowing 19 Priority over oncoming traffic 20 Give way to oncoming traffic 21 Pedestrian crossing 22 Railway crossing 23 Mandatory direction 24 Turn prohibition 25 School area 26 Crossing animals 27 Slippery road 28 Rockfall 29 Aircraft 30 Curve 31 Chevron 32 Wrong-way driving 33 Roadworks 34 Height limit 35 Radar speed sign 36 Selective barriers 37 Low-emission zone 38 Priority at the next junction 39 Traffic lights 40 Traffic lights warning 41 Road markings 42 Climbing lane 43 Bike box 44 Left-hand traffic 45 Speed feedback 46 Driving licence 47 Cycling route 48 Parking 49 No parking 50 Park and ride 51 Disabled parking 52 Reversing 53 Detour 54 Road surface 55 Verge 56 Traffic calming 57 Horse riding 58 Emergency exit 59 City limit 60 Tourist attraction 61 Licence plate 62 Charging station 63 Dangers 64 Dip 65 Tram lane 66 Cyclist 67 Bus 68 Police 69 Ambulance 70 Roadway 71 Street 72 Pothole 73 Private road 74 Path 75 Particulates 76 Air pollution 77 Rush hour 78 Road code 79 Two-way traffic 80 Tram stop 81 Street gutter 82 Cargo bike 83 Forestry vehicle 84 Construction vehicle 85 Semi-trailer truck 86 Trolleybus 87 Speed pedelec 88 Delivery vehicle 89 Idling 90 Tow truck 91 Four-wheel drive 92 Passenger 93 Bicycle 94 Motorcycle equipment 95 Tram 96 Rail track 97 Public transport 98 Caravan 99 Trailer 100 Tow hitch ...