Princeton Traffic Committee: No More Speed Bumps

speedhumpCall it what you like — a speed hump, a speed bump, or a traffic calming device. By any name, the Princeton Police Department traffic safety officer and town traffic and transportation committee don’t want more of them in Princeton.

Resident Bob Altman, the vice char of the committee, recommended to the Princeton Council tonight that the town adopt a policy not to add any more speed bumps (or humps) to local roads.

Altman cited water issues, road maintenance, costs and public safety.

“Speed humps reduce the response time of emergency service vehicles,” he said. “It takes more time for large vehicles to go over the bumps. The American Heart Association says every minute lost responding to a victim of a heart attack or stroke means a 10 percent decrease in the chance of survival.”

“We recommend that Princeton state its intent to no longer create speed bumps and speed humps within its borders,” he said.

Sgt. Tom Murray say while speed humps slow traffic, they only slow it momentarily.

“That is why I’m against it,” he said. “The is a cost regarding emergency response. And the speed bumps transfer traffic volumes to other side streets.”

A car can gain most of its speed back within 18 feet of the speed hump, he said. Larger vehicles like emergency vehicles are slowed down more than smaller vehicles, he said.

Murray said speed bumps can cost thousands of dollars. He said police can use other measures to slow traffic down.

The recommendation was presented at a work session, and thus was not voted on by the governing body tonight.