Homeowner Associations And Traffic Speed
Homeowners Associations, generally called HOAs, are designed to help keep a neighborhood up to a certain standard. This keeps the home prices at a certain level, and generally makes communities better for those who live there. While many people grumble about HOAs when the organizations inform us of problems, it is important to notice that HOAs can really greatly benefit communities in ways many don’t consider.
Safety, including community speed awareness, is something that HOAs monitor carefully, because they want the sidewalks and roads in their communities to be safe for everybody. The speed of drivers is a concern for most communities, particularly where there are plenty of kids present. Signs that announce “Children at Play” or “Slow” may cause some drivers to take some notice. Speed bumps can slow traffic, also. But there are pros and cons of these techniques, and other better techniques like radar signs, that HOAs should consider before making a move.
Speed bumps are a permanent solution to traffic slowing. If a driver does not notice a speed bump or a sign pointing out that there are speed bumps, he’s unlikely to forget it’s there a second time. Going too quickly over a speed bump can even mean damage to a car’s shocks, as well as other problems. Some are high enough to pop a tire that strikes them at too fast a speed. So speed bumps are one solution.
HOAs should consider, however, that a speed bump will slow all traffic. Police, fire and medical emergency teams also have to slow down to go safely over speed bumps. This is difficult. Who needs to have a loved one in the back of an ambulance that must move at a crawl since the street is completely full of speed bumps?
A fire in the area may not get put out as fast if the firetruck has to slow to go over speed bumps. Obviously, a speed bump has some downsides. Alternatives that will not slow emergency traffic, such as those “Children at Play” or “Slow” signs are better, but might also not slow most regular traffic, either. Radar signs, though, don’t affect emergency operations and take up no more room than a regular sign, all while getting the attention of most people on the road.
Radar speed display signs are an option that won’t change the landscape of a community in the way that a stoplight can. For more in-depth information about these and other traffic calming measures, contact TraffiCalm today!
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