Speed Hump Whatchamacallit?

It seems that there is never one, unique name for any item. People use slang terms, nicknames, brands and funny names for just about everything. These terms can be different depending on where you live, how a product is made or even what your parents called the item. For example; do you call your lunch a “sub” or a “hoagie”? Do you drink “pop” or “soda”? They’re all the same thing, but called different names.

Surprisingly enough, the traffic control industry is no different. Take a speed hump for example; some people call it a speed bump, some call it a speed hump. In Britain, they’re referred to as a sleeping policeman, a kipping cop, or in some areas even called a slow child. In New Zealand they call it a judder bar or a speed breaker. Regardless of what you call it, their intended purpose is all the same. To slow traffic.

Speed humps are usually installed in residential areas where children & pets may be playing. They’re also installed in front of schools and at cross walks to protect students. They can even be considered for applications in busy parking areas at malls and shopping centers.

Speed humps are usually placed where signs and pavement markings haven’t made an impact on speedy drivers. These “suggestive” measures are typically ignored by drivers. It’s easy to look away from a speed limit sign or fail to notice a “SLOW DOWN” painted on the roadway. Speed humps, however, are unavoidable. They are a physical obstacle placed on a road, street or alley, that will force speeding drivers to slow down. Unless they want to damage their vehicle, they don’t really have a choice but to put on the brakes and proceed with caution.

So regardless of what you call it; a sleeping policeman; a speed breaker; a speed hump; they will get the attention of “lead-foot” drivers, and slow them in their tracks.