If you were to ask us what we feel the most important element of a parking lot project is, we’d answer with safety. Safety is paramount for business owners and parking lot managers who want repeat business and more importantly, a great customer experience for their patrons – both drivers and pedestrians.
Because car accidents, injuries, and even fatalities can occur in parking lots, parking lot pavers will typically install measures that will decrease the likelihood of these events from happening, such as speed limit signs and speed bumps. The purpose of speed bumps, which are commonly found in parking lots and school zones, is to encourage drivers to slow down to less than 25 miles per hour. Speed humps are more common in residential neighborhoods, which are similar to speed bumps but have a longer span.
According to a study by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the frequency of car crashes in one year was reduced by 39% on streets that had speed bumps installed. As you can see, increased safety is critical, especially when children are often the victims of car accidents (particularly in residential zones).
While speed bumps are meant to safeguard pedestrians, improper installation can cause unnecessary damage to drivers’ vehicles. Curcio Enterprises, Inc. shares 4 considerations parking lot managers should review when it comes to speed bumps:
1.Proper Installation
As long as speed bumps are placed properly, they can do a great job of encouraging passing cars to slow down. But if they’re not properly installed (i.e. you use a low-quality paving material), your speed bump may not stand the test of time.
2. Mark the Bumps
Don’t forget to properly mark your speed bumps. From a distance, a driver may not be able to identify a speed bump until it’s too late – the car will zoom right over the bump and make the driver and any passengers uncomfortable during the course of the dizzying ride. Unmarked or improperly marked speed bumps also pose a danger to cyclists, who from far away might not see that there is a speed bump ahead, and possibly find him or herself thrown over the handlebars.
3. Consider the Height of Your Speed Bump
The optimal measurement of a speed bump is roughly 3 to 4 inches from the road. Ideally, it will be built so that a car can gently roll up the incline with relative ease, giving the car’s shocks enough time to react. Having too high of a speed bump can destroy the underbelly of cars. Even if you aren’t driving a low vehicle, and even if you drive as slowly as you can over a tall speed bump, it can still scrape the exhaust system under your car. This can result in a broken exhaust system and a failed vehicle emission test later on.
4. Add Other Slow-Down Elements
Speed bumps aren’t the only tool you can use to encourage safer driving. You can also use speed limit signs, stop signs, traffic circles and good old traffic guards to enforce safety at your business.
If your business is looking for a dedicated team of professionals to perform parking facility maintenance services at affordable prices, contact Curcio Enterprises. Our range of services include striping, asphalt repairs, seal coating, pressure washing, power sweeping, general maintenance, parking facility signage, and much more! We’ll give your parking facility a sleek and professional look that’s sure to bring in more customers every day.