A look at the background of traffic calming

There are lots of regulations in the UK to help make roads safer. In some cases they call for traffic control measures such as signs, lights, barriers, and speed bumps. Barrier Mart can play a key role here. We supply lots of these products to private and public sector clients. Plus, we can also offer installation in many areas. Our standards are always high, but we still deliver excellent value.

Traffic calming

One of the most interesting things to look at here is traffic calming. It can help to dramatically improve safety for road users and pedestrians. You can choose bespoke measures to keep everything nice and calm.

Amazingly, the idea of calming traffic in the UK dates back to 1865. The introduction of the Red Flag Act meant that vehicles could only travel at around 4mph. Pedestrians had to walk in front of moving vehicles to ensure they did not exceed the limit. This was the first kind of traffic control.

The Act was in force until 1896. Luckily for drivers, it was repealed that year. As a result, vehicles could move at up to 12mph or 14mph, in line with local by-laws.

The next change came in 1903 with the Motor Car Act. This increased the speed limit to 20mph. It was the law until 1930, at which time it was abolished for cars and cycles.

There was then a period where there actually was no speed limit. However, it became 30mph in 1934. This would only apply in urban areas though, and still broadly applies today. Other roads had no limitation at the time. The national limit of 70mph that we know today was eventually introduced in 1965.

What you will see from looking at the info above is speed limits gradually got higher and higher. This was mirroring improvements in automotive technology and the level of safety. Traffic control became a more serious issue as the number and variety of vehicles on the road boomed.

Speed control zones

The first real traffic calming change came in 1990. This was when councils got the power to establish 20mph zones using suitable measures like speed bumps. These measures need to restrict how vehicles are driven without influencing the driver's state of mind.

Today there is a huge array of solutions for traffic calming. Some of them are physical like changes to the streetscape. Others are more passive, such as a focus on making sure areas look and feel different so people automatically know to adjust their speed. Raising awareness and better driver training are also important.

Ask us for traffic control solutions

Barrier Mart is one of the most reliable experts in our industry. We combine years of expertise with high quality products to deliver the right results. Clients can ask us for advice, even for tricky sites with very unique safety objectives. We will suggest the right solutions for every need.

So, contact us today or browse our website to view traffic control products. We have a broad range, including speed bumps, different barriers, and bollards. If you need to take steps to prevent access or slow vehicles down, we have the solutions for you.