Illegally-imposed slowdowns yield a noticeable rebound.
Speed Humps in France: Controversies, Oversight, and Safety
Driving through France's roads gives you a bumpy ride - over 450,000 speed humps, to be exact. But here's the catch: 90% of them, it seems, are non-compliant, leading to unwanted vehicle damage. Despite this, they'll stay put, according to the Council of State. Why? You guessed it - budgetary concerns.
On April 29, Caradisiac reported that while last August a court had ordered the affected municipalities to regularize the situation, the state chose not to demand the mass removal. The main reason? A whopping €5 to €7 billion cost nationwide, a sum hard to justify amidst a government trying to save resources and reduce the deficit.
Traffic regulations concerning speed humps are crystal clear. They're supposed to be prohibited in high-traffic areas, on roads with more than 3,000 vehicles per day, and near emergency services or public transport routes. However, these rules aren't always followed, causing user discomfort and safety issues.
As for danger, it's not just the location. Many speed humps are poorly sized, too high, too short, too abrupt, leading to accident risks. But what about those who suffer damage? It is indeed possible to make an insurance claim in case of vehicle damage. However, to do so, you must prove the speed hump is non-compliant, precisely locate the spot, and establish a direct link between the anomaly and the suffered damage.
However, there are initiatives helping ease budget pressures on small municipalities. For example, Citroën's "Bump Boards" initiative aims to replace non-compliant speed humps with safer, certified ones, offering municipalities a chance for an upgrade while controlling costs.
So, the next time you hit a speed hump in France, remember: sometimes, it's not just the road that's bumpy.
© Wikimedia Commons By Noah Sdiri Published on
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Further Insights:
Enforcement Issues: Despite specific regulations, enforcement remains a challenge, with many non-compliant speed humps still present on roads.
Material Choices: Rubber speed bumps were banned in 2009 due to safety concerns, but many municipalities still use sub-standard speed bumps due to resource constraints.
Solutions: Programs like Bump Boards aim to provide a financial relief for small municipalities by covering the costs of replacing outdated speed bumps and offering a safer alternative.
Safety Improvements: Replacing non-compliant speed humps with certified, compliant ones can lead to improved road safety, minimizing the risks of accidents caused by poor infrastructure.
- traffic calming * road safety * car * automobile
- Despite clear traffic regulations discouraging the installation of speed humps in high-traffic areas and near emergency services or public transportation routes, many non-compliant speed bumps persist, leading to safety issues and user discomfort.
- The regulations in the health-and-wellness industry relating to speed humps within the finance sector often go unheeded, as shown by the prevalence of over 450,000 speed humps in France, with 90% of them being non-compliant.
- In terms of enforcement, the industry grapples with numerous challenges, as numerous speed humps remain non-compliant despite specific regulations.
- The public-transit industry in France faces finance-related issues when addressing speed hump regulations, as a potential nationwide removal cost of €5 to €7 billion makes the endeavor an economic challenge for a budget-conscious government.
- To combat these enforcement issues, the science of traffic calming is striving for improvements, with initiatives like Citroën's "Bump Boards" offering financial relief for small municipalities by upgrading outdated speed bumps to compliant ones, ensuring safer transportation.
- The transportation sector in France, as demonstrated by the speed hump conundrum, faces constant challenges in ensuring safety regulations are followed and properly enforced, ultimately impacting the quality and safety of public-transit infrastructure.
