Do Speed Bump Constructions Slow Down Emergency Vehicles?

One of the first questions that people ask is do speed bumps slow down emergency vehicles? While it’s true that a speed bump can decrease the response time of emergency vehicles, it is very minimal.

For example, the addition of a speed bump in a traffic lane can increase the response time of other vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars. However, safety is the number one priority.

What does a speed bump do?

A speed bump is designed to reduce the impact of speed on any vehicles. These are low, expansive barriers that are designed to let emergency vehicles pass over them without being hindered.

These speed bumps can be installed in any area. A recent study in Mobile, Alabama found that emergency vehicles experienced a nearly five-second delay on their response times when they encountered a speed bump, compared to a four-second delay on their response times when they encounter a speed hump.

Despite the fact that they are more expensive, they do slow down emergency response times. Studies in Austin, Texas and San Diego have shown that speed humps have a small effect on the time taken for emergency vehicles to respond to a slowed-down roadway.

In Sacramento, California, studies showed that a speed hump causes almost no delay for emergency vehicles compared to a speed bump.

Furthermore, in Mobile, Alabama, a speed hump causes a 1.76-second delay compared to a speed bump, which is less than half the time for the same vehicle.

What happens in emergency cases?

In emergency cases, while speed bumps can slow down emergency vehicles it is very likely that emergency vehicle have the adequate means to travel quickly, need it be necessary.