HomeMy WebLinkAboutTraffic Calming (Color)County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Speed Humps and Speed Tables Speed humps and speed tables slow tra c by creat-ing a vertical de ection in the roadway. A speed hump is a rounded, raised area three to four inches high placed across the road in parking lots and resi-dential areas. A speed table is a wide at-topped speed hump and slows vehicles more gradu-ally than humps. Speed tables are used in locations where low speeds are desired but provide a gentler ride and are preferred by emergency response providers. Look for speed humps on La 'e La 'e in Waimea, and Haleki 'i and Kupuna streets and R oy al Poinciana Drive in Kona, and Hilo at Kkau, Ala, and Haili streets.Roundabout and Traffic Circle Roundabouts and tra c cir-cles are used to improve safety, and tra c ow, at intersections. Tra c circles are raised islands in the center of residential street intersections and reduce speed by forcing motorists to maneuver around them. All tra c travels in a counter-clockwise direction around the roundabout’s center island. Thus all left-turn con icts at intersections are eliminated. Drivers should be aware of the pedestrian crossing when ap-proaching and departing the intersection. Large vehicles are able to drive over the asphalt center island if they cannot com-pletely maneuver within the trav-el lane. Pedestrians and bicyclists can continue to use the shoulder to go around roundabouts and traffic circles. Traffic circles are installed on Haleki 'i Street in Kona Scenic Subdivision.Center Island and Choker Center islands and chokers slow tra c by narrowing the travel lanes and creating a sense of enclosure. A center island is a raised area along the centerline of a street that narrows the travel lanes. Chokers are curb extensions that also narrow the roadway. The successive use of the center island and choker also creates a horizontal de ec-tion (pushing vehicles to the outside of the lane, then back towards the center (as illustrated), further adding to the calming e ect. De nition Tra c calming guidelines developed from research done by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and adapted to t Hawai 'i’s geography, provides the basic information on the concept and the approach the County of Hawai 'i has taken to apply tra c calming measures. Goal The goal of tra c calming is to make our streets safer for all users, especially children. Implementing calming devices creates e cient tra c ow and allows residents to enjoy safer neighborhoods.Working together as ONE to improve the quality of service for the health and safety of our Big Island ‘Ohana.at intersections are eliminated. Hawai 'i C ounty uses innova-tive tr a c calming devices such as zig zag pavement markings. Zig zag lines are painted on the street at busy intersections and in school zones to get motorists’ attention to slow down, making our streets and highways safer for everyone. Other markings on County roads include the center-lines, crosswalks, stop and turn symbols, no passing and safety zones, and parking spaces. To report markings that are faded or need attention, call the Tra c Division, (808) 961-8341 or visit http://traffic.hawaiicounty.gov.Zig zag lines mark intersec-tions in downtown Hilo and school zones at Kapiolani and Kealakehe Elementary. Sharks Teeth painted along Leilani Avenue in Puna were recently installed to focus a drivers’ atten-tion to the curves on the road.Smart Signs Smart (radar) Signs are infor-mational signs that display the speed of oncoming vehicles or a reminder for the driver to slow down. Smart Signs use highly visible LEDs to make motorists more aware of their speed and to encourage safer driving behavior. They are a tra c-calming solution that has been proven to slow traf- c down and are installed in resi-dential areas and in school zones. They provide speed data to the police department but are not to be confused with radar cameras.Smart Signs are installed Ali 'i Drive and Haleki 'i, Kaiminani and Hina Lani streets in Kona and Paniolo Dr ive in Waikoloa.street at busy intersections and in school zones to get motorists’ attention to slow down, making our streets and highways safer for everyone. Other markings on County roads include the center-lines, crosswalks, stop and turn symbols, no passing and safety zones, and parking spaces. To report markings that are faded or need attention, call the Tra c Division, (808) 961-8341 or visit dpw. co.hawaii.hi.us tions in downtown Hilo and school zones at Kapiolani and Kealakehe Elementary. Sharks Teeth painted along Leilani Avenue in Puna were recently installed to focus a drivers’ atten-tion to the curves on the road.Zig Zag and Curve Lines