Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Martin County is committed to enhancing the safety and quality of life for residents through our Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. This initiative focuses on reducing speeding and improving safety in residential areas by implementing measures designed to slow down vehicles and create safer streets for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
What is Traffic Calming?
Traffic calming involves physical design features and strategies that promote safer driving in neighborhoods. These measures are intended to:
- Reduce vehicle speeds
- Discourage cut-through traffic
- Increase pedestrian and cyclist safety
- Improve the overall livability of neighborhoods
Types of Traffic Calming Measures
- Speed Humps: Raised areas of pavement designed to slow vehicles with gentle bumps.
- Chicanes: Curves or shifts in the road that naturally reduce vehicle speeds by forcing drivers to steer more carefully.
- Traffic Circles: Small circular islands installed at intersections to slow vehicles and improve traffic flow.
- Raised Crosswalks: Elevated pedestrian crossings that act as both a speed control device and a safety enhancement for pedestrians.
- Narrowing Streets: Reducing the width of roads using curb extensions or landscaping, which encourages slower driving.