Traffic Calming Information
Complying with the Mayor and Council Members request for information on crash data and traffic calming measures.
1. See link traffic calming. It illustrates the different types and cost. The cost estimates shown were in 2017 dollars. Checking with a contractor I am told the 2023 cost is about 20% higher.
2. The difference between a speed bump and a speed hump? While similar to speed bumps, humps are less aggressive than speed bumps at low speeds. Humps are often used on streets, while bumps are used more in parking lots. While speed bumps generally slow cars to 5–10 mph, humps slow cars to 15–20 mph.
Speed Humps Description: Speed humps are rounded, raised areas across the roadway that cause vehicles to reduce speeds. They are usually found on neighborhood streets (low-volume), not on major roadways or primary emergency vehicle routes. Speed humps should terminate before the gutter pan, so as to not interfere with proper storm water drainage. They are sometimes broken up to allow a clear path for bicyclists, and include signage and paint markings so that they are visible.
Benefits:
- a. Speed reduction.
- b. Relatively low-cost.
Drawbacks:
- a. Increased roadway noise. Both as vehicles go over the hump and then accelerate.
- b. Increased maintenance costs.
- c. Requires additional costs for signage.
- d. Extra care is required when snowplowing. Told it must be done on an angle.
- e. Lowers property values. Especially the property that they are located in front of.
- f. Slows Fire/EMS vehicles.
- g. Residents that repeatedly go over the humps have excessive wear on their vehicles
- h. Can be dangerous to bicyclists and handicapped individuals.
- i. Moves vehicle traffic to other Borough roads.
- j. Water runoff.
3. Sample Ordinances.pdf. Sample ordinances from
4. Video that showing some of the issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oP-Ndwv1zw
Crash data information: (we stopped calling them accidents about 10 years ago. Why crash instead of accident? When we call something an "accident" it implies that no one is at fault and that no one, including the driver, bears responsibility for the outcome. The term "crash," on the other hand, is more specific in terms of the action's outcome without the unpreventable implication of an accident
1. Question 1:
“How many accidents are there?”
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rt 22-Reportable | 269 | 298 | 320 |
| Rt 22 Non-Reportable | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| Boro Streets- Reportable | 394 | 425 | 481 |
| Boro St Non-Reportable | 9 | 10 | 4 |
| Private Property-Reportable | 116 | 119 | 136 |
| Private Prop Non-Reportable | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| Total Reportable | 779 | 842 | 937 |
| Total Non-Reportable | 30 | 27 | 21 |
| Minor Damage – People did not want a report filed | 102 | 211 | 229 |
| Total Crashes | 911 | 1,029 | 1,166 |
| Reports W/Injuries | 131 | 142 | 171 |
| Persons Injured | 173 | 189 | 234 |
| Fatal | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2. Question 2:
“What is determined to be the cause (speeding, DWI, distracted, etc.)?”
For more details see link Crash Data
| Distracted Driving | 1,308 | 61.21% |
| Alcohol Related | 69 | <3.23% |
| Unsafe Speed | 62 | <2.9%< |
| Drowsy Fatigued Driving | 22 | <1.03% |
| Drugged Driving | 8 | <0.37% |
| Cell Phone in Use | 6 | <0.28% (certainly this is much higher than reported) |
3. Question 3:
“Would we be able to get data about what streets accidents occur on?”
- a. Crashes by location on map.pdf
- b. Crashes by location 2020.pdf
- c. Crashes by location 2021.pdf
- d. Crashes by location 2022.pdf
4. Parking Cameras
Information on the parking cameras we are looking into.
The company would install pole mounted license plate readers at locations we choose. The locations would be in areas that parking is prohibited. If a vehicle parks in the area for two minutes or longer their license plate would be recorded and sent to our traffic safety officers for review and the issuance of a parking summons. The company would install the cameras and poles at no upfront cost to the Borough. They take 40% of the fine as payment. See Parking Cameras.pdf for a sample.
5. Speed Survey Information
Speed Surveys from locations that were mentioned at the Council Meeting.
Several residents were complaining that there were vehicles going 70 MPH or more. The surveys confirm we are not having those speeds. We are having speeding issues on some streets and Wilson Ave is one of them. We will have the counters out and step up enforcement. See traffic survey:
