Speed breakers, or road humps, are perhaps the most prevalent traffic controlling devices that can be spotted on Indian roads. If you drive through a school area, a bustling market, or a residential colony, you are likely to have encountered these elevated road features. The primary function of a speed breaker is straightforward: to compel cars to reduce their speed. In the process, they decrease the chances of accidents and improve road safety for pedestrians as well as other drivers. Yet, not all speed breakers in India are constructed properly. While successfully designed humps save lives, unsuccessfully designed ones usually ruin cars, cause irritation, or even result in accidents. This makes it necessary to realize why and when speed breakers are employed, how they must be engineered according to Indian standards, and where they need or do not need to be erected.
Speed breakers are primarily fitted to restrict over speeding in locations where traffic must travel at a slow rate. School entrance roads, hospital approach roads, residential streets, accident hotspots, and congested intersections are typical sites. The reasoning is simple—one is driving along smoothly and suddenly finds a raised hump spread over the road. The vehicle has to slow down. This lessens the possibility of accidents with pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars. For instance, in most school zones in Indian cities, speed breakers have effectively curtailed the rate of pedestrian accidents by forcing vehicles to crawl through schools during school timings. When there are no traffic lights or rigorous police patrol, these physical obstacles become the most effective method of maintaining safe driving speeds.
Speed breakers are vital for Indian roads, particularly in school areas, hospitals, and areas prone to accidents. They save lives by imposing safe speeds but need to strictly follow IRC standards. Poorly designed unauthorized breakers can cause major accidents and damage in vehicle. Engineers, and authorities should ensure that only scientifically designed and legally approved speed breakers are constructed. Last but not he least public awareness plays a key role in road safety—if a breaker seems unsafe, it should be reported.
Speed breakers are primarily fitted to restrict over speeding in locations where traffic must travel at a slow rate. School entrance roads, hospital approach roads, residential streets, accident hotspots, and congested intersections are typical sites. The reasoning is simple—one is driving along smoothly and suddenly finds a raised hump spread over the road. The vehicle has to slow down. This lessens the possibility of accidents with pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars. For instance, in most school zones in Indian cities, speed breakers have effectively curtailed the rate of pedestrian accidents by forcing vehicles to crawl through schools during school timings. When there are no traffic lights or rigorous police patrol, these physical obstacles become the most effective method of maintaining safe driving speeds.
Pros and Cons of Installing Speed Breakers On Indian Roads
Advantages Installing Speed Breakers :
- Improve pedestrian safety.
- Reduce accidents at blind curves and congested areas.
- Remind drivers to stay alert in high-risk or accident zones.
Disadvantages Installing Speed Breakers :
- Improperly designed breakers can damage vehicles’ suspension and underbody.
- Frequent braking and acceleration increase fuel consumption and pollution.
- Emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks may lose valuable time.
- Example: In Bangalore, an overheight breaker caused multiple two-wheeler accidents.
Installation and Maintenance of Speed Breakers in India
Speed Breaker construction Process as per IRC 99:1988 guideline
- Clean the road surface and make indents for bonding.
- Spray tack coat.
- Place hot premixed bituminous material in required forms.
- Compact and complete the hump.
- Paint alternate black and white stripes; apply reflective paints, glowing strips, or cat's eyes for nighttime visibility.
- Provide adequate drainage to avoid water damage.
Speed Breaker Maintenance as per IRC 99:1988 guideline
- Repaint worn-out markings.
- Fill up cracks and keep dimensions intact.
- Keep road surface even to maintain safety.
Speed Breaker Placement Guideline in India
The location of speed breakers is also specifically defined. They are suggested at T-intersections of minor roads with freeways, at middle-block segments in urban locations, on school and hospital approaches, and on highways with accident history. But the guidelines sternly advise against their placement on highways, bridges, or major inter-city routes, where they interfere with traffic flow and can cause more harm than good.
Policy and Legal Considerations
- Speed breaker construction is only to be approved by municipal corporations, public works departments, or traffic police.
- Unapproved humps are illegal and have been demolished on the orders of courts in Delhi and Pune.
- Public awareness would be required to deter unapproved installations.
Tools Used in Construction of Speed Breaker in India
- Surveying equipment to mark locations.
- Soil strength-compaction testing machines.
- Bitumen mixers to lay hot mix material.
Types of Speed Breakers Found in India
Speed breakers may be of varied types based on use. The most prevalent ones on Indian roads are concrete speed breakers. They are strong enough to handle heavy traffic but, once constructed, are rigid and cannot be removed easily. Rubber speed breakers are of modular construction, simpler to install, and commonly found in city localities and private campuses. They are very helpful in temporary control of traffic. Fiber or plastic speed breakers are light and easy to move, usually installed in parking areas or in temporary diversions. To compact the hump according to IRC standards, civil engineers employ various tools like leveling instruments, compaction machines, and bitumen mixers during construction. A hump that is not compacted or not drained becomes a hazard on the road in a short time.Concrete Speed Breakers
- Most widely seen on public roads.
- Durable and permanent.
Rubber Speed Breakers :
- Removable and modular.
- Used often in private campuses, gated communities, or parking lots.
Plastic and Fibre Speed Breakers
- Light in weight and appropriate for temporary traffic management for events or diversions.
Typical Failures and Challenges
Regrettably, India has had a number of instances of failed speed breakers. In Bangalore, one prominent example involved a speed breaker constructed much taller than the standard recommended. Rather than slowing down vehicles securely, it made two-wheeler riders lose balance, resulting in a series of accidents. In Delhi, opposite the AIIMS hospital, an unmarked and unpainted hump was responsible for several accidents at night as drivers were unable to spot it in time. In Pune, citizens agitated against an illegal speed breaker constructed by a local community on the grounds that it was damaging cars and creating traffic congestion. The city administration removed it after verifying that it did not comply with legal and technical standards. These case studies serve to bring into perspective the importance of observance of design standards and periodical monitoring.Speed breakers are vital for Indian roads, particularly in school areas, hospitals, and areas prone to accidents. They save lives by imposing safe speeds but need to strictly follow IRC standards. Poorly designed unauthorized breakers can cause major accidents and damage in vehicle. Engineers, and authorities should ensure that only scientifically designed and legally approved speed breakers are constructed. Last but not he least public awareness plays a key role in road safety—if a breaker seems unsafe, it should be reported.
