Throughout our lives, we’ll likely have encountered hundreds of speed bumps. Whether you’re the driver yourself or a passenger, you can be sure to find speed bumps in most places you’ll travel.

But how exactly do they work? We know they’re there for a reason but what is it about speed bumps that reduce vehicle speed and save lives? We’ll take a look.

What are speed bumps?

Put simply, speed bumps are a traffic calming measure that force drivers to slow down – usually to around 10mph – in an attempt to reduce aggressive and dangerous driving. 

According to Sunderland City Council, results prove that new schemes (involving speed bumps) will reduce accidents by around 60%, and they are particularly effective in reducing accidents to pedestrians and cyclists.

What is the difference between speed bumps and speed humps?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, speed humps are generally shorter in height and wider than speed bumps. Speed bumps are usually what you’ll find in car parks and other areas where pedestrians and vehicles share busy spaces.

How do speed bumps reduce speed and save lives?

Visual cues

Speed bumps serve as a visual cue to drivers, signalling them to slow down and proceed with caution. Their distinctive shape and bright colouring draws attention and prompts motorists to anticipate a change in road conditions.

Physical discomfort

Let’s face it, most of us can think of better things than the uncomfortable jolt that accompanies driving over a speed bump. This often leads to drivers reducing their speed to minimise discomfort for themselves and their passengers.

Increased reaction times

By lowering vehicle speeds, speed bumps provide drivers with more time to react to unexpected events or hazards on the road. This increased reaction time can help prevent collisions and enable drivers to respond appropriately to pedestrians, cyclists, and/or other vehicles.

Enhanced pedestrian safety

Speed bumps are commonly installed in areas where there is a high volume of pedestrian activity, such as near schools or in commercial areas like industrial warehouses and factory / manufacturing sites. By reducing vehicle speeds, they create a safer environment for pedestrians, as it becomes easier for drivers to notice and yield to people crossing the road at any time.

At Brandsafe, we’re the leading provider of high-visibility impact protection and safety solutions for the industrial workplace. If you’d like to find out more about our speed bumps and how they can help, please feel free to get in touch with our team today.

By now you’ve undoubtedly heard of them, you’ve likely seen a good few out on the road, or perhaps you even own or lease one yourself. The rise of electric vehicles is a significant development that has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years.

As a result, this is affecting a variety of businesses, meaning that companies are being forced to adapt to the logistical and infrastructural changes the EV market is bringing about. We take a look at what those changes are, and what this means in practice for different sectors.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is, of course, one of the most impacted industries of the EV movement, as electric vehicles represent a significant shift in the technology and engineering of cars.

As electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, companies that specialise in the production of traditional vehicles may struggle to adapt. They’ll need to place particular focus on innovation and modernisation if they hope to compete with the rest of the EV market.

Energy Industry

It goes without saying that the energy industry will experience unprecedented demand for electricity as electric vehicles become increasingly commonplace.

The pressure to increase efficiency and capacity is likely to put pressure on many energy companies in order for them to effectively cope with the rising demand.

Charging Infrastructure

As more and more people invest in electric vehicles, the demand for charging infrastructure will rapidly increase.

Think offices, supermarkets, and shopping centre car parks. The majority of these will currently only have a few dedicated EV charging points; however, companies are going to be forced to adapt to the ever-growing demand if they want to retain both staff and customers.

Of course, the addition of extra EV charging infrastructure isn’t cheap, but it’s an essential cost that businesses will need to consider if they want to keep up with the demands of the modern consumer and workforce.

In order to save money in the longer term, however, companies can invest in solutions such as EV charging point protection which offers cost-effective impact damage prevention for such valuable assets.

Sustainability

Businesses are currently under increasing pressure to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and the rise of electric vehicles merely serves to further this cause.

By installing EV charging infrastructure, companies can not only show they care about their employees, customers, and the environment but also that they are focused on adapting to, and supporting, eco-friendly change.

At Brandsafe, we are a team of technical experts who are proud to be pioneers in superior performance, high visibility, and sustainable impact protection for the industrial workspace. To find out more about how we can help your business, contact us today to speak with our team.