Call for speed bump redesign to cut pollution

The recommendation comes in the form of draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). The guidance is currently under consultation, but when finalised, it is hoped its recommendations will be incorporated by local authority road designers.

According to the guidance, motor vehicles account for 64% of air pollution at urban motoring sites.

The consultation is asking for views on a range of ideas to promote smother driving, rather than stop and start driving.

The consultation suggests that in urban areas where speed reductions are needed, 20mph zones are better than stop-go measures such as speed bumps. Where speed bumps are needed, it says design must “ensure they are designed to minimise sharp decelerations and consequent accelerations”.

It argues that on motorways and major roads, variable speed limits and average speed technology promotes smoother driving. This could incorporate real-time information to tell drivers what the current optimum driving speed is.

“Traffic-related air pollution is a major risk to the public’s health and contributes to health inequalities,” said Nice guideline committee chair professor Paul Lincoln.

“The Nice guidance sets out a strategic range of evidence based practical measures to encourage low or zero emissions transport. This is very timely given the imperative to meet EU and national air quality standards.”

Other recommendations include using signs that display a driver’s speed to reduce unnecessary accelerations, “no-idling” zones particularly around schools, and more distance between cycle and other traffic lanes – possibly with dense foliage to screen the two in a way that does not reduce street ventilation.