Speed Hump or Speed Cushion

A speed hump or speed cushion is a raised section of pavement that calms traffic and slows speeds by providing vertical deflection. A speed cushion is the same as a speed hump, but it provides cutouts that allow emergency vehicles and bikes to pass unaffected.

San Francisco, CA (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.)	British Columbia, Canada (Wikimedia Commons, Richard Drdul, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

• Increase safety (speed management)
• Typical Applications
• 1-2 lane residential roadway, spaced 150’ to 200’ apart

Material Options

• Striping and Surface Treatments
  • Demonstration
    • Sidewalk chalk
    • Cornstarch paint
    • Traffic tape
    • Tempera paint
    • Spray chalk
    • Spray paint
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Acrylic traffic paint
    • DLPM
    • Epoxy Gravel
    • Thermoplastic
• Other
  • Demonstration, Pilot or RAPID Projects 
    • Temporary rubber speed humps or cushions

Design Considerations

• Warning pavement markings and/or signs are typically placed in advance of a speed hump or cushion
• Do not place in front of driveways or other major access points
• Maintain proper drainage and ability to access for street sweeping
• Where applicable, maintain bicycle lane access around or through speed humps

Other Considerations

• City of Orlando: Report Speeding in Your Neighborhood
• City of Orlando: Steps of a Traffic Calming Study

Other Resources

• City of Orlando Speed Hump Detail
• City of Orlando Speed Cushion Detail
• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide: Speed Hump
• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide: Speed Cushion