Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Go slow and be rewarded with flat speed bumps]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/go-slow-and-be-rewarded-with-flat-speed-bumps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/go-slow-and-be-rewarded-with-flat-speed-bumps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/go-slow-and-be-rewarded-with-flat-speed-bumps/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We happen to know of a housing development in Southern California that recently had its central road repaved. Out went the crumbling asphalt and nasty old speed bumps, and in went shiny new black pavement... and an additional helping of nasty new speed bumps. The paving company had actually doubled the number of bumps, presumably in an attempt to slow down traffic through this residential area. What actually resulted was cars now speeding up even quicker and slowing even faster between the bumps, wasting gas, wearing out brakes and putting out more emissions in the process. Too bad they didn't know about these new speed bumps from the fertile minds of designers Jae-yun Kim and Jong-Su Lee.

These sleeping policemen actually flatten when the vehicle is traveling the speed limit, but stay upright when someone is speeding. The new design uses a small damper inside to flatten out when a car drives over it at low speed, but higher forces from a faster vehicle keep it upright, causing a nasty jolt. To make them more visible than your typical speed bump, they're outfitted with LEDs all around. The designers say their goal was to encourage drivers to maintain a constant slow speed, reducing the amount of stops and starts made, and thereby the amount of exhaust pollution from the car. The world's first green speed bumps? These are just a concept for now, but hopefully someone will put them into production soon, and bring them to So. Cal.

[Source: Engadget]

Go slow and be rewarded with flat speed bumps originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jae-yun kimJae-yunKimjong-su leeJong-suLeespeed bumpspeed bumpsSpeedBumpSpeedBumpsFri, 12 Dec 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Philadelphia using 3D illusions of speed bumps to slow traffic]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/philadelphia-using-3d-illusions-of-speed-bumps-to-slow-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/philadelphia-using-3d-illusions-of-speed-bumps-to-slow-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/18/philadelphia-using-3d-illusions-of-speed-bumps-to-slow-traffic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



When is a speed bump not a speed bump? When it's a faux traffic calming device merely painted on the road. Philadelphia is trotting out "Drive CarePhilly," a program that simultaneously gets a raspberry for its name and its execution. The aim of the effort is to slow down speeding drivers, and one technique involves a tromp l'oeil ruse to make drivers go "What the heck is that?" and slow down. Philadelphia's traffic manager Charles Denny apparently thinks the plastic material laid down at some intersections looks like a hump in the roadway; whatever you say, chief. While not convincing as a speed bump, the appliques definitely catch attention, and might work briefly until drivers on their regular route get wise. Our low opinion of this boondoggle is shared by sharp-witted Fark commenters, who offer alternate scenarios on this program's success. It's good that they're trying something, though, even if we've added heat instead of light to the discussion. Thanks for the tip, Scott!

[Source KYW 1060]

Philadelphia using 3D illusions of speed bumps to slow traffic originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drive carephillyDriveCarephillyfake speed bumpfake speedbumpFakeSpeedbumpphiladelphia speed bumpphiladelphia speedbumpphiladelphia trafficPhiladelphiaSpeedbumpPhiladelphiaTrafficphilly speed bumpphilly speedbumpphilly trafficPhillySpeedbumpPhillyTrafficspeed bumpSpeedBumpWed, 18 Jun 2008 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Speed bump to end all speed bumps]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/video-speed-bump-to-end-all-speed-bumps/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/video-speed-bump-to-end-all-speed-bumps/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/video-speed-bump-to-end-all-speed-bumps/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As annoying as speed bumps can be, sometimes they're a necessary evil that can help keep speeds down in areas with high pedestrian traffic. Some would even like to install the bone-jarring rim benders on side streets to keep young folk from driving with reckless abandon in residential areas. A Deutsch-speaking, Volvo-hating CGI specialist decided to put his imagination to the test by coming up with a commercial with the "perfect" speed bump. The special effects look about as real as the tooth fairy, but it's kinda funny anyway. We have no idea what these European YouTube stars are saying, but we're guessing it has something to do with hating young kids who drive too fast. Hit the jump to view the 1:09 video in its entirety, and if you speak German, please tell us why they keep showing us video of their flowers.

[Source: Gizmodo]

Continue reading VIDEO: Speed bump to end all speed bumps

VIDEO: Speed bump to end all speed bumps originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gizmodospeed bumpSpeedBumpVolvoyoutubeWed, 28 Nov 2007 10:03:00 EST