COMPLAINTS. Many of the island’s speed breakers do not conform to standards laid down

COMPLAINTS. Many of the island’s speed breakers do not conform to standards laid down

Frederik Erdmann Sant Lluís10/01/11 0:00
TW
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The use of sleeping policemen or speed humps/bumps is widespread all over Menorca, particularly on secondary roads, in towns and urbanisations. But although they are effective in keeping vehicle speed down, their use remains controversial. They can increase noise and pollution for residents living in the immediate vicinity, slow the response time of emergency vehicles and – if not properly designed – cause damage to cars with low ground clearance. Moreover, speed humps that are not clearly indicated pose a hazard to bicyclists and motorcyclists. In order to prevent danger and to achieve uniform national standards, the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Ministerio de Fomento) issued a decree containing technical standards for speed humps in October 2008. The document refers to national roads, but its standards also provide guidance for speed breakers fitted on other streets.


Modifications needed

Prior to this decree coming into effect, the installation of speed humps in Spain was subject to the decision of local authorities. As a consequence, Menorcan roads are fitted with a number of different designs. The Association of Transport Companies in Menorca (Asociación de Empresas de Transporte de Menorca, ASTRAME) has now denounced the lack of modifications to humps installed before October 2008. The respective transition period ended on 31st October, but numerous speed breakers in Menorca still do not comply with current national standards. According to the Secretary Sebastian Pons, ASTRAME has repeatedly provided all town councils in Menorca with information about 'black spots' in their respective districts. In many cases this has been to no avail: the association is critical of the fact that there are still humps and bumps that are "far from meeting the requirements defined by the Ministerio de Fomento" in, for example, the Sant Lluís' urbanisations of Punta Prima, Binisafúller and Binibèquer as well as in Cala Blanes, Cala Blanca, Cala en Bosc and in Carretera Nova in Alaior. ASTRAME also points out that, prior to 2008, factors such as the permitted speed as well as the type and intensity of traffic were not taken into account when a sleeping policeman was installed. According to Sebastian Pons there is often a contradiction between the slow speed dictated by the humps and the legal speed limit of the road section they are located in. "This relationship was not taken into account", ASTRAME's Secretary said, "although it should be the first parameter to be determined". Also the impact caused by the passage of heavy vehicles remains unstudied. The Transport Companies' Association thus urged Menorca's town councils to revise all road humps with regard to the new standards.

Consell Insular support

Reacting to ASTRAME's criticism, Menorca's Transport Councillor, Damià Borràs, has confirmed that all the speed humps on roads under the Island Council's responsibility have already been adapted. The Councillor commented that, although the Ministerio de Fomento's directive referred to national roads, "if the Ministry has drafted a study about the characteristics which speed humps should have, it is the administration's task to adapt to them". He indicated that the Island Council might help Menorca's town councils to rectify some of their speed breakers. Under a special contract the Consell is in responsible for the maintenance and preservation of principal municipal roads. "We are open to collaboration with the municipalities regarding the adjustment of humps on main roads if they so wish", Councillor Borràs said, adding that no such requests have been received so far. One reason might be financial: "The installation of a speed hump costs approximately 5,000 euros; a modification requires less investment but is still expensive", Damià Borràs stated.

However, an example from the City of Derby (UK) shows that inadequate speed breakers can have an impact far beyond a few thousand euros. In 2003 the 'Speed Hump Saga' (as The Sunday Times called it) caused the downfall of a council and cost taxpayers more than £460,000 when 146 speed humps were removed after continual complaints from Derby residents.