OTTAWA — The City of Ottawa is piloting a new form of optical traffic calming measures in the city’s Alta Vista neighbourhood.
The virtual speed humps are flat, thermoplastic road markings that create an optical illusion, appearing raised or 3-D to drivers as they approach, giving the impression that speed humps lie ahead.
The speed humps cost significantly less than traditional ones, and they also have a wider potential application than physical speed humps, which are not suitable for all roads, indicates a release issued by the City of Ottawa.
The two thermoplastic humps for the pilot cost the city approximately $3,500.
The location was chosen based on resident feedback anticipating more traffic in the area as the Elmvale Shopping Centre undergoes a major redevelopment.
City staff will monitor speeds to see if the humps help slow drivers down.
If they do and they’re cost effective, the city will consider adding them to its inventory of traffic calming measures, states the release.
To prevent a parked car from obscuring the illusion, one on-street parking space has been removed until the pilot project ends in August 2019.
London, England piloted several optical traffic calming measures in 2014 and 2015 and found the 3-D speed humps to be effective at slowing drivers, adds the release.
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