As it’s Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety event, we want to talk to you about what road safety systems you can implement to help reduce speed around the workplace.
Founded back in 1997 by Brake, Road Safety Week is an annual event to raise awareness about road safety systems and promote steps that everyone can take to stop these needless deaths and injuries year-round.
Their aim is to inspire thousands of schools, organisations and communities to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages during the Week and beyond.
It also provides a focal point for professionals working in road safety to boost awareness and engagement in their work.
Every year is a new theme and the theme for 2020 is ‘NO NEED TO SPEED’, as a reminder to everyone of how the speed they travel affects other people.
With traffic management systems being a core part of our product base, we are well versed on the risks and dangers associated with speeding, especially around the workplace.
Safety, after all, is our number one priority, and in support of Road Safety week 2020, we take a look at 3 speed-reducing road safety systems for the workplace. Making it a safer environment for both visitors and employees.
Speed bumps
A speed hump (also called a road hump, or undulation, and speed ramp) is a traffic calming device designed to reduce vehicle speed in residential areas, car parks and workplace environments.
The aim of the speed hump is to reduce driver speeds down to 10–15 miles per hour over the hump, and 25–30 miles per hour between a series of humps.
Vehicles can pass over a speed bump easily, and can safely maintain speeds of 15–20 miles per hour. Unlike the alternative speed bump, which is a more aggressive option requiring drivers to come to a virtual stop to travel over them.
Speed humps are better suited for local roads, car parks and work environments where low speeds are preferred but full stops are not necessary.
According to the Traffic Choices BS1 vertical treatments, such as speed humps, are expected to reduce accidents by around 44%.
Our range of speed ramps and humps are compressed and moulded here in the UK and designed to calm and manage speed in and around the workplace. Making them a got-to traffic safety solution for a lot of our customers.
Flexible bollards
Flexible bollards are manufactured from a durable, flexible material like moulded flexible polyurethane and designed to help control traffic movement. Unlike solid core bollards, flexible bollards, or delineators will bend under impact and return shape, reducing the risk of damage to vehicles.
Flexible traffic bollards are ideal for helping to guide and slow down traffic by creating a narrowing effect and clearly delineated lanes. They work especially well in enclosed traffic spaces, like loading bays or commercial access routes.
Because they can withstand repeated vehicle impact without losing their shape, flexible bollards are ideal for high-traffic areas, like underground tunnels, pedestrian walkways and car parks.
Ordinary plastic bollards will get bent or flattened over time from repeated vehicle impacts. So a robust flexible bollard will provide you with a more robust barrier, which will ensure a much longer performance life and reduced maintenance.
We supply a wide range of flexible bollards to suit most situations, from parking bay signage to traffic guideposts. Each one available in a range of colours and dimensions.
Wheel stops
Also known as curb stops or parking blocks, wheel stops are the small barriers used at the end of parking spaces.
They are used to assist drivers with parking their vehicles and prevent vehicles from being parked on walkways and other restricted areas.
Wheel stops can also provide a barrier between parking bays to prevent accidental collisions and drivers speeding through car parks.
By physically obstructing a car’s wheels, they will stop drivers from attempting any risky manoeuvres.
This prevents damage to buildings, pavements, landscaped areas and other vehicles. And provides protection for other vehicles, such as forklift trucks when operating in factories and warehouses.
All Safe Industrial wheel stops are moulded in the UK from recycled truck tyres. And are designed to be suitable for both HGV, HLGV and domestic vehicles.
Reducing the speed your workers and visitors can drive around your car parks and other outdoor spaces is of paramount importance.
Any vehicles, particularly large industrial vehicles, have the potential to be a serious hazard around the workplace. Installing speed bumps, flexible bollards and wheel stops to high traffic zones will help to keep the traffic speed down and prevent accidents from happening.
If you would like to find out how you can make the roads and car parks around your workplace safer, you can email our support team on [email protected] or call 01344 596240.