Impact of vertical traffic calming devices on environmental noise

Abstract

Increasing numbers of people living in urban areas are being exposed to harmful action of environmental noise, which severely affects their health and quality of life. The predominant source of environmental noise in such areas is road traffic, and a frequently used measure to curb down this noise involves reduction of driving speed. The influence of vertical traffic calming devices, normally used to improve traffic safety, on the degree of noise reduction, is analysed in this study. The analysis was carried out on seven urban two-lane two-way roads, on which various types of speed bumps and speed humps are installed.