‘traffic calmers’ are basically obstructions such as sleeping policemen, cushions and chicanes designed to slow down traffic especially in rat runs.
While they may calm traffic they don’t always have this effect on drivers.
[ok, so how many of you now have a strange mental image of English roads strewn with coppers slumbering on nice soft pillows? Does my clarification still require translation? ;-)]
Firstly, a vote of thanks to the big chief for asking what a traffic calmer is, saved me having to.
Secondly, GrimmaTheNome, yes, I’m afraid, for this Canadian at least, your clarification does require translation.
What is a ‘chicane’
what is a ‘rat run’ shudder (could it be what we call a cattle chute? A narrow piece of road to drive on while the road is under construction.)
We call that black and yellow thingy a speed bump, but they’re permanently placed, not just for construction areas.
A sleeping policeman is the colourful name for a speed bump. If they’re made of ashphalt or brick paving they are permanent. The metal ones are also permanent when found at the entrances to car-parks.
A ‘rat run’ is a ‘short-cut’ through a residential area that has been discovered by commuters and the rats use it as if it were a main thoroughfare regardless of the danger to children, residents, schools etc. Where possible, they are blocked off at one end.
The “road calmers” in the vicinity of my house made it almost impossible to drive. It caused our transmissio to bang on them violently, and shake up the driver and passengers.. A little complaining by a few of us got them removed and new ones that were much lower were installled…these helped slow down the traffic…the original intent, without the cars and people being pounded.
The Mr. and Mrs. might want to make a similar complaint.
Sleeping policemen can also be a moveable obstacle like the black and yellow one in the cartoon above but more the size of metal conduit cut in half length-wise. They can be put into the road to slow traffic (cars have to drive around them) and removed when traffic doesn’t need to be slowed.
I don’t blame Fred for that stupid bumps and potholes on the roads. I have the same thing what Fred has been through like that. Too many potholes and bumps on the streets hurt my car very sensitively. Ouch! :-/
Seems to me it was a Frenchman who designed the roads in Washington DC. ….
There is a place in northern VA, with a sign preceding a bunch of speed bumps which says
“speed tables ahead” Always wondered who came up with that.
But the alltime best was a sign on the at the entrance of a construction site on the American Legion Bridge over the Potomac.
It said -
“Construction ahead - Prepare for instant aggravation”
COWBOY7 about 14 years ago
Hang on to those ears!
And just where are you guys going, Fred?
BigChiefDesoto about 14 years ago
It’s those dang roads built by that Frenchman Detour!!
BigChiefDesoto about 14 years ago
By the way, for you English reading this, what the heck are “traffic calmers”?
GrimmaTheNome about 14 years ago
‘traffic calmers’ are basically obstructions such as sleeping policemen, cushions and chicanes designed to slow down traffic especially in rat runs.
While they may calm traffic they don’t always have this effect on drivers.
[ok, so how many of you now have a strange mental image of English roads strewn with coppers slumbering on nice soft pillows? Does my clarification still require translation? ;-)]
Cymbol about 14 years ago
Firstly, a vote of thanks to the big chief for asking what a traffic calmer is, saved me having to. Secondly, GrimmaTheNome, yes, I’m afraid, for this Canadian at least, your clarification does require translation.
What is a ‘chicane’ what is a ‘rat run’ shudder (could it be what we call a cattle chute? A narrow piece of road to drive on while the road is under construction.)We call that black and yellow thingy a speed bump, but they’re permanently placed, not just for construction areas.
g.iangoodson about 14 years ago
A sleeping policeman is the colourful name for a speed bump. If they’re made of ashphalt or brick paving they are permanent. The metal ones are also permanent when found at the entrances to car-parks.
A ‘rat run’ is a ‘short-cut’ through a residential area that has been discovered by commuters and the rats use it as if it were a main thoroughfare regardless of the danger to children, residents, schools etc. Where possible, they are blocked off at one end.
Chicane:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicane_%28disambiguation%29 http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
An artificial barrier or turn. A trick.
BuzzDog about 14 years ago
Sounds like people don’t need the definitions for various names used for what I call “speed bumps.”
Sounds like people DO need to be introduced to websites such as Google and Wikipedia! :)
annette143NotMe about 14 years ago
4 the past 2 days I AM NOT GETTING MY FRED BASSET IN EMAIL! WHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
silverstate about 14 years ago
The “road calmers” in the vicinity of my house made it almost impossible to drive. It caused our transmissio to bang on them violently, and shake up the driver and passengers.. A little complaining by a few of us got them removed and new ones that were much lower were installled…these helped slow down the traffic…the original intent, without the cars and people being pounded.
The Mr. and Mrs. might want to make a similar complaint.
imrobert about 14 years ago
Sleeping policemen can also be a moveable obstacle like the black and yellow one in the cartoon above but more the size of metal conduit cut in half length-wise. They can be put into the road to slow traffic (cars have to drive around them) and removed when traffic doesn’t need to be slowed.
Wildmustang1262 about 14 years ago
I don’t blame Fred for that stupid bumps and potholes on the roads. I have the same thing what Fred has been through like that. Too many potholes and bumps on the streets hurt my car very sensitively. Ouch! :-/
ellisaana Premium Member about 14 years ago
Seems to me it was a Frenchman who designed the roads in Washington DC. ….
There is a place in northern VA, with a sign preceding a bunch of speed bumps which says “speed tables ahead” Always wondered who came up with that.
But the alltime best was a sign on the at the entrance of a construction site on the American Legion Bridge over the Potomac. It said - “Construction ahead - Prepare for instant aggravation”