Editorial: Bumps are a small price for our safety

New speed bumps planned for Clayton Road. Photo / Stephen Parker

Work is about to get under way to "calm" Clayton Rd traffic - but the result may do little to calm some impatient drivers.

The new traffic calming measures consist of four new speed bumps - bringing the total along the busy road to 12.

The goal is to improve safety, reduce average speeds and respond to complaints about speeding made by locals.

At least one resident has spoken out against the plan, saying there are already enough bumps on the road and calling them a waste of council money.

According to Google Maps, Clayton Rd is 4.4km long. By my calculations that's on average one speed bump about every 360m on average.

While some may think that's excessive, let's weigh up the pros and cons.

Even with eight bumps trying to slow down drivers until now, the average speed along the road, according to the council, is 57km/h.

Fifteen per cent of drivers go 63km/h or faster, they say. In a 50km/h zone that is significant, especially given there are several schools and playcentres on or near the road.

The council says locals have been complaining about speeding on the road so, combined with the speed records, there is clearly a problem.

If the experts believe four more bumps will succeed where the other eight didn't - which is what it boils down to - then great. At least the council is responding to concerns.

Yes it may be annoying, having to slow down 12 times along one road, but if it means the street is safer for our kids then a few seconds added onto a journey home seems a small price to pay.