Speed bumps are generally installed to slow the speed of traffic in residential areas and school zones. While they force cars to move at a slower pace, they can create problems for emergency vehicles, large trucks and buses.
Speed bumps generally deter non-mandatory traffic on residential streets, encouraging those drivers to choose alternative routes. On the negative side, cars often slow down very quickly to avoid bounding over the speed bumps, which leads to the endless sound of squealing brakes.
A major shortcoming of speed bumps is that the materials they are made of break down often, requiring costly repairs.
Speed bumps are usually made of plastic, metal or rubber. Metal speed bumps can damage large trucks or emergency vehicles but last longer than other materials. Plastic and rubber speed bumps do less damage but generally need to be replaced more frequently.
Speed bumps are not the same as speed humps, as the latter features a gradual incline while the former have a steeper incline.
