Here’s a cool gadget by designers Jae-yun Kim & Jong-Su Lee that is still in the concept stage. It’s pretty much an intelligent speed bump. We’ve all been on the road, spotted a speed bump, and ended up slowing down to a crawl to save the shocks on the car and to prevent the noggin from bumping on the ceiling.
The intelligent speed bumps being proposed would help avoid these problems. The theory behind them is that the speed bumps would contain retractors that open only when the impact is small. The speed bumps could be configured to meet a specific need but as an example, a low impact collisions under 30 km/hr would cause the speed bump to collapse and the vehicle could go on his way without having to slow down to a crawl. Collisions over 30 km/hr would keep the retractors closed and the speed bump would not collapse.
It’s a great concept, put another way, ““Encouraging drivers to retain a constant slow speed will reduce the amount of stops and starts made, and thus, the amount of exhaust waste from the car. It is hoped that this retractable speed hump would therefore have positive effects on energy consumption and pollution.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of.
You’re negating the point of a speed bump, to slow down drivers.
By leaving no consequence for those that drive too fast, you are essentially leaving a punishment for those that are careful drivers to begin with.
Hi Eric
These speed bumps being proposed actually reward slow drivers and punish fast drivers.
If you’re driving slow, below the speed limit preset on the bump, the speed bump will collapse and you an maintain your normal speed and won’t need to slow down.
If you’re driving fast, the speed bump will not collapse and the impact with the speed bump will be harsh.
Hence, these speed bumps reward slow drivers, those driving below the limit set and it also punishes fast drivers.