Johnston Police roll out temporary speed bumps

Reports of reckless driving in Johnston’s residential neighborhoods have increased, and the Johnston Police Department has purchased and installed several temporary speed bumps to make the streets safer.

Residents throughout the town have stated that speeding on residential roads has become a serious issue. According to Chief Joseph Razza, the department gets complaints daily about reckless driving, and there have been numerous citations and warnings issued to offending drivers.

“This initiative, in conjunction with directed speed enforcement, is a highly effective measure to ensure public safety on our local streets as the speed bump is designed to slow vehicles to one to two miles per hour upon approach,” said Razza.

Last October, the Johnston Police Department conducted a pilot program that featured the installation of temporary speed bumps in problem areas. The first speed bump, installed on Cavalcade Boulevard, was monitored by officers for its effectiveness in controlling traffic.

“The speed bump on Cavalcade Boulevard proved to be highly effective in not only curtailing speed, but it also reduced the amount of cut through traffic on this highly traveled residential street,” said Razza.

Seeking to build off the success of the pilot program, the department invested in additional temporary speed bumps, made of high-strength recycled rubber, to install on local two lane roads. The department plans to leave the bumps in problem areas throughout the fall, eventually removing them in the winter so crews can plow during snow season.

“The temporary speed bumps will be deployed on streets in the town that we have had continued and repeated complaints of speeding, and that have not responded to directed speed enforcement campaigns,” said Razza.

In June, the Johnston Town Council also adopted an ordinance to establish criteria and procedures for the installation of the temporary speed bumps.

“The temporary speed bumps can be requested through a neighborhood petition or the town can install a speed bump if it deems it necessary to address public safety concerns,” said Razza. “In either instance, the police department will conduct a comprehensive traffic study to determine feasibility.”

Razza says the devices will be placed on streets with various traffic volume to determine their impact. The department will also take residents’ feedback into consideration when placing the speed bumps. 

Each speed bump, purchased from Barco Products, is a cost effective measure, the chief said, and is worth the expense as towns across the state saw a significant increase in speeding during the pandemic. Installation and removal of the bumps is quick, taking less than an hour to complete.

Chief Razza said the department will continuously monitor their data to determine if the speed bumps should be moved, and if additional or permanent ones are required in the future.

“Going forward, we will be looking at other measures to curtail speeding throughout our residential districts, and in the coming weeks we will be testing a less aggressive speed calming device,” said Razza. “We will determine if the device is durable enough and has the same effectiveness at reducing vehicular speed and cut through traffic.”