Understanding Berms vs. Speedbumps: More Than Just Road Features
When navigating through different Oregon landscapes or driving in urban environments, you might encounter what seem like similar raised bumps or humps of asphalt on the ground: berms and speedbumps. However, these features serve distinct purposes and have significant differences in design, function, and application.
Berms:
Berms are essentially raised bumps or mounds of asphalt designed to (especially in the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington) divert water. We often put them along flowerbeds to keep the water on, but moving down the asphalt. This prevents erosion in undesired areas along the driveway or parking lot.
Speedbumps:
Made of asphalt, Speedbumps sometimes call speed humps are traffic slowing devices specifically engineered to slow down vehicle speeds in high pedestrian areas or where traffic needs controlling for safety reasons:
- Traffic Control: Their main function is to reduce speed in areas like school zones, residential neighborhoods, or parking lots. By making drivers slow down, they help prevent accidents and protect pedestrians.
- Design: Speed Humps are generally larger than its little cousin the speedbump. Speed humps usually are 8-10 feet from the highest point tapering down to nothing. Speedbumps are smaller, typically 3 to 4 inches high and extend across the road for a short distance. They are usually made from durable materials like asphalt or concrete, designed to be felt by vehicles but not cause significant damage.
- Uniformity: Unlike the diverse shapes of berms, speedbumps adhere to specific dimensions to ensure they are effective yet not excessively disruptive to vehicle suspension.
Key Differences:
- Purpose: While berms serve multiple landscape and environmental functions, speedbumps are strictly for traffic management.
- Size and Placement: Berms can be large and varied, placed in numerous contexts beyond roads, whereas speedbumps are small, uniform, and road-specific.
- Impact: Speedbumps physically compel vehicles to slow down, whereas berms might not affect vehicle travel unless they intersect with roadways.
- Aesthetic vs. Safety: Berms often contribute to the beauty or function of an area, while speedbumps focus purely on safety.
In summary, while both berms and speedbumps elevate from ground level, their roles, designs, and impacts on our daily lives are quite distinct. Understanding these differences can enhance our appreciation for the thoughtful planning that goes into both our natural landscapes and urban environments.
