Phoenix has a speeding problem, but the only solution currently offered is the speed hump. This one-size-fits-all approach isn't enough. We deserve safer streets with options that encourage slower speeds, reduce cut-through traffic, and make walking and cycling safer.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, traffic calming measures can significantly reduce speeding, a major contributor to traffic fatalities and injuries. A broader toolbox of traffic calming strategies is necessary to address speeding and promote safety for all road users in Phoenix.

Benefits Beyond Safety

Traffic calming offers benefits beyond just reducing speed. Studies by the Department of Transportation show these measures can also:

• Encourage walking and cycling: By creating a calmer street environment, more residents will feel comfortable walking and cycling, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing traffic congestion.
• Improve air quality: Lower traffic speeds lead to fewer emissions, contributing to cleaner air for all residents.
• Enhance neighborhood livability: Calmer streets create a more peaceful and enjoyable environment for residents,fostering a greater sense of community.

We urge the City Council to explore and implement a variety of traffic calming measures, such as:

• Narrowed streets: Creating a physically tighter space for cars naturally reduces speeds and prioritizes pedestrians.
• Raised crosswalks: These clearly demarcate pedestrian zones, prompting drivers to yield and slow down.
• Diverter islands: Strategically placed medians prevent cut-through traffic on residential streets, making neighborhoods safer.
• Roundabouts: These intersections improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of serious collisions. 

Traffic calming measures become even more critical when police resources are stretched thin.

Well-designed streets take on a vital role in self-regulating traffic speeds. By incorporating features that physically narrow roadways, prioritize crosswalks, and encourage slower travel, traffic calming infrastructure can compensate for the limitations of police presence, creating a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

We urge the City Council to take action now.

Sign the petition today!

Together, we can make Phoenix a city where everyone feels safe on the road.