​   1.    Do traffic calming measures affect emergency response times?

Studies have shown that certain traffic calming measures, especially vertical measures such as speed humps and raised crosswalks, can slow fire trucks and other emergency vehicles by about 8 to 10 seconds each. This impact will be additive with a series of measures.

Transportation Services staff always endeavour to inform residents requesting traffic calming measures of their impacts on emergency response times

   2.    Do speed humps affect snow ploughing?

Speed humps and raised crosswalks are gradually sloped so that snow plough blades go over without damage to them or the pavement surface.

   3.    Do traffic calming measures affect property values?

There is no evidence to suggest that traffic calming measures either raise or lower residential property values. It is likely that for every person who feels they detract from the value of a property, there is another who feels their safety benefits add to the value of a property.

   4.    Can the speed humps on our street be made higher or lower?

Speed humps (and raised crosswalks) in the City of Vaughan are 7 metres (20 feet) long and 100 mm (4 inches) high. The Public Works Portfolio has found these dimensions to be the best compromise between being severe enough to slow most vehicles, yet forgiving enough to not unduly impact emergency response times.

   5.    Are there restrictions on the type of measures we can have on our street?

All traffic calming measures are subject to installation warrants (see Where Traffic Calming Measures Are Permitted).

Technically, speed humps and raised crosswalks should not be installed where there are curves in the road that would make them hard to see, or where they would interfere with residential driveways. The same applies to medians, curb extensions/road narrowing's and chicanes, which also affect on-street parking.

Raised intersections are difficult to retrofit into existing streets because of their impacts on drainage, and roundabouts are difficult to retrofit because of the amount of land required. For these reasons raised intersections and roundabouts are usually constructed in new developments.