Traffic Calming Policy

Publication Date: 
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Traffic calming is the use of mainly physical traffic management techniques to reduce the impacts of traffic on neighbourhood communities and other public facilities such as parks, school areas and community centres. Traffic calming has been used in North America to:

  •  Improve neighbourhood liveability;
  •  Increase road user safety; and
  •  Promote urban redevelopment.

Various industry groups, agencies and municipalities may define traffic calming in slightly different ways, but almost all definitions have common themes of reducing vehicle speeds, improving road user safety and improving neighbourhood quality of life.