The Centre for Active Transportation

Traffic calming can take a variety of forms. The most common type in Toronto are speed humps.  However, there are many other types of traffic calming that may be appropriate for your street. These include traffic circles, curb extensions, or other measures.

We recommend keeping an open mind. Councillors and City staff will have experience with a number of traffic calming solutions and can advise what will work best on certain streets. Here are a few examples of specific traffic calming treatments:

Speed HumpsCurb Extensions

1. Speed Humps

2. Curb Extensions
Speed humps are used to slow cars to a speed of about 30km/h in their direct vicinity.Curb extensions make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the street by shortening the distance from curb to curb.
A ChicaneRaised Pedestrian Crossing

3. Chicanes
4. Raised Pedestrian Crossings or Intersections
Chicanes are a series of alternating midblock
curb extensions that create extra turns
along a road to slow traffic.		Raising a section of the roadway to the height
of the sidewalk slows vehicles and makes it
easier for pedestrians to cross the street.
RoundaboutTraffic Diversion

5. Traffic Circles
6. Traffic Diversions
Traffic circles limit a driverʼs speed when
passing through an intersection, and ensure
safer turns.		A traffic diversion lowers the volume of
cars by restricting motor vehicle access
while allowing pedestrians and cyclists to
travel through.
Median Island

7. Median Islands
Median islands separate opposing
directions of traffic, and can slow traffic by
briefly narrowing the roadway.

Want more ideas?  Check out these Other Safety Measures that also have the effect of slowing down traffic.

Guide to Safer Streets Near Schools