Traffic calming involves changes of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of vehicles in the interest of street safety, livability, and other public purposes.

As traffic calming techniques often differ, techniques include police enforcement and education only in some areas. In others, it means the employment of speed humps only, while in others it means the possible use of a wide array of techniques and devices.

Traffic calming goals include:
• increasing the quality of life
• incorporating the preferences and requirements of the people using the area (e.g., working, playing, residing) along the street(s), or at intersection(s)
• creating safe and attractive streets
• helping to reduce the negative effects of motor vehicles on the environment (e.g., pollution, sprawl)
• promoting pedestrian, cycle and transit use.

Traffic calming objectives include:
• achieving slow speeds for motor vehicles
• reducing collision frequency and severity
• increasing the safety and the perception of safety for non-motorized users of the street(s)
• reducing the need for police enforcement
• enhancing the street environment (e.g., street scaping)
• encouraging water infiltration into the ground
• increasing access for all modes of transportation
• reducing cut-through motor vehicle traffic

Examples of Traffic Calming Measures
Devices and Techniques	Descriptions
Bike Lanes	A portion of a roadway which has been designated by striping, signing, and pavement markings for the prefer- ential or exclusive use of bicyclists.
Bulbouts/Neckdowns/Chokers	Curb extensions at intersections that reduce curb-to-curb roadway travel lane widths.
Center Islands	Raised islands located along the centerline of a roadway that narrow the width at that location.
Chicanes/Lateral Shifts	Curb extensions that alternate from one side of the roadway to the other, forming s-shaped curves.
Closures (cul-de-sacs)	Barriers placed across roadways to completely close through vehicle traffic.
Diverters	Barriers placed diagaonally across an intersection, blocking certain movements.
Forced Turn Lanes	Raised islands located on approaches to an intersection that block certain movements.
Median Barriers	Raised islands located along the centerline of a roadway and continuing through an intersection to block cross traffic.
Realigned Intersections	Changes in alignments that convert T-intersections with straight approaches into curving roadways meeting at right angles.
Roundabouts	Barriers placed in the middle of an intersection, direct- ing all traffic in the same direction.
Speed Humps	Rounded raised pavement devices placed across road- ways to slow and/or discourage traffic
Speed Tables/ Textured Pavement/Raised Crossings	Flat-topped speed humps often constructed with a brick or other textured material to slow traffic