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27 January 2003: The UK Transport Research Laboratory has come up with a synthetic road surface called Rippleprint which could replace some current traffic calming systems.

It is designed to slow vehicles by creating extra discomfort and noise for car occupants, but does not increase disturbance for bystanders or residents.

Tests so far have shown that noise levels in a family saloon can be increased by 15 decibels with the system. That is the equivalent of half-inch traditional ‘rumble strips’.

And a number of test sites using the new device indicate drivers drop their
speed by 3mph, while the number breaking the speed limit has halved. But residents and pedestrians have noticed no increase in noise.

At one site there has been one accident in nine months of Rippleprint, against 13 over the previous three years.

	January 2003 - by Bill Trapman
New traffic calming system 27 January 2003: The UK Transport Research Laboratory has come up with a synthetic road surface called Rippleprint which could replace some current traffic calming systems. It is designed to slow vehicles by creating extra discomfort and noise for car occupants, but does not increase disturbance for bystanders or residents. Tests so far have shown that noise levels in a family saloon can be increased by 15 decibels with the system. That is the equivalent of half-inch traditional ‘rumble strips’. And a number of test sites using the new device indicate drivers drop their speed by 3mph, while the number breaking the speed limit has halved. But residents and pedestrians have noticed no increase in noise. At one site there has been one accident in nine months of Rippleprint, against 13 over the previous three years.
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