Dunlop Transcalm

Innovative traffic calming for the 21 st century


Transcalm™ is the first and only responsive traffic calming device to target speeding motorists and not all motorists.

Transcalm™ is made of rubber and contains a patented valve system. Drivers travelling at the appropriate safe speed will not have to adjust their speed to cross Transcalm™ as the open valve allows the unit to deflate and affords the vehicle a comfortable passage.

If a driver fails to comply with the safe speed the valve closes, air is retained in the unit and the vehicle occupants experience increasing discomfort as the vehicle crosses Transcalm™ at higher speeds.

In addition a special override facility in the valve allows buses and heavier emergency vehicles to cross Transcalm™ without subjecting their passengers or crew to the discomfort normally associated with solid humps.

Positive Speed Control

Following a three-year trial for the City Corporation in the City of London, Transcalm™, which has been developed in association with the Universities of Cambridge and Manchester, has proved it is a traffic calming solution that people can live with.

Transcalm™ controls vehicle speeds and saves lives. It has significant advantages over conventional solid road humps. It encourages drivers to travel at the appropriate safe speed to suit the road environment.

The Transcalm™ design is aesthetically pleasing and well suited to all sites. The current reference site is a high class business park which has welcomed Transcalm™ as a highly effective high tech solution to calming traffic on their architect designed block paved roads.

Environmentally friendly – using recycled rubber in its components and by encouraging steady state driving Transcalm reduces vehicle emissions and fuel consumption

Benefits

There is considerable hostility to solid road humps for a number of very valid reasons. Transcalm™ solves the problems associated with traditional road humps and has none of their disadvantages. The facts speak for themselves


Transcalm is better for...

... Controlling and encouraging constant driving speeds
It discourages the erratic ‘stop/start’ pattern of driving associated with road humps

... Cars
Its rubber housing is soft and deflates and will not damage the underside of vehicles travelling at the appropriate safe speed

... The environment
It reduces vehicle emissions significantly because vehicles are able to maintain a constant speed as they travel across the device. It encourages safe driving

... Buildings
It reduces ground borne vibrations from vehicles passing over the device, compared with solid road humps

... Buses
It can be used in bus lanes and on bus routes, without damage to buses or causing discomfort to bus drivers or passengers

... Drivers
It allows a comfortable ride for drivers and passengers when their vehicle travels at or below the appropriate safe speed

... Emergency Services
Response times are not increased because the Transcalm™ allows fire engines and ambulances passage with little discomfort irrespective of their speed

... Visibility
As it is highly visible it encourages drivers to control their speed and road position. At the same time it is aesthetically pleasing and suitable for all locations

... Installing and Maintaining
Using a patented technique, the device can be installed within half a day and can be exchanged or removed for adjustment within twenty minutes, minimising disruption to the public

... Even more Locations
It can be installed where other traffic calming devices are unacceptable such as on vital bus routes or sensitive roads near hospitals and schools and hear homes.

Improving Road Safety


Transport for London has calculated that 1,400 deaths and serious injuries in London could be prevented each year if a new 20 miles per hour speed limit was enforced on 60% of the capital’s roads.

Statistics from the Department of Transport show that for each 1 mile per hour reduction in speed, there is a 5% drop in accidents causing injury.

Transcalm™ can be adjusted to encourage vehicles to comply with a 20 miles per hour speed or whatever safe speed is selected.

Helping The Emergency Services

The London Ambulance Service estimates that 500 lives are lost each year due to increased response times, which they attribute to slowing down and traversing solid road humps.

Dunlop Transcalm™’s patented solution will save lives. Ambulances and fire engines will be able to cross the device with little discomfort, irrespective of their speed.

Minimising Pollution

Solid road humps cause a massive increase in air and noise pollution. A Transport Research Laboratory study conducted emissions tests on roads with a 75-metre road hump spacing. This found that the resulting ‘stop/start’ pattern of driving:

- Increased hydrocarbons emissions by 70-100%
- Increased CO2 emissions by 50-60%
- Increased CO emissions by 70-80%

By eliminating the pattern of driving that causes these increases, the Dunlop Transcalm™ will reduce pollution in our towns and cities.

Technical Information


Transcalm complies fully with “The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999”. It can therefore be used with conventional signing.

Transcalm is bi-directional and can be fitted with white directional chevrons or any other road markings.

Transcalm is available in two fixing styles, either with its own concrete foundation, or as a bolt down unit for surface mounting onto suitable road pavements.


Technical Details

1- The key features of Transcalm are the two deflatable rubber housings, one in each wheel track and each containing its own patented valve system.

2- The deflatable housings consist of reinforced rubber canopies over silicone rubber cylinders which house the valves. The surface is skid resistant and gives excellent abrasion resistance. The unit is operational over a temperature range of between -20°C and 65°C. It also provides good resistance to ozone, oil and petrol and is an effective fire retardant.

3- Air is released to permit controlled deflation from the unit through a patented calibrated valve. The valve is easily interchangeable to provide for different speed settings.

4- Transcalm is produced in two sizes which suit the majority of traffic lane widths. In addition, bespoke sizes can be made to order.

- Type 2 is 900mm in its traffic length with an overall transverse width of 3260mm

- Type 4 is 900mm in its traffic length with an overall transverse width of 2560mm

- Both Type 2 and Type 4 units have a height of 80mm above the road surface.


5- The concrete foundation model is mounted on a 200mm reinforced concrete slab made of 50N pavement quality concrete in accordance with the Highways Agency’s specifications (Approx weight 2100 to 2600kg). It comes complete with recessed spherical head lifting anchors and an optional metal trough to allow for locations where the humps may need to be removable.

6- The surface mounted model is mounted onto a modular rubber base which has the same profile as the concrete unit. The base is recessed 40mm into the road surface and it is recommended that the unit is fixed using resin anchor bolts and these can be provided if required.

Documents

DUNLOP TRANSCALM - BROCHURE - 2009

TRANSTHUMP - PRODUCT DATA SHEET 2009

DUNLOP TRANSCALM - PRODUCT DATA SHEET 2009