New borough joins revolt against 'sleeping policemen'

CROYDON council is scrapping a series of road humps. It says it decided to remove the traffic calming measures after a survey found 95 per cent of residents were against them.

The move comes after Barnet began ripping out "sleeping policemen" in 2002 after an outcry by motorists.

Barnet later reported that accidents in the borough had fallen nearly 15 per cent, saying drivers were no longer tempted to speed in roads without humps in order to make up for time lost on those with humps.

Today motoring experts claimed the change in policy by some London councils was spearheading a nationwide move that would signal the end for the road hump.

"Once, putting in road humps seemed the most effective way to slow motorists down," said Elizabeth Dainton, of the RAC Foundation.

"But now we are seeing authorities deciding to take them out again. They have found that they disintegrate and become unsightly, and that they are very expensive to maintain in good condition.

"This is the death knell for the road hump. They are not doing what they are supposed to do and there is a backlash."

Croydon said humps at Galpins Road, Norbury, and Hayes Lane, Kenley, would be removed.