Explore the various sections to gain detailed insights into specialized traffic signals, speed control measures, speed limits, and essential safety guidelines for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. Additionally, you'll find comprehensive historical traffic and accident data. These resources represent a key component of the efforts made to enhance safe mobility throughout Mesa.
The term "Traffic Calming" is used to describe methods of altering motorists' behavior to suit the character of a particular neighborhood. These methods share the goal of reducing vehicle speeds, improving safety and enhancing quality of life.
The need for traffic calming stems from an increase in complaints about traffic on neighborhood streets. Traffic calming is accomplished in three primary ways: education, enforcement, and engineering.
- Education - Educating the public is the first step. We help residents understand the source of the problem by providing traffic data for their area and supplying information on how traffic systems and regulations define various solutions. In addition, public education efforts can help drivers understand their impact on traffic management and safety.
- Enforcement - Traffic enforcement is stepped up to see if that will calm speeders. You can request increased police enforcement in a given area by submitting a Traffic Enforcement Request or calling 480-644-4760. An officer will be assigned to enforce your specific need(s). Other speed mitigation programs are currently available for Mesa residents to get involved in reducing speeds in their neighborhood. These are the Speed Trailer and Block Watch Program.
- Engineering - If education and enforcement efforts do not solve the problem, engineering design changes can be evaluated. Traffic calming includes simple street design features that cause motorists to drive with more care; to drive more slowly; or, perhaps, drive via another route. All these approaches can be considered when designing a traffic calming plan. Speed humps are the only traffic calming measure Mesa currently employs. Additional information can be obtained by calling 480-644-2160.
Speed Control Tools
Speed Humps
Speed humps are traffic calming tools that slow vehicles down on residential streets. They are uniform, across the entire street and can feel abrupt if approached too fast. The average speed at the base of a speed hump is 18 mph. The challenge with speed humps is that they slow emergency vehicles down and cannot be installed on Mesa Fire Department access routes.
Speed Cushions
Speed cushions are the answer to neighborhoods that have a problem with speeding and are also on a Mesa Fire Department access route. Speed cushions have gaps in between them that an average car cannot straddle but a fire engine or ambulance can. Many vehicles maneuver speed cushions with one tire on the cushion and the other in the gap. The challenge with speed cushions is that they do not slow traffic down as much as speed humps. The average speed at the base of a speed cushion is 21 mph. But for many neighborhoods, speed cushions are the only option.
Speed Cushion details & projects
Roundabouts
A modern roundabout is a type of circular intersection (without traffic lights) where traffic flows almost continuously in one direction around a central island. Roundabouts are engineered to maximize safety and minimize traffic delay. The Arizona Department of Transportation provides information about the use of roundabouts and safety tips for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Mesa Speed Limit Map
Realistic speed limits are a traffic engineering tool used to derive the best traffic service for a given set of roadway conditions. This summary explains what realistic speed limits will do, what they won't do, and how they are established.
Why speed limits?
Since most can be relied upon to behave in a reasonable manner as they go about their daily activities, many of our laws reflect observations of the way reasonable people behave under most circumstances. Traffic regulations are invariably based upon observations of the behavior of groups of motorists under various conditions.
Generally speaking, traffic laws that reflect the behavior of the majority of motorists are found to be successful, while laws that arbitrarily restrict the majority of drivers encourage wholesale violations, lack public support, and usually fail to bring about desirable changes in driving behavior. This is especially true of speed zoning.
Speed zoning is based upon several fundamental concepts deeply rooted in our American system of government and law.
- Driving behavior is an extension of social attitude, and the majority of drivers respond in a safe and reasonable manner as demonstrated by their consistently favorable driving records.
- The normally careful and competent actions of a reasonable person should be considered legal.
- Laws are established for the protection of the public and the regulation of unreasonable behavior on the part of individuals.
- Laws cannot be effectively enforced without the consent and voluntary compliance of the public majority.
Public acceptance of these concepts is normally instinctive. However, the same public, when emotionally aroused in a specific instance, will often reject these fundamentals and rely instead on more comfortable and widely held misconceptions, such as:
- Speed limit signs will slow the speed of traffic.
- Speed limit signs will decrease the accident rate and increase safety.
- Raising a posted speed limit will cause an increase in the speed of traffic.
- Any posted speed limit must be safer than an unposted speed limit, regardless of the traffic and roadway conditions prevailing.
Before and after studies consistently demonstrate that there are no significant changes in traffic speeds following the posting of new or revised speed limits. Furthermore, no published research findings have established any direct relationship between posted speed limits and accident frequency, although short-term reductions have resulted from saturation enforcement efforts directed at speed and other traffic law violations.
Police agencies necessarily rely on reasonable and well recognized speed laws to control the unreasonable violator whose behavior is clearly out of line with the normal flow of traffic.
Contrary to popular belief, speed in itself is not a major cause of accidents. In fact, there is a consensus of professional opinions that many speed-related accidents result from both excessively low and high speeds.
It is accepted within the traffic engineering profession that there is a demonstrated need to produce as much uniformity as possible in the traffic flow and to eliminate the so-called speed trap. A speed trap may be defined as a street or road which is wide enough, straight and smooth enough, and sufficiently free of visibility limiting obstructions to permit driving a certain speed, but where the law nevertheless calls for a much lower speed.
Realistic speed limits:
- Invite public compliance by conforming to the behavior of the majority.
- Give a clear reminder of reasonable and prudent speeds to non-conforming violators.
- Offer an effective enforcement tool to the police.
- Minimize the public antagonism toward police enforcement which results from obviously unreasonable regulations.
Unrealistic speed limits:
- Do not invite voluntary compliance, since they do not reflect the behavior of the majority.
- Make the behavior of the majority unlawful.
- Maximize public antagonism toward the police, since the police are enforcing a "speed trap."
- Create a bad image for a community in the eyes of tourists.
How realistic speed limits are established
Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 28-702 allows the establishment of speed limits on the State Highway System "upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation." Speed zoning in Arizona is based on the widely accepted principle of setting speed limits as near as practicable to the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers are traveling. This speed is subject, of course, to downward revision based upon such factors as: accident experience, roadway geometrics, and adjacent development. Some questions which need to be answered prior to establishing a speed limit are:
- Is the section of roadway sufficiently long enough to permit safe accelerating and decelerating for the 85th percentile speed?
- Is the alignment, both vertical and horizontal, capable of safely accommodating vehicles traveling at the 85th percentile speed?
- Are the lane widths, traffic volumes, and surface conditions compatible with this speed?
- Will a vehicle traveling at the 85th percentile speed be capable of making a safe and smooth stop, if necessary?
- Has a pattern of accidents developed which would indicate that the 85th percentile speed is not appropriate?
- Is a certain speed limit necessary to provide signal progression?
- Is development adjacent to the roadway causing a significant amount of turning maneuvers or congestion?
Engineering Judgment
One of the most important factors in a speed study, but the one most difficult to define, is engineering judgment based on the experience of the traffic engineer. No matter how complete policies and guidelines are, there will always be speed studies with peculiarities requiring engineering judgment. Sometimes, the decision to raise or lower a speed limit in a certain area may have to be based on the traffic investigator's own personal judgment. In some remote areas, where there is insufficient traffic for a valid speed sample, the traffic investigator may have to base his decision on a driving impression of the speed study area.
In the final analysis, it is the engineering judgment of the investigator that determines which, if any, of the factors in the speed study warrant a downward adjustment to the 85th percentile speeds. After all variables are considered and a speed limit is established, traffic should flow at an optimum safe and efficient level.
How do I find the volume at a given intersection?
These maps show the average weekday volume (number of vehicles) in thousands per 24-hour period. To find the traffic volume at a given intersection, add together the numbers north, south, east, and west of the intersection and divide by two. For example, the volume at Southern & Alma School is 34.9 + 21.1 + 41.4 + 19.9/2 = 58.65 or 58,650 vehicles per day.
ADA Prioritization Plan(PDF, 3MB)
Bike & Pedestrian Program
Valley Metro Passenger Safety
Safe Kids Coalition of Maricopa County
Regional Training
Brochures
Educational brochures also are available in limited quantities to Mesa residents for neighborhood education and distribution. Master copies of educational materials are also available for copying.
Tips for Pedestrians
- Cross where there are signals or crossing guards whenever possible.
- At the signal, cross only when the "walk" signal is displayed.
- Check for traffic before stepping into the crosswalk, staying alert for turning vehicles, vehicles running the red light, and drivers who might not have seen you. Do not start to cross until all traffic has stopped.
- Be careful around driveways. Even though you are on the sidewalk, a vehicle turning in or out of the driveway must cross the sidewalk and the driver might not be aware of pedestrians.
- At crossings without signals, cross the street one lane at a time. Cross into the next lane only when it is absolutely safe to do so.
- Before stepping out to cross, first look left, then right, then left again to check for any traffic.
- Never assume the next lane will stop or that a driver sees you just because the lane you are crossing has stopped. Often when a vehicle stops, it blocks the view of the pedestrian for drivers in other lanes.
- Be very careful around ice cream trucks. It's exciting to buy a treat but keep your mind on crossing the street safely.
- Be extra careful when you get off a bus, making sure to carefully look for traffic before crossing.
- Parents, walk the routes to school with your children. Show them the proper places to cross and how to stay safe. Do the same for other walking routes your children use.
- If possible, avoid walking and crossing the street in the dark. If you must do so, wear brightly colored or reflective clothing.
Tips for Drivers
- Wear sunglasses to avoid glare. Keep your windshield and glasses clean.
- Remember that all corners have crosswalks. Some are painted on the streets or indicated by signs, but most are unmarked. A crosswalk still exists there, even when unmarked.
- Remember, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, even if the crosswalk is unmarked.
- Look for pedestrians stepping out from between parked cars. Where there are lots of parked cars, there will likely be pedestrians.
- Drivers see motion first. When you see a motion, even from the corner of your eye, look to see what moved.
- Look for pedestrians before you enter or exit a driveway. This is when you cross the sidewalk where pedestrians walk. Since they're on the sidewalk, they might be less alert than when crossing streets.
- Clear all blind spots to be sure there is no one around. Don't assume no one is there until you check.
- Use side windows to look around you before backing up. Checking mirrors is not enough.
- Look all around your vehicle, all the time. Keep your eyes moving.
- Take special care around ice cream trucks that stop for children. The excitement of buying a treat can distract a child's attention from traffic. Be careful and drive slowly when you see one of the ice cream vendors.
- Take extra care around buses, especially school buses.
- Sure, people who cross outside of crosswalks are jaywalkers and they are in the wrong. But that doesn't make them targets. Stay alert and watch out for such people. You want to protect yourself from all accidents.
- Teach your family about pedestrian safety. Walk with them to where they cross streets, so you are sure they are using the safest routes and know how to watch out for themselves.