Judder bars.
South suburbs of Chicago, speed bumps. In fact, there was a youngster I knew back in the day who was once run over by a motorcycle. After that, his nickname was Speed Bump.
Around here,the common practice is to call them all “speed bumps” although I understand the speed bump is shaped more like a low curb and the speed hump is a lower, wider object.
Speaking of humps, I can’t help thinking of Alanis Morissette being funny.
When I was in college working at Domino’s we called them “Lowrider Abatement Structures”. Several of of our drivers were members of a Filipino car club and had to park on the street between runs.
Another Chicago area person saying “bumps”. I sometimes, though rarely, hear “tables” for the wide flat ones but most people call 'em all “speed bumps”. Never hear anyone say humps.
Minnesota says bumps.
In southern New Mexico, they are usually called “speed bumps”. My dad liked to call them “sleeping policemen”, which is apparently British Empire slang that he picked up in World War II.
I don’t think I’ve heard or seen anything other than “speed bumps”; though it’s possible that I’m so used to “bumps” that my head automatically translates somebody saying “speed humps” into “bumps”. I don’t think I’ve seen “speed humps” written because my mind wants to think of that as some sort of quickie. (I’m relieved to see that I’m not the only one in this thread who saw that meaning of “hump”.)
I’m 99.9% sure that I’ve never seen “speed tables” and don’t think I’d have known what it meant; so thanks for the info, now I’ll know.
Thank you also, for the new word!
I knew the concept, but didn’t know the word for it.
I have an intense fear of speed bumps, but I’m slowly getting over it.
A speed bump is a small traffic barrier meant to slow cars.
A speed hump is $25 on 82nd street.
Whether or not there are signs saying “Speed Hump” in Chicago, I can tell you, as someone who’s lived in the area for 30+ years, I never hear that term spoken by locals – they are pretty much invariably called “speed bumps,” regardless of the technical term, IME.
Same as Downtown!
Sure. I’ve never heard anyone call them that though when talking. As in, no one actually says “Shit, my car hit a speed hump…”
But are they bactrian humps or dromedary?
Where does a camel keep his thoughts? In a drome-diary!
I now return you to your normal thread.
Chicago area (well, I’m in Chicago itself, but reporting for the area) – speed humps are the wide things. Bumps are the narrow and much more annoying things. But, as reported, in local parlance, I hear “bumps” close to 100% of the time. I have heard “speed humps” in the wild, but the usual term is just “bumps” for either type. ETA: Maybe it’s more like 90% of the time. I guess those “Speed Hump” signs – and there’s a lot of them here – have influenced it, as growing up, I had never heard that term.
ETA2: Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “Speed Bump Ahead” sign, only “Speed Hump Ahead.” But speed bumps tend to be located mostly in alleys, at least around here. Also, I can’t find any rhyme or reason as to when there is a sign posted as to their presence. It seems rather arbitrary.
Page 32 here (PDF page 17) shows the difference between speed bumps and speed humps.
From this antipodean perspective the two terms are technically different. But the vernacular may be interchangeable.
Speed humps are low, wide and have complex contours. Typically sited in the middle of streets and thoroughfares. They are higher in the middle than on the sides. They are wider in the middle than the sides. You should be able to drive over a speed hump at the proscribed speed limit without undue effect. Because of the contouring, if you hit one above the limit the effect on the drivers side is much more significant than the passenger side. So the most effective navigation strategy is to bear ever slightly towards the kerb.
Speed bumps are semi circular and parallel to the road. The are typically at the entrance to residential streets where through traffic is to be discouraged. To navigate them you need to be well below the speed limit. They are effectively low concrete walls with rounded tops and they shake up the passenger as much if not more than the driver because the tendency is to steer the vehicle to the middle and hence the passenger front wheel hits the concrete ahead of the drivers.
In practical usage speed bumps is the generic for me and accommodates all types, while speed hump is specifically the wider ones. Speed bumps can also mean the narrow type depending on the context (to differentiate the type).
I’ve always thought of the broad low ones as “normal speed bumps” and the narrow high ones as “evil American speed bumps”.