Traffic calming measures are implemented to make streets safer and more livable by slowing down traffic, reducing vehicle volumes on a street or network, and improving safety for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. They aim to balance mobility with safety and quality of life, rather than simply maximizing vehicle throughput. Key purposes include:

• Lowering speeds to reduce crash severity and frequency
• Reducing conflict points between vehicles and non-motorists
• Improving safety and comfort for walking and biking
• Enhancing neighborhood livability and public space
• Managing traffic volumes to discourage cut-through driving in residential areas

Common approaches include geometric changes (like narrower lanes, curb extensions, and chicanes), vertical measures (speed humps, raised intersections, and rumble strips), horizontal measures (bike boulevards, road diets that reduce the number of through lanes), and better-signed or textured treatments (tertiary traffic calming with landscaping, street art, or distinctive pavement textures). These measures often rely on self-enforcing design and driver expectations to achieve slower speeds and safer behavior without heavy enforcement. If you’d like, I can tailor this explanation to a specific context (e.g., a residential neighborhood, school zone, or urban business district) or summarize evidence on effectiveness from major guidance sources.