New technologies are providing effective new ways to calm traffic and improve neighborhood safety. A growing number of cities are finding that radar speed signs (or reader speed boards) offer several advantages over other traffic-calming options:

• Effective: They have been found to be particularly effective around neighborhood streets, school zones, parks and other single and double lane traffic environments. Research also shows that their traffic calming effect lasts well after the signs have been removed.
• Mobile: They can be placed permanently or moved from location to location - This makes this solution particularly attractive to cities with limited budgets. Now a single Reader Speed Board can be used in multiple locations.
• Inexpensive: Not only can a single sign be placed in multiple locations but they can run off of AC or solar power so installation costs can also be kept low.
• Versatile: These signs can be placed in a variety of locations. Since they don't obstruct emergency vehicles, they can be used on streets where speed bumps can not. The signs can also be set to display various speeds at different times of the day (for instance, just before and after school).

The city of Portland, Oregon recently launched a Reader Speed Board Program for its neighborhoods. Citizens concerned with speeding traffic can request that the city temporarily erect a radar speed sign on their street. Once up, the signs not only serve to slow traffic but they also collect traffic data that can be used to determine other possible traffic calming options. Since they are mobile, the reader boards can be moved to various locations as needed.

Information Display Company, manufacturers of the radar speed signs used by the city of Portland, simultaneously launched a program to support the city's reader speed board initiative. Under this program, the company provides discounts for those requesting permanently mounted radar speed signs (click here to learn more). The company has also expanded the program to make it easy and cost-effective for neighborhoods and organizations across the nation to place radar speed signs in needy locations throughout the country (click here for more information). For more information on this program, you can contact IDC at 800-421-8325.