Retractable Speed Bumps

Mexican firm Decano Industries has developed a speed bump that remains in place when a vehicle that is moving too quickly is about to drive over it, but retracts when a slow-moving vehicle approaches. Christ Hawley writes in USA Today:

"With this speed bump, people will feel rewarded for obeying the law," says Carlos Cano, the company's president.

The technology is relatively basic: The speed bump is formed by two steel plates that form a triangle sticking out of the pavement. When a car tire touches the plate, a patented device under the triangle measures the force of the impact.

If the tire's impact is gentle enough — that is, if the vehicle is traveling slowly — both plates immediately collapse into the ground under the weight of the car.


Link via DVICE | Image: Sergio Solache, USA Today

Love the concept, but I have to agree with this statement:

["I think they'll get stolen, or they'll break because the government doesn't maintain anything," says Marielena Ramírez, 27.]

mmmmm, patented devices.
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This is an awesome idea! I'd also like to see a video. Although Johnny Cat's comment (or quoted comment) is probably true. Not necessarily stolen, but definitely poorly maintained. Although you could use them in apartment complexes and such where they are privately maintained.
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So long as my vehicle can take it, I dont like to give speed bumps the satisfaction. I dont want people getting the idea that speed bumps slow people down.
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If these Mexican speed bumps are anything like Mexican cops, you will have the option of slipping them a few pesos to just stay down no matter how fast you are driving.
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I've always maintained that all speed bumps do is annoy drivers so they go that much faster on the other side. Not to mention increase road rage and provide a distraction.
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This could wreck havoc on the Mexican economy--at least in my driving experience in Sonora, Mexico. In smaller towns, they have speed bumps that are very long--so you end up driving over them slowly enough so those people living in town can try to sell you stuff like shrimp that have been in sealed plastic bags in the hot sun for hours.

What will these people do when collapsible speed bumps are installed?
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Real smart. Put a barrier in front of a car that you think is going too fast. The faster the higher. Who do I sue when this abomination wrecks a tire or suspension part? How about the poor schmuck who gets hit when my car goes out of control with the aforementioned front end damage?
Down with speed bumps!
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I'm with Biker Ray. Besides, how many times have you seen a driver zoooooooom up to the speed bump, practically stop to go over it, and then zooooooooom away again.

Alignment-wrecking evil things.
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