Evaluating The Impacts of Speed Bumps on Pavement Condition

Speed bumps are a common traffic calming measure used to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety. However, installing speed bumps without adherence to recommended standards can lead to additional problems, such as increased wear and tear on both vehicles and the road surface. This study investigates the impacts of speed bumps on Pavement Condition Index (PCI), focusing on surface roughness, cracking, and rutting. For this purpose, five asphalt-paved roads in Benue State were selected, including Makurdi–Aliede, Gboko-Ugbema, Makurdi-Gboko, Vandeikya-Tsar, and SRS–JOSTUM Southcore. Each site was divided into sections, and PCI values were calculated based on various distress types such as longitudinal cracking, block cracking, and rutting. The results indicated significant pavement deterioration near the speed bumps, with PCI values dropping to 18 on the Makurdi–Aliede road and to 10 on the Gboko-Ugbema road in sections directly after the bumps. Rutting was found to be the dominant distress type, particularly in the sections closest to the bumps. However, the effect of speed bumps on PCI values was minimal on the SRS–JOSTUM Southcore road, where traffic is lighter and dominated by smaller vehicles. These findings suggest that careful consideration should be given to the design and installation of speed bumps, especially on roads with high traffic volumes, to prevent accelerated pavement deterioration.