Road Access for Disabled Americans

RADA brings you more speed hump links
- - from the ironic to the frightening to the bizarre.

• The United Nations requires sleeping policemen removed.
  • 'Sleeping policemen' in Mostar were removed in accordance with the United Nations deadline.
    (Press release: 29 March 1997.)
  • Kofi Annan '...the placing of "sleeping policemen" on the Bulevar by east Mostar police, ... added to tension in a city where violence has become the norm.'
    (Letter dated 5 May 1997 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council)
  • Major events of 1997 as listed in the Office of the High Representative Chronology
    '29 March
    "Sleeping Policemen" removed from the Bulevar/Donja Mahala in Mostar as requested by the OHR'

• Being rear-ended
  When speed humps cause pain, people try to copy by slowing down. Some cross the humps at idle speed. Extreme slowing creates the risk of being rear-ended. (See also: letter from Special Transit in Boulder)

• Vigilante Traffic Management
  Even able-bodied drivers can be injured by punitive bumps.

• And, if the Vigilantes Don't Slow Traffic...
  "United Arab Emirates turns to flogging, fear to cut soaring traffic death rate", The Detroit News,, November 17, 1995

• Not Only the Good Guys Rely on Humps
  "Police breakthrough in hijacking syndicate", The Swazi Observer, January 20, 1999

  "MANZINI police have made a major break-through by arresting three car hijackers in connection with the hijacking of 10 mini-buses in Manzini. The three, who are part of a syndicate believed to be run from South Africa, were arrested in October last year, after Manzini police received a tip-off from some members of the public. One of the suspects was arrested in Phongola and the rest were arrested while in the country. A reliable source said the kombis were taken at gun point in various places around Manzini and sent to South Africa where there is a big market for public vehicles. One of the kombis, according to the source was hijacked at Kwaluseni in September when its driver slowed down while approaching some speed humps. Another vehicle was taken at night at Ngwane Park in Manzini and yet another was taken at gun point while parked at Mhlaleni. It was gathered that the vehicles have not been recovered and as a result the suspects are being remanded in custody due to lack of sufficient evidence. Police Assistant Public Relations Officer, Ross Maseko also confirmed the theft of the public vehicles.

  "He said some kombis owners did report the incident at the police station and that police were investigating the incidents.

  " 'I am not in a position to comment any further since this might prejudice the complaints and disturb our investigations,' he said.

  "One of the kombi owners expressed concern about manner the police were handling the investigations.

  " 'The evidence is there, but police are failing to action the incident promptly,' said the worried kombi owner, who preferred to remain anonymous.

  " 'Some of the suspects have already appeared before court and are being remanded in custody due to lack of evidence. What was gathered was that the suspects were linked to a certain hijacker based in South Africa, but local police officers have not made any attempt to arrest him. What worries us most is that not a single kombi has been recovered to date.'

  "Other kombi owners have implicated some senior police officers in the theft of kombis and bribe scandals.

  "However, Maseko refused to comment on the matter."

• Frightening the animals...
  "TRAINER SAYS NOISE STARTLED ELEPHANTS INTO RUNNING AWAY", Saturday, August 30, 1997, Page 4B, Portland Press Herald online archive
  "Noise from a passing UPS truck startled two African elephants at the York Wild Kingdom Zoo on Thursday, and `they bolted,' elephant trainer Sam Qudsieh said Friday. Cally, 16, and Tonya, 13, had just begun their daily walk in the woods for some grazing about 11:15 a.m. Thursday when the truck entered zoo grounds, said Qudsieh. The truck hit a speed bump, causing some packages to rustle around and make noise. That sent the two huge pachyderms running."

© Rada Project, 1998
November 27, 1998