A speed bump (or speed hump) is a traffic calming device consisting of a raised section of roadway designed to slow vehicle speeds in areas where pedestrian safety is a priority, such as school zones, residential streets, and parking lots. Speed bumps are higher and more abrupt than speed humps, causing greater discomfort at higher speeds. Speed humps are longer and gentler, slowing traffic while allowing emergency vehicles to pass more easily. Municipalities install these devices as part of traffic calming programs responding to resident concerns about speeding. Installation decisions consider traffic volumes, speed data, emergency vehicle routes, and community input. Some residents request speed bumps while others oppose them due to noise and inconvenience.