SLEEPING POLICEMAN Meaning and
Definition
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A "sleeping policeman" refers to a type of traffic calming measure designed to slow down vehicles by creating a physical obstruction on the road. Commonly known as speed bumps or speed humps, a sleeping policeman is typically located on roads where vehicle speed needs to be reduced, such as residential areas, school zones, or areas with high pedestrian activity.
Sleeping policemen are constructed by raising a portion of the roadway, creating a flat-topped hump across the path of incoming vehicles. These humps are usually made of concrete, asphalt, or rubber, and are commonly painted with reflective yellow or white markings for enhanced visibility. The name "sleeping policeman" originates from the fact that the raised hump resembles a sleeping policeman, lying across the road.
The purpose of sleeping policemen is to force drivers to slow down and navigate more carefully over the obstruction. As vehicles drive over the raised surface, the abrupt change in elevation causes discomfort and requires reduced speed in order to traverse the bump safely. This helps to mitigate the risk of accidents, particularly in areas where speeding could endanger pedestrians or other road users.
Although sleeping policemen can be effective in reducing vehicle speed, they can also create noise, discomfort, or inconvenience for drivers and passengers. Consequently, they are typically only installed in areas where the benefits of slowing down traffic outweigh the potential drawbacks. Proper signage and road markings are crucial to alert drivers of the presence of sleeping policemen, ensuring they can adjust their speed accordingly.
Common Misspellings for SLEEPING POLICEMAN
- aleeping policeman
- zleeping policeman
- xleeping policeman
- dleeping policeman
- eleeping policeman
- wleeping policeman
- skeeping policeman
- speeping policeman
- soeeping policeman
- slweping policeman
- slseping policeman
- sldeping policeman
- slreping policeman
- sl4eping policeman
- sl3eping policeman
- slewping policeman
- slesping policeman
- sledping policeman
- slerping policeman
- sle4ping policeman
Etymology of SLEEPING POLICEMAN
The term "sleeping policeman" is primarily used in British English and is derived from the appearance and function of the traffic calming feature it describes. These features, also known as speed bumps or speed humps, are designed to slow down vehicles by creating a raised section on the road surface. The term "sleeping policeman" is a metaphorical description of the raised bump resembling a person lying down or sleeping, implying that it is a hidden danger or obstacle in the road. The use of the word "policeman" reflects the role of these features in enforcing speed limits and traffic regulations on the road.
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