Communities outside city limits in Larimer County that want safer neighborhoods may use different traffic calming measures to improve safety for all types of transportation. Below are some of the most common measures people ask for to make neighborhoods safer, slow down traffic, and create a friendlier environment:
Type | Purpose | Use | Funding Source | Engineering Study Required | Consensus Required | Effect on Safety |
| Speed Humps & Raised Crosswalks | To reduce vehicle speeds by creating a physical obstacle that forces drivers to slow down or to elevate the crosswalk above the street level, making it more visible to drivers and encouraging them to slow down. | Commonly placed in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as near schools or parks | Neighborhood | Yes | 65% | Reduction in vehicle speeds, improved pedestrian safety |
| Post Speed Limit or Lower Speed Limit | To inform drivers of road conditions, speed limits, and pedestrian crossings, helping to promote safer driving behavior | Frequently requested in neighborhoods with heavy pedestrian or cyclist traffic | County maintained subdivisions: County Non-county maintained: Neighborhood | Yes | No County Engineer Determination | Installing speed limit signs is beneficial Lowering speed limits without consistent enforcement has little effect on travel speeds |
| Stop Signs | Stop signs assign right-of-way at intersections and should not be used for speed control | Control traffic at intersections | County | Yes Multi-way stops must meet minimum warrants | No County Engineer Determination | Improves safety at intersections but does little to control speed |
| Radar Speed Signs | To provide immediate feedback to drivers about their speed, encouraging them to slow down if they're exceeding the limit. | Typically placed in areas with speed limits that are often ignored or where speeding is a recurring issue | Short term: County Long term: Neighborhood | Yes | HOA and Road Board Approval or 65% of property owners | Limited. Drivers may tend to ignore the feedback over time and may only influence driver behavior near the sign location |
| Roundabouts & Mini-roundabouts | To encourage slow and consistent vehicle speeds at intersections, reducing the likelihood of serious crashes | Typically used at smaller intersections or areas where stop signs or traffic lights would disrupt traffic flow | Neighborhood | Yes | No | 90% reduction of fatal crashes and 75 % reduction in injury crashes |
These measures can be combined in various ways to create a safer, more community-oriented environment, where residents feel empowered to address safety issues on neighborhood streets and promote a greater sense of security and well-being for all types of road users.
