A claim that speed bumps discriminate against women, the young and old and poorer people failed to convince a group of councillors.
Inverkeithing councillor David Dempsey tried to put the brakes on the installation of cushions in the town’s King Street, claiming they cause more damage to smaller cars which are more likely to be driven by those groups of driver.
But Fife Council’s South West Fife area committee over-ruled his objection and approved the introduction of the traffic calming measures. Mr Dempsey had argued that the cushions had no effect on large vehicles.
Ahead of discussion by the committee which he was barred from taking part in due to his objection Mr Dempsey said: “I noted that smaller cars tend to be driven by the young, the old, the less well-off and women and that speed cushions discriminate against these groups.”
However, the committee also heard that residents were continuing to complain to police about speeding traffic in King Street. A survey in June found that four out of five drivers travelling east exceeded the 20mph limit.
Council technician engineer Lesley King told the committee: “Speed cushions have been shown in a number of studies to reduce vehicle speeds. Vehicles travelling over speed cushions at appropriate speeds should not suffer damage.”