Traffic calming is helpful

Some of our Salt Lake City Council members are receiving complaints about speed bumps and are considering eliminating the city's traffic calming program. I enjoyed your editorial in support of the program, although it, too, repeated a myth that the council members seem to believe.

The myth is that speed bumps force drivers onto other streets. That is simply not true. Drivers make their own decisions about where to go; speed bumps only make them slow down. The only thing a speed bump forces is a reduction in speed.

Even if the myth were true — if a speed bump does cause a thoughtless driver to stop and think about taking another route — well, then at least you have caused one thoughtless driver to actually stop and think about what they are doing.

John Barnhill

Salt Lake City