Between 2010 and 2023, 3,992 pedestrians and cyclists were hit by motor vehicles, leading to 35 deaths. Campus safety is of utmost importance to our community, and traffic safety does not get the attention it deserves. As Brown community members are exposed to busy streets around the College Hill area, they are at the risk of becoming victims of poor traffic management.
The roads around Brown’s campus must be improved to ensure the safety of the campus community and those near it: It’s time for Brown to push the City of Providence to install speed bumps near and on campus.
As of now, there are not adequate speed reduction measures around the Brown campus. In 2025 alone, there have been fifteen accidents on College Hill. Other parts of Providence have already made an effort to combat speeding — South Providence and Elmhurst have implemented speed-reduction programs that use speed bumps or humps. A similar program on College Hill is vital to protecting Brown students, who primarily walk and bike to destinations all over campus.
Speed bumps have been proven to be an effective tool in reducing vehicle speeds, with one study citing a 10 mph drop after implementation. Reducing speed is vital, as at higher speeds, drivers are not able to react in a timely manner, increasing the likelihood of an accident. It has also been proven to reduce child pedestrian injuries in residential neighborhoods. The cost-benefit ratio of implementing speed bumps is impressive — along with a low-cost and service life of several years, speed bumps are relatively easy to install. For a small cost, Brown can significantly improve safety.
While some may vouch for more extensive projects like speed trap cameras or increased policing, speed bumps offer a simple yet effective solution to our traffic problems. Speed bumps provide a non-avoidable enforcement method, unlike camera systems, which can be bypassed with plate covers and vandalism. Additionally, increased policing may divert vital manpower from other police response efforts.
Traffic safety is a part of campus safety. It’s time to quash the problem of driving behaviors such as speeding before a student gets hurt or worse. Why should our safety stop at the exit of our building’s doors? The first step to achieving this is with a capital investment in campus speed bumps. After all, it’s a small price to pay for such a large safety dividend.
Ryan Spinney GS and Neel Rehayee GS are Master of Public Affair students. They can be reached at ryan_spinney@brown.edu and shafiqa_rehayee@brown.edu. Please send responses to this op-ed to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
