Humps, not bumps, on most streets

Denise Cardinal

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:27 a.m.

Speed hump or bump?

Even though the signs read "BUMP," the proper term is hump.

A speed bump refers to a taller, smaller and more severe extension of the road, usually used in parking lots. Speed bumps are designed to force the driver to almost stop in order to get over the bulge without damaging the vehicle.

A speed hump is used on a roadway to slow down drivers to about 25 mph. They protrude less, and are usually more rounded than the speed bump.

Neither should be confused with the road table, which is a wider speed hump that is flat on top, and usually doubles as a walkway.

For instance, McCarran International Airport has road tables, Campbell Drive has speed humps and grocery stores have speed bumps.

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