You may have noticed these small bumps cropping up across the city, at some of DC's busiest intersections.
These bumps along with posts, are the district's newest "left turn calming" intersections.
An effort to get drivers making a left turn to slow down, but for some, the new bumps have left walkers and drivers confused.
WUSA9 went to I Street and 13th Street, NW, today, one of 12 locations of these new left turn calming areas. What the areas are meant to do is force drivers to do a tighter run and also force them to slow down. This is achieved through posts, or bollards, and small raised bumps in DC's busiest intersections.
This is part of DC's Mayor's Vision Zero initiative to make roads safer. But Tuesday, car after car just drove over the bump.
"Honestly, I don't think they're even thinking about it," said one walker. In New York City, these left turn calming areas have decreased pedestrian injuries by 20%. But in New York there is also yellow paint to guide drivers, something missing from the I and 13th Street location. Walkers say with no guidelines or signage, the bump and posts are confusing.
When we inquired with DC's Department of Transportation about the lack of yellow paint guidelines, this was their response:
DDOT is also evaluating traffic operations at the initial locations to gauge benefits and identify areas for improvement at the future installations. Preliminary observations indicate reduction in left-turning speeds and elimination of crossing over double yellow lines of oncoming traffic.
Treatment differs from intersection to intersection. The per intersection cost ranges between $5,000 to $10,000.
Over the next two years, 85 intersections will get this treatment.