Speed cushions coming to slow down cars in west Las Vegas valley neighborhood

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — A special method of slowing down drivers is coming to a west valley neighborhood. They're called speed cushions, and they allow for certain kinds of vehicles to pass through unaffected.

They're coming to a stretch of Tenaya Way near Rainbow Family Park. The City of Las Vegas Traffic and Parking Commission voted to approve their installation, scheduled for late next year.

Instead of one long speed hump that goes along the width of the road, speed humps are divided into three different sections and that's by design.

For most cars, going over the cushion is unavoidable. A study for the city of Las Vegas's Public Works Department says this can bring down speeds from 20% to 25%.

The split in the middle is for emergency vehicles like fire trucks. Their wider wheelbases allow them to shoot through the gap and maintain speed to get to emergencies quickly.

For regular cars the most that can sneak through is one side of the car.

The cushions will be just down the road from Rainbow Family Park, which Nick Butera frequents for walks. He's on board with the cushions slowing down drivers.

"That's a good thing. Always. Anytime there's kids around, that's a good thing," Butera said.

The Traffic and Parking Commission also discussed bringing the cushions to the roads leading into the park, but decided to hold off on approving them after some public comment about motorcycles being able to skirt past them.

The Traffic and Parking Commission will discuss those speed cushions around Rainbow Family Park at their next meeting.