What does the term "traffic calming" refer to?

The term "traffic calming" refers specifically to techniques used to reduce vehicle speeds to enhance safety. This concept is aimed at creating a safer environment for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, by implementing design strategies that make driving less conducive to high speeds. Examples of traffic calming measures include speed bumps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and road narrowing. By slowing down vehicles, traffic calming effectively reduces the likelihood of accidents and improves the overall safety of streets, particularly in residential or high pedestrian activity areas.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the purpose of traffic calming. For instance, strategies for increasing road width or creating more lanes typically aim at accommodating more traffic rather than addressing speed and safety concerns. Measures to improve air quality, while important, do not specifically pertain to the concept of traffic calming and focus more on pollution control rather than traffic management and speed reduction.