chicanes

Chicanes are sections of road or racing circuits that introduce a rapid change of direction, typically a sequence of tight turns in alternating directions designed to slow vehicles. The term originates from the French chicane, meaning obstacle or decoy, and has been adopted in English to describe such deliberate diversions in both traffic management and racing.

In road design, chicanes slow traffic and increase lateral displacement, improving pedestrian safety and reducing accident risk at intersections or mid-block locations. They can be permanent features, created by offsetting carriageways with curb islands, parked vehicles, or barriers, or temporary devices such as traffic cones or portable barriers used in construction zones or events. Permanent chicanes may include a pair of offset curves that force drivers to steer left then right within a short distance.

In motor racing, a chicane is a deliberately engineered slow-down zone placed along a straight or high-speed section. It replaces a straight or long bend to reduce speeds before a critical corner, test driver braking, and influence overtaking opportunities. Chicanes vary in geometry from simple right-left pairs to more complex multiple-corner sequences, and they may be permanent track features or temporary installations for events.

Chicanes require careful design to balance safety, drainage, and drivability. Poorly executed chicanes can increase rear-end collisions or instabilities; well-designed ones tend to improve safety by reducing speeds and smoothing traffic flow.