Today's word is definitely a new one on me - is it in common usage in the US?

I wouldn't say it's common, but I've heard it. 'Round these parts a "sleeping policeman" is usually called a "speedbump". A thank-you-ma'am is sort of a reverse speedbump -- a chunk taken out of the road rather than a bump added on.

We call potholes potholes here, too. That is, when we are not calling them <BLEEP>ing, God-<BLEEP>ed, alignment-<BLEEP>ing potholes.