Are there laws governing the size of speed humps?

Are there laws governing the size of speed humps?

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Discussion

airportparking

Original Poster:

1,314 posts

176 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
quotequote all
My friend goes to a local college and recently they have installed an almighty massive speed hump, so big that even standards cars like his micra cant get over without bottoming out and clipping the front bumper, can they do this? As every car that goes over gets scraped, its just bad design as its to short and tall, the carpark isnt free either students are charged £70 per year for the plesure

Riley Blue

22,230 posts

240 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
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Not laws as such but I had some speed bumps reduced in size because they didn't conform to height, angle and size regulations, Google 'The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1996', I think they're still current.

Edited by Riley Blue on Saturday 7th July 17:34

Red Devil

13,282 posts

222 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
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http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1025/conte...
Whether any 'roads' within the college grounds are a highway for the purposes of the Act I'm not sure.

If the humps are generally causing damage to vehicles even if driven at walking pace then I suggest this should be taken up with the college. If enough people are affected then they need to present a united front and, if necessary, consider legal action.

streaky

19,311 posts

263 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
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Riley Blue said:
Not laws as such but I had some speed bumps reduced in size because they didn't conform to height, angle and size regulations, Google 'The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1996', I think they're still current.

Edited by Riley Blue on Saturday 7th July 17:34
Such Regulations are 'law'.

Streaky

Riley Blue

22,230 posts

240 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
quotequote all
streaky said:
Riley Blue said:
Not laws as such but I had some speed bumps reduced in size because they didn't conform to height, angle and size regulations, Google 'The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1996', I think they're still current.

Edited by Riley Blue on Saturday 7th July 17:34
Such Regulations are 'law'.

Streaky
Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn...

Prof Beard

6,669 posts

241 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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I complained some years back about the speed bumps at my university (which were outside the regulation dimensions etc) and pointed out that I would claim for a new exhaust system on my car if it came off when crossing them. They were changed...

philip600

216 posts

188 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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I often wonder about the height of speed humps. My car ( Lotus Esprit S4s ) is unmodified as far as the ride height is concerned yet there are roads in my local area that I know I cannot drive along due to my car scrapping said speed humps or the only way around is to wait until the other carriageway is clear & drive along the middle to straddle the humps.
There's even some around here that you can miss completely if you drive down the middle of the roads which often people do even if there are cars travelling in the opposite direction, crazy !
Some of the humps must be 150 - 200mm high & also quite a severe ramp leading up to them, my friend works in a local motor factors & they love them as they sell literally hundreds of springs to customers whoes cars have been damaged !
If you drive along roads you don't know it's more of a problem as you often cannot avoid them causing damage to my front spoiler & sometimes the underside of the car. How can they get away with this, I pay my VED yet am restricted to what roads I can drive along. I may be incorrect but I thought speed humps where designed to stop cars speeding not slow them down to a crawl, i.e. if the speed hump is on a 30mph road you should be able to drive over the hump at 30mph without damage ?
Also what cost to the environment ( & our pockets ) do these humps have, causing cars to slow down & accelerate uses far more fuel than driving at a constant speed ?
Phil.

Baron Greenback

7,373 posts

164 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
quotequote all
There is no law on size of speed bumps on private land! The quote above is the law only on public highways. The owner of the private land does have liabilty to damage to people entering property. All speed bump should be sign posted and speed the driver should drive too. If the user does go within the speed limit and ride hieght of the car is sensible then the owner of the land could be liable.

Prof Beard

6,669 posts

241 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
quotequote all
Baron Greenback said:
There is no law on size of speed bumps on private land! The quote above is the law only on public highways. The owner of the private land does have liabilty to damage to people entering property. All speed bump should be sign posted and speed the driver should drive too. If the user does go within the speed limit and ride hieght of the car is sensible then the owner of the land could be liable.
Quite possibly true, but the OP was talking about a University/College and most campus roads are "public spaces" with through traffic, buses, etc

Riley Blue

22,230 posts

240 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
quotequote all
Baron Greenback said:
All speed bump should be sign posted and speed the driver should drive too.
Can't say I've ever seen a recommended speed next to speed bumps.

grumpyscot

1,291 posts

206 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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Our company installed speed humps at the entrance to the car park. We told the Admin manager they were too high, but he wouldn't listen. Then one of the executive ripped off the front skirt of his 911, then the next guy - a senior manager - mashed his exhaust and cat - cost the company £1800 to repair.

The humps were soon sorted!

Crippo

1,292 posts

234 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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There is a single hump as you come into Knighton in Wales. next to it is a traffic seperator (if thats what they are called). The only way I can proceed is to stop, turn right onto a wide pavement, drive 20 or 30 m along the pavement where I can rejoin the road.
Safety measures....the irony is beautiful!

Pontoneer

3,643 posts

200 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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airportparking said:
My friend goes to a local college and recently they have installed an almighty massive speed hump, so big that even standards cars like his micra cant get over without bottoming out and clipping the front bumper, can they do this? As every car that goes over gets scraped, its just bad design as its to short and tall, the carpark isnt free either students are charged £70 per year for the plesure
If your friend isn't happy about the damage being done to his car , he might succeed with a claim with regard to the first time he drove in unaware of the hazard , but to drive in subsequently he would have known and accepted the risk of damage .

There is nothing compelling him to use the car park : he and all other affected drivers should simply park on the public road outside the college , no matter what congestion arises , and continue to do so in protest until the humps are amended .

Boosted LS1

21,199 posts

274 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
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Riley Blue said:
Can't say I've ever seen a recommended speed next to speed bumps.
I imagine it's be the same as the limit for that piece of road, ie 30 in a designated 30. Otherwise the hump would be an obstruction imo? Would this be correct?

Riley Blue

22,230 posts

240 months

Sunday 8th July 2012
quotequote all
Baron Greenback says otherwise above.