Dropped kerb heights and damage to vehicles
Discussion
This is a query, not looking to claim (though I have caught my car on it previously)
Long and short, I am looking into the possibility of running a car meet at a local pub, the issue is the entrance to it does catch car bumpers, this is something the landlord knows about already but we are not sure what can be done about it.
To enter the car park you have to cross a drop kerb and the pavement, the gutter in between the pavement and the road is steep, the road has sunk, entering and more to the point leaving cars catch their front bumpers on the actual road.
Obviously the road can't be changed to meet this, but the kerb/pavement could be changed or the gutter being changed with an access ramp, what I am curious of is
What are the legal heights at point of entry/exit to stop cars getting damaged, and who would be responsible?
I've attached a map picture to show a rough idea of how much the gutter drops but can provide better pictures if possible.
I'm not looking for anyone to spend thousands fixing it, but more what solution could be brought in to stop this from happening, I would guesstimate that a level from pavement to road and measuring the drop kerb height to floor would be around 200-300mm, I am going to have a chat with a couple of local councillors about it, who can put it to the main council, just don't want to be between a rock and a hard place of them saying no to changing it, or them saying not making an access ramp, rather not fall foul of anyone, and certainly don't want any cars damaged.
Long and short, I am looking into the possibility of running a car meet at a local pub, the issue is the entrance to it does catch car bumpers, this is something the landlord knows about already but we are not sure what can be done about it.
To enter the car park you have to cross a drop kerb and the pavement, the gutter in between the pavement and the road is steep, the road has sunk, entering and more to the point leaving cars catch their front bumpers on the actual road.
Obviously the road can't be changed to meet this, but the kerb/pavement could be changed or the gutter being changed with an access ramp, what I am curious of is
What are the legal heights at point of entry/exit to stop cars getting damaged, and who would be responsible?
I've attached a map picture to show a rough idea of how much the gutter drops but can provide better pictures if possible.
I'm not looking for anyone to spend thousands fixing it, but more what solution could be brought in to stop this from happening, I would guesstimate that a level from pavement to road and measuring the drop kerb height to floor would be around 200-300mm, I am going to have a chat with a couple of local councillors about it, who can put it to the main council, just don't want to be between a rock and a hard place of them saying no to changing it, or them saying not making an access ramp, rather not fall foul of anyone, and certainly don't want any cars damaged.
Most local authority Highways departments publish their own Highways Design guide, this usually sets limits for kerb heights and transitions for new developments and highways which are adopted. If they have approved the kerb and it's outside their design guide, they are the people you need to speak too.
If it meets their design guide, then the cars are too low.
If it meets their design guide, then the cars are too low.
The Surveyor said:
Most local authority Highways departments publish their own Highways Design guide, this usually sets limits for kerb heights and transitions for new developments and highways which are adopted. If they have approved the kerb and it's outside their design guide, they are the people you need to speak too.
If it meets their design guide, then the cars are too low.
Thank you, I will get on to them and find out, much appreciated.If it meets their design guide, then the cars are too low.
DaveTheRave87 said:
I can imagine the reaction in the council when you ask them to spend money to facilitate a car meet.
Good luck though.
Indeed, to be fair it isn't just for a car meet as normal cars catch it anyway so would be for the benefit of everyone going there.Good luck though.
Just to clarify, I am not against putting blocks of wood and ply sheet down, i just want to cover all bases and that includes the legality of putting ply down, I don't want issues caused on any side.
New venue wouldn't happen as this would be the only place locally to do this, if it can't happen it can't happen it's as simple as that
lyonspride said:
It reminds me of some bumps where the height of the speed bump is correct and by the book, but they dig out the road on either side to make it more severe. The dropped kerb is probably to regs, but the problem is the road having a parabolic camber.
That is the issue, the parabolic camber is massive into the gutter, if it were a speed bump it would probably be illegal.I'll see how I get on with council and highways, as I say I am not adverse to temporary solution for the days it would run, but at the same time I have concerns about being negligent and potential to cause damage.
From that photo it appears only the first meter behind the kerb has been dropped whereas typically it would be dropped from the back of footpath creating a shallower gradient. May be existing utilities prevented this being done. Worth checking the gradient of the dropped section to see it meets the councils specification.
..and they wonder why SUVs have become so popular. We have a fuel station near here that has scrape marks from the dip.
I think the issue here is that the ‘dip’ is necessary to maintain a water-run that will flow down the road at the kerb to reduce the likelihood of standing water in the road.
I think the issue here is that the ‘dip’ is necessary to maintain a water-run that will flow down the road at the kerb to reduce the likelihood of standing water in the road.
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