Speed bumps! Are the council responsible for damage

[Getsis]

Hi All,
This might have been discussed before so sorry for bringing it up again!!.

This is the scenario!
I have a car that is manufactured to UK standards so therefore my car (TVR) is designed to operate safely on UK roads. The council put some speed bumps on the road which make it impossible for me to go down without scraping the underside of the front spoiler.

So is the council responsible for this damage although it is only supeficial marks. Do I have just cause to make a claim?

[tigger1]

There is a maximum height allowed for speed bumps, I think...worth looking that up.

[Timsta]

tigger1 said:

There is a maximum height allowed for speed bumps, I think...worth looking that up.

10cm. I can't quote the source though, I'm pretty sure DvD posted something a while ago.

Tim

[cliffe_mafia]

This page has got the guidelines (under References) so the OP needs to get measuring.

http://www.abd.org.uk/speed_humps.htm

[Puggit]

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

[tigger1]

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

[Puggit]

tigger1 said:

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

That's the one

[Parrot of Doom]

Sure I read somewhere of a council removing speed humps because it caused a resident not to be able to use his car any more, as the speed humps blocked him from leaving his home.

[alphadog]

Puggit said:

tigger1 said:

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

That's the one

The test for damage caused by speed ramps involved a Vauxhall Astra going over a ramp 90 times according to the DfT. Hardly a realistic test considering the thousands of transgressions a vehicle really makes during its lifetime.

Some ramps are OK and can be transgressed reasonably at up to the speed limit. Most are not and get put on main roads in these parts. Councils that install speed ramps should be liable for any damage caused to vehicles - surely this contributes to crashes caused by defective vehicles.

[pbsaxman]

Puggit said:

tigger1 said:

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

That's the one

Pet hate of mine. If the speed limit is 30 any vehicle should be able to take the hump at 30 without doing damage. If that is not possible the hump should be signed with the limit it can be safely crossed! I was once en route to an incident and passing over a road hump caused the Dry Powder extinguisher in the rear locker to go off. Looked like we were on fire and made a right flippin' mess!!!!

[Davel]

Can be quite dangerous for motorcycles too, cos you often go for the gap in the middle, which just happens to be in the middle of the road!

I wonder how many bikers have been involved in accidents due to these things.

[page3]

What gets me is that they aren't marked on maps (printed or electronic) so your have no way of planning a route to avoid them. If one-way streets are marked, so should speed humps.

[bluepolarbear]

tigger1 said:

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

Always take them at full speed - much more comfortable. The other technique if space allows as to approach an angle so the ones go over one at a time rather than in pairs ie as you approach swing to the right and back to the left driving towards the kerb, straight up after you are "up".

[alphadog]

bluepolarbear said:

tigger1 said:

Puggit said:

I believe speed bumps are also not permitted to cause a production car to have to slow down?

Hmmm...wouldn't that defeat the object of them?

Or do you just mean that it should still be possible, just bloody uncomfortable, to pass at 30mph?

Always take them at full speed - much more comfortable. The other technique if space allows as to approach an angle so the ones go over one at a time rather than in pairs ie as you approach swing to the right and back to the left driving towards the kerb, straight up after you are "up".

The cushion types are best negociated at a 30 - 45 degree angle. Be careful taking ramps at full speed as the suspension takes all the impact, expect to replace more bushes, track-rod ends, anti-roll bar linkages and all the other stuff that wears out these days - never used to before speed ramps!

[Brett928S2]

page3 said:

What gets me is that they aren't marked on maps (printed or electronic) so your have no way of planning a route to avoid them. If one-way streets are marked, so should speed humps.

Hi

My Porsche is too low to go over any speed bump....I totally agree they should be mapped...then I would put them into my Satnav to avoid....it would save me reversing out of streets with them, which causes havoc sometimes

As a matter of interest...if I tried a 30 mph run at one in mine..it would take out the front spoiler...and the aircon compressor (lowest part of my engine) and around £1500 to replace

All the best Brett

[streaky]

Use standard "yumping" technique, approach at (whatever) speed, brake to compress the front suspension than, as the front wheels reach the ramp accelerate to raise the nose. The back end rises as the front drops (under gravity) once over the hump. Less risk of suspension damage and as easier ride over the ramp. The speed needs to be set according to the height, severity of slope and length of the hump - Streaky

[Prof Beard]

See also:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/trafficman...

and:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/circulars/...

The second document notes:

"12. The maximum and minimum heights referred to in the regulations are absolute values, therefore, a road hump should not exceed 100mm in height, or be less than 25mm in height."

[trackcar]

streaky said:

Use standard "yumping" technique, approach at (whatever) speed, brake to compress the front suspension than, as the front wheels reach the ramp accelerate to raise the nose. The back end rises as the front drops (under gravity) once over the hump. Less risk of suspension damage and as easier ride over the ramp. The speed needs to be set according to the height, severity of slope and length of the hump - Streaky

It's amazing how quickly you can perfect a left foot braking technique to make good progress over speed humps .. if you time the release of the brake and application of the throtle well you can maintain a goodly pace (within the posted limit of course) across most speed bumps.

The other good way of getting across speed bumps without damagin your own car of course is to go and steal a different car .. if it's not your own car that youre driving you wont mind inflicting damage on it!*

• grr major failing of speed bumps is it slows down the consciencious driver keen to keep his cherished car in good condition, and fails to slow down the holligan/thief/idiot who has no respect or conscience anyway. grrrrrr.

[flemke]

Parrot of Doom said:

Sure I read somewhere of a council removing speed humps because it caused a resident not to be able to use his car any more, as the speed humps blocked him from leaving his home.

Correct.
If your car has been approved for road use in the UK, the LA may not build an obstruction that will prevent you from getting to your home.

Please note that that does not oblige them to clear away or lower speed humps on all routes to your home, or even the most direct one. They're just not allowed to make it impossible for you to reach home in your car.