Dropped kerb heights and damage to vehicles

Dropped kerb heights and damage to vehicles

Author
Discussion

pits

Original Poster:

6,423 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.


George Smiley

5,048 posts

80 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
Find a different location or don't have cars that are so low

pits

Original Poster:

6,423 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
George Smiley said:
Find a different location or don't have cars that are so low
Helpful. My car is factory height, it's not even low (E31 8 series) even our E46 coupe has caught on it.


The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.

NGee

2,378 posts

163 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
pits said:
................... who would be responsible?


The idiots who want to drive round in cars unsuitable for the road conditions - how do they manage on speed humps?

However if you want a semi-sensible answer, chuck a sheet of 8 x 4 plywood down.

pits

Original Poster:

6,423 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.

Drumroll

3,738 posts

119 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
I doubt you will get very far with the council. Looks like you are looking for another venue.

Mammasaid

3,777 posts

96 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all

lyonspride

2,978 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all

As soon as you mention a car meet the council will shut you down.

It needs to come from the pub landlord as a request due to loss of business, but even then it'd be an uphill battle.

DaveTheRave87

2,079 posts

88 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
Drumroll said:
I doubt you will get very far with the council. Looks like you are looking for another venue.
I can imagine the reaction in the council when you ask them to spend money to facilitate a car meet.

Good luck though.

EU_Foreigner

2,833 posts

225 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
Ignore the car meet, the landlord can't facilitate individuals either who have anything sporty by the sound of it.

pits

Original Poster:

6,423 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.

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

George Smiley

5,048 posts

80 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
lyonspride said:
but even then it'd be an uphill battle.
Already is one of them

lyonspride

2,978 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all

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.

pits

Original Poster:

6,423 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.

Sloan85

53 posts

135 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
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.

Chrisgr31

13,440 posts

254 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
quotequote all
If you have grounded on it then cant you complain to the council about the damage to your car and see what they say?

Gavin0478

472 posts

140 months

Thursday 18th April 2019
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Why not throw some tarpaulin down, wack some quick drying cement to make a temporary ramp on that then smash up after the event.

V8RX7

26,762 posts

262 months

Friday 19th April 2019
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It depends on the Council.

A couple of people on here have had the Council modify the pavement when they've had similar issues getting onto their drives.

As mentioned take a look at their website and take some measurements

Pica-Pica

13,617 posts

83 months

Friday 19th April 2019
quotequote all
..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.