Speed bumps are placed in urban areas to convince drivers to slow down due to the potential damage caused to a vehicle by hitting them hard. A new video from YouTube page Warped Perception has revealed what pressure a vehicle goes through when travelling over routine speed bumps.
GreenFlag experts also warn vehicles with low suspensions such as sports card could suffer damage to the bodywork or mechanical parts underneath a vehicle by driving too fast.
There are now over 42,000 speed bumps across the UK as councils aim to slow vehicle’s down with the traffic calming measures.
Speaking to This is Money, RAC Foundations’ Steve Gooding said: This proliferation of speed humps, speed cushions, speed ramp, speed tables, sleeping policemen – call them what you will – are put in place with the best of intentions.
“However, they risk giving drivers, bikers and cyclists extremely uncomfortable rides especially if they fall into disrepair.
A total of 28 percent believe speed bumps need to be marked more clearly as a quarter believe they are ineffective at calming traffic at all.
Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to claim compensation for damage caused to a vehicle by driving over a speed bump.
Councils were forced to pay out £35,000 in compensation claims between 2015 and 2017 with almost half being paid out to incidents on London’s roads.
According to GreenFlag, road users may be able to receive compensation to fix car damage if there is evidence to suggest the bump is illegal.
The Highways Regulation says the height of speed humps should be a minimum of 25m and no more than 100mm.
Motorists can measure a speed bump to confirm whether it is in this legal limit and could have a successful case if the measurements are out.
GreenFlag says there have been instances of heavy vehicles sinking a road surface which has created a larger bump than initially installed.