Around 1,000 speed humps are installed on roads across Wales in a bid to improve safety but they are giving motorists a bumpy ride and are causing ‘too much’ damage to cars, according to a new poll.
Research for Wales-based Confused.com revealed that almost half (45%) of motorists in Wales think speed humps, bumps or cushions cause too much damage to cars.
In fact, more than a quarter (28%) of motorists in the region who have driven over a speed hump said it damaged their car. And councils in the region have had to compensate drivers for damages. In total, £3,186 was paid to drivers in the region between 2015 and 2017 for damage caused by speed humps.
According to the data obtained by Confused.com from councils in the region, 1,168 speed humps, bumps or cushions are installed across Wales as a method of reducing speeding and improve road safety.
Worryingly, one in five (22%) UK drivers who have driven over a speed hump said it damaged their car, costing them an eye-watering £141 to repair, on average. Most (48%) received a defect on their tyres, while a third (33%) said it broke their suspension.
However, some motorists have been able to claim this money back from councils. Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests to the UK’s local councils revealed that an eye-watering £35,080 was paid out to drivers between 2015 and 2017 for damage caused by speed humps. This is despite the fact they are not technically classed as a ‘road defect’, making it difficult for drivers to make a claim.
According to the data, more than 29,000 speed humps, bumps and cushions are installed on roads across the UK with lower speed limits to encourage drivers to slow down, however some drivers are unsure why this is.
Further research by the site found that one in six (17%) UK drivers are confused about why councils use them over other speed calming measures. In fact, motorists find permanent and police enforced speed cameras, and chicanes to be more effective, with one in four (27%) saying they think speed humps are ineffective in reducing speeds.
Not only this, but many drivers also find speed humps hard to spot on the road, with more than a quarter (28%) wanting to see road markings and signage made clearer. And this means some motorists may come across an unexpected bump in the road, and haven’t been able to slow down in time, which could potentially cause damage to their car.
And there may be some confusion about when drivers can claim for damage caused by a speed hump. Highways Regulations state drivers may claim for damage to their vehicle if the road surface is defective. However, as speed humps are placed by the local authority as a speed calming measure, they are not technically classed as a road defect. But there are limitations on how big a speed hump should be, and this might make it easier for motorists to claim compensation for damage. | According to the Highways Regulations 1999, road humps should not exceed 100mm in height. Anything higher than this is more likely to cause damage to a car, and puts motorists in a position to claim for damage caused. However, the government recommends they are no higher than 75mm, and the data obtained from local councils suggests that the average maximum height of speed humps installed across the country is 72mm. But, worryingly, there are few motorists who are aware of the maximum height speed humps should be. According to the research, one in six (17%) believe it to be 75mm, while almost one in five (18%) think it is 100mm. |