New roads v speed bumps : NIMYS v OIMBYS

[The Running Man]

Cars with spacers win?

 

[Justin Smith]

UK Speed bumps are retarded.

In Europe they have low ramps, go over them at 30mph and you will bounce, go slower and you waft over them. Marvel at the logical application of Physics.

In the UK you will break your suspension whether you are doing 30mph or 1" per decade. Worse are the bump islands that just encourage people to weave around them, or in the case of parked cars, drive on the opposite side of the road.
I swear nobody in the councils traffic department owns a car.

Whatever happened to a polite notice requesting people drive a bit slower in certain streets.

I`m absolutely certain that wouldn`t work, not for most drivers anyway. Let`s face it, it`s actually illegal to do over 70mph on the motorway and if you get caught you get a fine and points, yet loads of people do it.

 

[Justin Smith]

I can't stand speed bumps, and I wouldn't particularly want them installed on my road either. Some strategically placed high tension piano wire to decapitate scooter riders on the other hand...

Have you got any kids ?

On the piano wire thing I`d agree if it were programmed to lower to the correct height if the bike was too loud. I`m joking by the way, well half joking.....

 

[Justin Smith]

I've never understood why people value speed humps? They're typically poorly designed so you have to crawl over them at ~50% of the speed limit if you wish to avoid buckling your wheels, which means you then have to accelerate back up to speed, with the associated noise & fuel economy / emissions considerations that so offends eco-hippies.

As a child I was taught how very important it was to cross a road safely, because they were dangerous places. That meant crossing only in places where there was excellent visibility, & when you were sure the road was clear in both directions. I often wonder if speed humps are desirable as substitutions for such lessons?

I can understand campaigning for crossings / middle of road bollard islands / bridges / underpasses as methods of making pedestrian life easier, but speed calming measures have always felt (to me) like a devolution of responsibility away from pedestrians.

IMO speed awareness on the part of drivers is better dealt with via digital signage, & maybe discretionary speed awareness course every 3-5 years refreshing (& simulating!) speed / stopping distances & the importance of tyres (model / pressure etc) beyond legal minimums would be beneficial. This could be supported by premium tyre manufacturers & even discounted by insurers in a similar way to recognising IAM.

Small kids (who may "get out") are not capable of crossing roads safely.

It`s also been mentioned to me by one of my neighbours that slower cars would also mean fewer pets killed, particularly cats.

Lastly, it`s not just about the safety of kids, though that is by far the most important consideration, there are almost always cars parked up both sides of our street. This means that as you pull out of your drive you cannot see more than about 10 yards down the road so you have to creep out at one mph and hope nobody is driving too fast and without due concentration. We`ve already been hit by some lad doing about 30mph down our road, though contrary to the norm (most drivers never ever admit they`re in the wrong even when they obviously are) he readily admtted he was going too fast and payed for the damage to our car which was fortunately only minor.

 

[Haggisman]

Have you got any kids ?

On the piano wire thing I`d agree if it were programmed to lower to the correct height if the bike was too loud. I`m joking by the way, well half joking.....

Yup, I and I will make sure he has it drummed into him that roads/cars are dangerous and if he's going to cross to make sure it's clear and he can see it's safe to do so.

In fact, the kids who's parents don't give a **** and are out "loitering" in the middle of the road are the ones most likely to be... "removed" by the lack of speed bumps, which can only be a good thing

Anyway, on the subject of vicious bumps, there's one in the car park for The Fort retail park in Birmingham that you can go over at literally 2mph and feels like you've just tried to drive over the grand canyon!

 

[ChocolateStarfishRammer]

I'm one of those annoying people that goes over them VERY slowly - I'm not wrecking my suspension, or carving up the road with with front splitter as I bounce over the ridiculous speed humps. They're absolutely overkill in this country - and so many people don't care and just crunch and crash their cars over them (if anything making you lose some control over your car).

+1

Could not care less about the people behind me moaning as Im doing less than 1mph over them.

Most, I can just about get away with scratching the front bumper/diffuser.. The big ones Slam against the sump/exhaust of my car and scrape all the way. And some, I just refuse to go over, just far far too big with absolutely no regard to people who don't have range rovers.

I find the worse ones are always in new housing estates. Stupidly Ridiculous.

 

[miniyazz]

Speed bumps where I live are a bigger issue than others tbh. I'm then forced to subject my car to them frequently vs speed bumps elsewhere which I only have to worry about (normally) once or twice..

 

[madtoady]

I've never understood why people value speed humps? They're typically poorly designed so you have to crawl over them at ~50% of the speed limit if you wish to avoid buckling your wheels, which means you then have to accelerate back up to speed, with the associated noise & fuel economy / emissions considerations that so offends eco-hippies.

As a child I was taught how very important it was to cross a road safely, because they were dangerous places. That meant crossing only in places where there was excellent visibility, & when you were sure the road was clear in both directions. I often wonder if speed humps are desirable as substitutions for such lessons?

I can understand campaigning for crossings / middle of road bollard islands / bridges / underpasses as methods of making pedestrian life easier, but speed calming measures have always felt (to me) like a devolution of responsibility away from pedestrians.

IMO speed awareness on the part of drivers is better dealt with via digital signage, & maybe discretionary speed awareness course every 3-5 years refreshing (& simulating!) speed / stopping distances & the importance of tyres (model / pressure etc) beyond legal minimums would be beneficial. This could be supported by premium tyre manufacturers & even discounted by insurers in a similar way to recognising IAM.

Agree

 

[Richie]

Have you got any kids ?

I love when people pull this argument out... There is no winning response:

A. Yes I have kids.

B. Then you should no better

A. No I don't have kids

B. Then you wouldn't know

It should be put in the same way as that theory where all internet arguments end with Hitler type thing

Anyone that uses it as a counter to anything people say is immediately disregarded.

 

[Clarkey]

As Richie explained earlier, the intention is to allow emergency vehicles to negotiate them at full speed.

Seems the councils around here didn't get that memo. They have recently installed bumps on two of my frequently used routes (different local authorities I might add). In both cases, there is a very severe full length bump at both ends of the bumped area, these will smash your spine out if you go above 10mph. All of the other bumps inbetween these are pillow ones, which you can just drive over at full speed no bother, even in my lowered car, with X brace reducing clearance even more.

 

[Matt82]

People drive inconsiderately shocker

My road should be a natural speed bump its paved so badly but even the people with kids drive up and down far too fast. Imagine how awkward it would be if you killed a neighbours kid?

Ime people barely slow down for speed bump anyway