Speed bumps - The dangers!

Speed bumps were brought in as early as 1970 to help reduce speed and traffic. Speed bumps are usually up to 6 inches high and up to 3 metres wide. Many roads that have schools also have speed bumps so drivers can slow down on approach to the school. Other times they may be introduced on roads that have no cameras and are at high risk of speeding and accidents. The worst speed bumps are found in private car parks; they are often too high or sharp and cause damage to low vehicles such as sports cars.

The disadvantages of speed bumps

• Hundreds of lives lost due to reduced speed for emergency vehicles
• Can divert traffic to residential streets
• Increased noise and possibly pollution for residents living on roads with speed bumps
• May cause damage to vehicles
• Unsuitable for large goods vehicle and increased noise from them
• Signs, road markings and more street lighting can be too much to bear
• Can cause discomfort for passengers and drivers
• Hazards are likely to be overseen due to drivers trying to take care driving over speed bumps
• Increased use of fuel for journeys

In many areas around the country, speed bumps have had to be removed for a range of reasons. In some cases, prior consent from residents had not been taken into consideration, damage to vehicle has been too high and pollution, noise and deaths have increased. They are a good way of keeping speeding offences low and traffic down to a minimum but they can cause more harm than good.

Speed bumps in the news

In the 1980’s, there was a patient being brought in by ambulance who had a simple spinal fracture; after driving over a speed bump the patient was then left with a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed. The speed bump was removed within 24 hours.

In two separate incidents fire-fighters hit their heads on the roof of the cab after driving over a speed bump. They both suffered from vertebral compression, one was forced into early retirement whilst the other was awarded with permanent disability status.

In 1973 a woman was cycling on her bicycle when she struck a speed bump at an angle; she lost her balance and fell and a car ran her over killing her instantly. If the speed bump wasn’t there she would still be alive today.