Motorists get the hump as ‘sleeping policemen’ damage their cars
A significant proportion of drivers say their vehicles have suffered because of speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures
More than one in five UK motorists has said that their cars have been damaged after driving over speed bumps, new data has revealed.
As a result, councils have had to pay out £35,000 in compensation over a two-year period between 2015 and 2017, despite speed bumps not being classified as ‘road defects’ – making it far more difficult for motorists to claim.
The findings were based on an online poll of 2,000 drivers based in the UK, as well as Freedom of Information requests sent to local councils. Twenty-two per cent of car owners complained about damage to their vehicles.
Drivers have had to pay a substantial £141 on average to get speed bump-related damaged fixed, with most reporting defects on their tyres – though a third said sleeping policemen caused problems with their car’s suspensions.
The data revealed that more than 29,000 speed bumps, humps and cushions are currently present on UK roads, with their placement designed to slow drivers down.
Drivers are struggling to claim for damage caused by speed bumps, however. Motorists can claim for damage to their vehicle if it has been caused by a road defect. However, since speed bumps are classified as a ‘traffic-calming measure’, they don’t qualify under these rules.
Some 8,516 speed humps have been installed in London alone, and were responsible for £15,717-worth of damage to cars between 2015 and 2017.
Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com – a price comparison website which commissioned the Freedom of Information requests – said: “Claiming for damage to your car caused by speed humps is confusing for drivers. Unlike potholes, which are defects in the road, speed humps have been installed for safety.
“While speed humps are clearly not very popular among motorists, they are there for a reason. And we urge drivers to approach them carefully and slowly in order to minimise any damage.
‘‘Motorists who think they have damaged their car while driving at a reasonable speed should check the height, if and when it is safe to do so, to see if they would be eligible for compensation.”
