76 replies to this topic

[huntface]

No Damage on modern cars? Check the inner shoulders of your tyres!

I kind of half mount cushions. If the central line doesn't restrict you crossing the central line, there's no problem crossing it to go between cushions.

Does sound like a poorly fitted exhaust might not be helping. Also check the engine mounts and steady bars. if these are worn, the that might be your problem.

I know a change of these stopped me knocking the exhaust off my lowered car on speed bumps as the engine wasn't rattling about.

[Noah]

here's what I could find as the law on speed bumps:

A) The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 stipulate that road humps should be between 25mm and 100mm high and no vertical face should exceed 6mm.
If the hump is within these parameters it is unlikely a claim would succeed against the local authority.
Most humps are now constructed to a maximum height of 75mm due to the number of grounding incidents and complaints made about the higher ones.
This subject causes almost as much controversy as speed (safety) cameras.

So off you go, get your tape measure out and report back!

[greatgrowler]

I've got loads of speed bumps near my house. I grind them in my '99 mini and '11 fiesta. the irony is that I can take a 3.5t van over them at 30mph without noticing!

[Ethel]

Speed limits aren't a guarantee that the speed is possible or appropriate, even so the local authority has a duty to maintain the roads so they are fit for purpose, report the problem bumps to them as a first step.

[Pelvisgt]

There are loads in Bristol and my mini is lowered and doesn't scrape but I do go over them at a snail pace, your exhaust bracket might be sticking down loads or something ? It should be fine though unless your suspension is a bit fu-barred ?

[jefinabox]

So you're trying to do 30mph over speed bumps in a mini and don't think its fair you can't? Speed limits are maximum limits, not gauranteed minimum speeds or targets.

Seriously though, you're driving a mini and are complaining speed bumps are slowing you down. What do you think they are for?

[giner88]

So you're trying to do 30mph over speed bumps in a mini and don't think its fair you can't? Speed limits are maximum limits, not gauranteed minimum speeds or targets.

Seriously though, you're driving a mini and are complaining speed bumps are slowing you down. What do you think they are for?

try reading the original post, i go over them at 15mph, and the cushions i cant go over properly at all. What i said is its hardly unreasonable to want to be able to go the speed limit. IF they want people to go slower drop the speed limit.

I'm just off out to check my exhaust is all proper. i am 99% sure it is but its worth checking.

Edited by giner88, 11 November 2012 - 08:40 AM.

[mini-luke]

How low is your car? I could go over any speed bump at 30 with an RC40 or Maniflow, although the maniflow did tuck up better under the car

[Old Bob]

The 'bumps' are actually for 'traffic calming' which they do very well - after you have hit the first one at speed it certainly concentrates your attention! The fact that a road has a 30mph speed limit does not mean that it is always safe or advisable to use it at that speed.

Anyway, the problem is simply solved by fitting a decent sump guard. It won't stop you grounding but it will make you feel very pleased that you did.

Bob

[joeyfinneran]

I only have problems with three ones in my town and even normal cars hit them (audis fords ect)
I just go on the foot path lol 2 wheels on foot path and two on road and ovee the bump

And just to say my mini is lowered and dads isnt and he still has problems with these three

[qdos]

There are regulations that can be applied to the design of speed humps. I've had this problem myself many years ago in Godalming when they council put arty farty cobbled speed humps all the way own the High Street. There were no end of cars grounding on them including my Lotus Excel which took it's exhaust off on one of the humps. There were many cars doing the same including one which resulted in dumping it's entire oil content down the High Street.

I complained to the council and took photos of the hump and how it met with my exhaust as you drove over it.

You need to complain about it but you'll only get fobbed off with the 'the humps are designed in accordance with the regulations' standard reply weather or not they have been. Until enough people make complaints about them and there's enough threats to take them to court nothing gets done as it's not their problem as far as the clerk you'll speak to is concerned. Writing to the paper will just get the Boy Racer label applied to you as can be seen above from several of the comments here.

Speed humps are a hazard to not only the cars that pass over them but also the property surrounding them as the shock-waves can and do damage surrounding buildings and land from continual impacts. As has also been mentioned the biggest heaviest vehicles more often than not don't even notice them and carry on regardless. Road narrowing is far more effective and less dangerous all round. The cheapest and simplest of which are parked cars.

[AGoaty]

When I set up my Mini I am aware that the speed bumps can be up to 100mm high (although most are not a large as this).

I took a piece of 4" x 2" wood and moved it around under my car to find the lowest point. I have then raised the suspension to make sure it clears. I still have to slow down and wouldn't attempt to drive over them at 30mph. The exhaust is still the lowest point so will drive into the middle of road to avoid clearance problems. Most Mini's on standard suspension do not have this amount of clearance.

I suggest you measure the clearance and raise your Mini to at least 100mm using Hi-Lo's or adding washers into the suspension knuckles.

[stonemonkey]

one road near me has small bumps all the way down and when cars are coming the other way i have to drive with two wheel on pavement, of course when there are no pedestrians, but if there are people i just stop and wait gap i traffic so i can go over both lots

[Mini_Magic]

How many fingers can you fit in your front arches? Could be the cones have collapsed, causing your Mini to sit too low.

[danm]

I suffered this the other night. Came down with a thud, and all my front lights went out. Had to drive a mile home at 10:30 in pitch blackness. Mental.