How To Drive Over Speed Bumps – Driving Hacks

Speed bumps are every driver’s least-favorite traffic control equipment. Any time there is a chance where pedestrians are near cars, their safety becomes a concern. Areas such as playgrounds, schools, and parking lots are especially dangerous for foot-travelers when there are aggressive drivers. One solution to prevent accidents is controlling speed. Lower speed limits paired with speed bumps can significantly reduce the chance of a disaster or a fatal incident. So, how to drive over speed bumps?

Both speed bumps and speed humps are necessary for the road to slow drivers down, and if those drivers go too fast over them, it can be quite uncomfortable and may damage the vehicle over time.

Speed Bumps VS. Speed Humps

Speed humps are often found in residential areas or connecting roads, where traffic is intended to flow smoothly, and higher speeds may place pedestrians in danger. A speed hump creates a rocking sensation when a car drives over it at a reduced speed. They also come in different shapes and sizes and can provide a feeling of discomfort for a fast-moving vehicle. Speed humps are frequently found in a series to maintain a safe speed through a long passageway.

Speed bumps, on the other hand, are more aggressive in traffic management control and are utilized in places where pedestrians and cars are present, like driveways and parking lots. That is why it is important to know how to drive over speed bumps. They also intend to slow drivers down to 2 – 10 MPH, to make areas nearby safer for pedestrians. Speed bumps can range between two to four inches high and are narrower than speed humps. They are far more uncomfortable to go over than speed humps and are used in smaller areas with heavy pedestrians but less traffic.

Types of Speed Bumps and Speed Inhibitors

• Speed bumps: Usually made of plastic or rubber and marked with paint. They can be as high as 100mm so that a car has to reduce speed to 5mph to go over one without damage. They’re frequently used in parking lots, private roads, and some residential areas because they require such a significant speed reduction.
• Speed humps: Large bumps that cover the entire width of the road. They look more like a part of the road itself since they’re covered in asphalt or tarmac. Speed humps have a maximum height of 100mm, but they’re usually not as tall as speed bumps. Although they’re often used in residential areas, they’re not suitable for bus routes.
• Speed cushions: These are speed humps that have been broken up into various parts. They look like small rectangular lumps in the road that come in twos or threes, depending on the width. Since they’ve broken up, emergency vehicles, given their wider axles, can pass over them without the need to slow down.
• Speed tables: Elongated umps that taper up from road level to a planned top over a longer distance. They can be utilized at a junction or to form a pedestrian crossing. They’re also more accessible for heavier vehicles to get over.
• Chicanes: These artificially constructed bends give the road a snake-like shape. Drivers need to reduce speed to navigate the curves

How to drive Over Speed Bumps?

You’ve probably witnessed some creative ways to navigate over a speed bump. So, how to drive over speed bumps? The answer is quite simple. Just go slow and reduce the speed to about 3 MPH. It won’t help even if you try to drive over speed bumps at an angle. Either way, you still risk scraping the underside of your car, especially for lowered cars. The best and right way to go over a speed bump is to accelerate moderately and avoid braking when going over the speed bump. Slow down, release your brake before the bump, and once you reach the top of the bump, accelerate. The more upright your vehicle is while going over the speed bump, the better and the less inconvenient it is.

Speeding over Speed Bumps

Speed bumps and humps are designed to slow vehicles down on the road, neighborhoods, and parking lots. When you go over a speed bump at a rapid rate, it’s the same as beating every part of your car with a hammer. Vehicles are generally built to withstand some abuse on the road; however, frequent and harder strikes will wear out those parts sooner than usual. Never make a habit of speeding over speed bumps, no matter how massive your vehicle may be. Constant hits can also cause unpleasant rattles, squeaks, and loosening of some of your car parts. How to drive over speed bumps properly allows the springs and shocks to compress and absorb the bump and gently decompress properly. Here’s how to learn more about Driving Hacks.