Safe Speed Forums

Speed humps that are too high
By Andy McFarlane

CONCERNED: Cllr Robert Wilkinson is calling for a review of all speed humps in the Bolton area


A COUNCILLOR is calling for a review of all speed humps across Bolton after a survey revealed that several were illegal.

Six out of 38 humps in the Long Lane and Blenheim Road area of Breightmet were found to be over the 100mm height limit when surveyed for Bolton Council's road safety scrutiny panel.

Cllr Robert Wilkinson, who represents Breightmet, says any that are found to be higher than 100mm should be torn up and replaced.

When he asked for a second survey of five roads with suspect humps, another six humps were found to be over the limit.

The second survey found that two out of three humps in Arena Approach, Horwich, one in Red Lane, Breightmet, one in Coronation Street, central Bolton, and two in Waggon Road, Breightmet, were too high.

But the cost of replacing all illegal humps could run into tens of thousands of pounds. The council is refusing a full review on the grounds it would be "prohibitively expensive".

Cllr Wilkinson said: "I'd like a complete review of all road humps in the Bolton area to make sure they do not exceed the road regulations. Where they do, they become road obstructions and so are illegal."

Eighteen months ago, humps in Long Lane and Forton Avenue were replaced after being found to be oversized.




Cllr Wilkinson has long campaigned against the introduction of road humps, saying they slow emergency vehicles, damage vehicle suspensions and increase pollution by up to 60 per cent.

He says many are in inappropriate places, such as narrow roads and cul-de-sacs, where traffic rarely builds up speed.

Instead, he wants the council to focus on accident blackspots and junctions, educating motorists by installing modern flashing signs to remind people of the speed limit. A council spokeswoman said it was difficult to lay humps with an accurate height across the full width of a road.

More recently-installed humps were 75mm in height, she said.

Installing humps could cost up to £1,200, while removal or "reprofiling" could cost even more.

"In the past, given the cost and disruption involved in reprofiling road humps, this low-level, non-compliance has been deemed not to warrant any action," she said.

The road safety scrutiny panel concluded that "to survey all road humps, tables and cushions across the borough to ensure compliance with council policy, and then correct measures not in compliance, was prohibitively expensive".

A council spokeswoman said
this low-level, non-compliance has been deemed not to warrant any action,"

Low-level, non-compliance not requiring any action? Hmmmm. Where have I heard a similar story?

Wonder how long after they get sued for vehicular damage they'll start ripping them up?

Same paragraph I picked up on.

Having cake and eating it?

They should follow Cumbria's example, and simply let potholes develop unchecked - there's no height/depth limit on potholes!

They should follow Cumbria's example, and simply let potholes develop unchecked - there's no height/depth limit on potholes!

I think quite a number of local authorities are doing that now; road maintenance is being seriously neglected but they still have sufficient of our money to add speed humps and make things still worse.