Speed humps

Speed humps that genuinely enforce the speed

A speed hump is the only speed measure that works without enforcement. A sign saying "walking pace" is ignored; a hump is not. On car parks, company sites, campsites, school environments and residential streets, that is the difference between a rule on paper and behaviour on the road.

We supply and install speed humps and traffic calming for local authorities, companies, schools, hospitals, campsites and the managers of car parks and private roads.

Which form for which speed

The height and above all the length of the ramp determine the speed at which a hump becomes uncomfortable. That is the whole craft: too sharp and it damages vehicles and irritates drivers, too flat and it is taken at speed.

• A short, high hump enforces walking pace. Suitable on car parks and sites where people only drive a few dozen metres anyway.
• A longer, flatter hump slows traffic to a higher through speed and is more comfortable for buses and emergency services.
• A raised table is a flat raised surface across the full width, often at a crossing point. It slows traffic and puts the crossing at pavement level, which improves accessibility.
• Speed cushions let wide axles, such as buses and fire appliances, pass with their wheels either side, while cars still have to drive over them. Useful on emergency service routes.

We advise on the basis of the speed you want and who passes through, not on the basis of what happens to be in stock.

Modular or cast in place

Modular humps in rubber or plastic are delivered in sections and anchored to the existing surface. They are quick to install, movable, and extendable across the width. If one section is damaged, you replace that section. That makes them the logical choice on private sites and anywhere the layout may still change.

Humps cast in asphalt or concrete belong with a definitive rebuild of the public road. They last longer and look calmer, but they need a contractor and can no longer be moved.

Most modular versions are built up from a black centre section with yellow or white end sections. That contrasting colour is not there for looks but for the visibility of the edge.

Installation and points to watch

• Anchoring. On asphalt and concrete, mechanical anchoring is used. A badly anchored hump shifts after one winter and then becomes a hazard in itself.
• Drainage. A continuous hump holds water back. Provide through openings or gaps at the gutter line, otherwise you get a pool after every downpour.
• Advance warning. A hump should be announced with signage and be visible in the dark. Reflective elements in the end sections help.
• Space before and after. A hump immediately after a bend is seen too late.
• Snow clearing. A hump on a route that gets cleared needs a version that can take a plough blade.

What determines the price?

Speed humps have no fixed price per metre. The cost follows from the type and the height, the width of the road and therefore the number of sections, the material (rubber, plastic or cast in place), the end sections and reflective elements, the anchoring and the condition of the substrate, the accompanying signage, and the installation conditions, such as working on a road that stays in use.

Send us the road width, the speed you want and the type of traffic, and you get a quotation in which those items are visible.

Asking for advice

Describe the situation: where is the speeding happening, who passes through, and does the road stay in use during the works. We will propose a specification that suits the traffic that actually uses it.