When To Replace Existing Speed Humps

Although speed humps are renowned for their durability and resilience, it’s important to know the signs on when they might need repairing or even replacing. 

Speed is the primary factor in most vehicle accidents, and it’s known to increase both risk and severity. As drivers move faster, they have less time to respond to road conditions, and any resulting collision causes more damage.

As a preventative road safety tool, speed humps are parabolic vertical traffic calming devices intended to slow traffic speeds to create a safer environment. While materials such as asphalt, plastic and steel are often used, rubber speed humps are regarded as the most durable and inflict the least amount of damage to cars, they can even be sound absorbing making them perfect for residential estates, retirement villages and hospitals.

Given their widespread use throughout residential areas, schools and parking lots, it’s important to know when existing speed humps might be due for some maintenance, or when the moment calls for a complete replacement. 

Should Speed Humps Be Repaired Or Replaced

Basic logic says that when an item isn’t working at its best, you should consider repairing an issue instead of jumping the gun and replacing it. In the case of basic speed humps maintenance, that may not always be true.

In fact, may industry professionals believe that it’s incredibly difficult to properly repair a speed hump, as their basic design means that separating a damaged section isn’t always possible. Usually, the bolts in a speed hump will be in the same positions, making it difficult to reinstall if the bolts are unable to be removed completely. 

Secondly, by replacing a section a speed hump can also become uneven and even a potential trip hazard, as the sections either side have also no doubt have had some wear and tear as well. If one section is worn and needs replacing, before too long the original pieces either side will need replacing as well. 

As a general rule, speed humps should be replaced when they wear down to a point where the fixing bolts become exposed, creating a hazard for vehicles crossing the speed hump in question. This can be caused by general traffic over time, or the speed hump may sustain damage from a lowered vehicle, a forklift or even malicious damage. Once a speed hump is worn to a point that sections are missing, or if the fixings become exposed, these need to be replaced immediately.

However, it’s also worth noting that the lifespan of speed humps usually boil down to the type of traffic crossing it, how much traffic is crossing it, and their overall position and installation. Speed humps should ideally last for a minimum of three years, even in high traffic areas such as exit lanes in shopping centres and boom gates, where vehicles continuously cross speed humps in exactly the same position. In contrast, speed humps installed in areas like retirement villages or schools that have much more spaced out streams of traffic can last anywhere between seven to ten years and beyond. 

If you’re in the market for new speed humps, choosing the right product that will go the distance will usually boil down to a number of factors, some of which include – 

• The type of traffic using the area
• The volume of traffic using the area
• The concentration of traffic using the speed hump
• If the speed hump will be used on a ramp or around a corner
• The composition of the speed hump

In Australia, road safety is an extremely serious business – and it should be. Although getting behind the wheel of a car is something that many of us do multiple times per day, the likelihood of an accident is sadly on the rise, but installing the right types of speed humps can go a long way when it comes to taking a proactive approach. 

However, not all speed humps were created equally, and it’s important to do your research in order to get the right fit for your workplace or business. If you’re not quite sure where to start, it’s a good idea to partner with the experts –  but where do you find them?

Partnering With The Road Safety Professionals 

At Speed Humps Australia, we’ve spent twenty years focusing on one thing: to provide one style of product, and to do it exceptionally well. We have worked tirelessly to develop specifications that do not fade or deteriorate, are easy to install, and are made from high-quality, recycled rubber for minimal environmental impact.

With just a handful of our clients around the nation including KFC, Taco Bell, McDonalds and numerous local governments and mining operations, our rumble bars, speed humps and wheel stops have been purposefully designed to truly go the distance. 

As our design and production is all handled in house and supplied Australia wide, get in touch with us today to request a quote or discuss how we can help with providing a tailored solution to your unique project requirements.