Woodhaven Estate in Castletroy has been identified as having some of the worst speed bumps in the country, according to a new survey from Continental Tyres Ireland.

The speed bumps in Woodhaven were listed in a top ten countrywide list, which had its genesis in reports from tyre dealers of an increasing number of cars presented with tyres damaged from speed bumps.

Speed bumps are a headache for many drivers as there is little consistency in their height or design speed causing damage to car’s suspensions and tyres.

It was as a result of these reports from dealers that Continental Tyres Ireland embarked on the hunt for some of Ireland’s worst speed bumps.

Following its researches, Continental Tyres compiled a list of 10 of the worst areas for speed bumps in Ireland. Woodhaven Estate is joined on the list by:

• Bishopstown, Co Cork (near the Church)
• Patrick Doyle Road, Milltown, Dublin 14
• Industrial estate by the Marina, Cork City
• St. Mary’s Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Upper Kennelsfort Rd., Palmerstown, Dublin 20
• Rathcoole village, Co. Dublin
• Le Fanu Road Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
• The Rise, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin
• Church Hill, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow

Introduced as a road safety aid, speed bumps have proliferated across Ireland, in particular in urban centres.

According to Paddy Murphy, General Manager of Continental Tyres Ireland: “Speed bumps were a great idea in theory, but alas, in practice we have seen that some of them are very poorly designed which can cause damage to a car’s tyres or the car’s suspension system. We are calling for a more stringent enforcement of the guidelines that govern speed bumps in Ireland and consistency in their design nationwide.”

Recent research by Warranty Direct in the UK shows that over the last 10 years, an average of one in eight cars has suffered suspension or tyre damage that could be directly attributed to speed bumps. A similar survey in Ireland would be sure to show comparable results.

By law, speed bumps should be no higher than 70mm but there is very little consistency in either the height (with many exceeding the 70mm threshold) or the design of speed bumps. An increasing number of cars are showing tyres with cuts and bulges that have been caused by badly designed speed bumps and / or as a result of the driver hitting the speed bump at too high a speed.

Ordinary motorists are not the only road users who have complained about speed bumps. The emergency services have pointed out that the increased use of speed bumps is adding valuable minutes to the task of transporting people with a medical emergency to hospital.

“There really is a need for local authorities to agree a standard design and for proper enforcement mechanisms to be put in place,” said Murphy. “However it is important to point out that not all speed bumps are bad. There are some, for example, platform-style bumps where you can actually drive on and over the bump, which are very effective and, providing they are driven over at the correct speed, should not cause any damage to the tyre or indeed the car itself.”

In some cases, motorists might come away with more than just tyre damage from speed bumps. Among the many designs of speed bump used in Ireland, there is an increasing prevalence of the type that consist of four or more rectangular raised bumps across the road with gaps of normal road either side (e.g. on Clogher Road in Crumlin leading down to the canal). These speed bumps encourage drivers to veer towards the middle of the road so as to avoid the bump. The problem is that drivers coming in both directions on the road engage in this behaviour increasing the risk of a middle of the road collision.

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