Whether you’re in a rush or just not paying close attention, you’ve probably felt the jarring jolt of driving too fast over a speed bump. It’s a quick reminder that even minor road features can cause costly damage if ignored. But how fast is too fast?
Most vehicles can comfortably cross a standard speed hump at 15-25 km/h. Exceeding that, even slightly, can lead to unpleasant surprises: from misaligned wheels and damaged suspension components to worn shocks and scraped undercarriages. This is especially true for cars with low ground clearance or ageing suspension systems, as well as material handling vehicular equipment used in warehouses and the like.
Speed Bumps: Designed for Safety
A speed bump isn’t merely a traffic inconvenience; it’s a built-in reminder to slow down. Speed humps are typically installed in high-risk or pedestrian-heavy areas to ensure vehicles reduce their speed to a safe level. These zones include:
* Office and commercial car parks
* Residential driveways and estates
* School zones and playground areas
* Factory and warehouse access roads
* Hospital and university grounds
In these environments, fast-moving vehicles can pose significant hazards. A well-placed speed bump acts as a physical deterrent, requiring immediate driver response where it matters most.
In warehouses and industrial sites, where the movement of both people and machines is constant, speed humps play a vital role in mitigating risks. When combined with proper signage and layout planning, they improve overall site safety and logistics flow.
The height of a speed bump will determine how fast a vehicle can travel over it without sustaining damage. Indoor spaces and parking lots typically rely on the 70mmH standard speed bump, which is rated to slow vehicular movement to 10 kmph. Driveways and residential access lanes tend to use the 50mmH standard speed bump, which is rated to slow traffic to 20 kmph. However, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between the two from the driver’s seat, so if you see a speed bump ahead, it is advisable to bring your speed down to at least 10 kmph, if you cannot slow to a complete halt, before driving over it.
What Happens When You Ignore a Speed Bump?
Many drivers underestimate the mechanical consequences of carelessly speeding over humps. The damage can accumulate over time or result in immediate mechanical faults:
- Suspension damage: Speed bumps strain shocks, struts, and springs when taken too quickly, leading to reduced ride quality and uneven tyre wear.
- Wheel misalignment: A harsh impact can throw off wheel alignment, causing steering issues and increased tyre degradation.
- Undercarriage scrapes: For low-height vehicles, including those with aftermarket modifications as well as typical load-bearing vehicles like forklifts, the vehicle’s underbody is at risk of scraping or breaking.
- Brake and exhaust wear: Sudden elevation changes can cause stress to the braking system and knock the exhaust system loose.
The cumulative effect of these issues would result in frequent mechanic visits and higher maintenance costs, while ignoring such problems would lead to compromised vehicle safety and compliance issues.
Use Cases Where Speed Bumps are Essential
Here are scenarios where speed bumps offer practical, value-added functionality:
- Factories and Industrial Yards: In environments where forklifts, delivery trucks, and heavy machinery move alongside personnel, speed control is non-negotiable. Speed bumps slow down traffic entering and exiting loading docks or storage zones.
- Commercial Office Driveways and Car Parks: Corporate spaces often deal with high volumes of daily commuter traffic. Installing speed humps near entrances, exits, and pedestrian crossings creates a safer environment for both employees and visitors.
- University and School Campuses: With a large population of young pedestrians, campuses benefit from traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps at road intersections, halls, and parking areas.
- Healthcare Institutions: Hospitals and care facilities typically require quiet, low-speed environments. Speed bumps ensure that ambulances and service vehicles reduce speed without compromising emergency access.
- Warehousing and Logistics Hubs: These spaces have high-speed vehicular traffic and often tight movement corridors. Well-positioned speed humps reduce damage to inventory, equipment, and building infrastructure by forcing vehicles to slow down.
Tysen Technologies: Safety Infrastructure for Smarter Businesses
It is interesting to note how something as unassuming as a speed bump can go a long way in enforcing safety practices and resulting in significant cost savings over time. Put simply, your business is trading off months or even years of minor damage repairs and maintenance costs for the price of installing speed bumps – which is often a one-off investment.
However, to tap into this potential value, it is important that you work with a safety solutions provider who can supply speed humps and other safety measures made from high-grade durable materials, while also having the expertise to identify the key points in the flow of traffic where these installations will be most effective. If you understand this need for a combination of product quality and service excellence, Tysen Technologies is the partner for your business.
At Tysen Technologies, we specialise in comprehensive material handling and safety infrastructure solutions tailored to modern businesses in Singapore. Our range is designed to improve workplace safety and operational discipline while optimising space usage.
Our safety offerings include:
- Speed bumps and humps: Ideal for site safety and reducing vehicular damage both in indoor and outdoor environments.
- Safety bollards and barriers: These protect walkways, entrances, and fragile infrastructure, while demarcating clear boundaries to drivers.
- Warehouse safety systems: Installations such as floor markings, modular fencing, and guardrails ensure that vehicles have clear guidance on acceptable manoeuvres at all times.
By integrating these measures in car parks, factories, warehouses, or shared premises, companies can safeguard both people and property, reducing long-term operational expenses as a result. Tysen Technologies has successfully implemented speed bumps at the West Mall in Bukit Batok and the car park of High Park Residences, ensuring safety within parking lots and pickup/dropoff areas. We have also been responsible for installing and maintaining speed bumps in residential access roads, such as in Tengah Garden Avenue and Belle Vue Residencies, with high visibility and minimised maintenance needs met through our high-grade rubber speed bumps.
Tysen Technologies also understands how important regulatory compliance is to businesses today, which is why all of our products are selected and installed to meet local regulations and industry best practices. With a focus on durability, cost-efficiency, and ease of maintenance, we help communities and businesses create safer, more organised environments for all stakeholders. For reliable traffic safety infrastructure and material handling solutions in Singapore, Tysen Technologies is ready to support your journey towards smarter, safer spaces.
