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London’s taxi drivers could
have told them all before, but now a BBC investigation has found
that some of the 1900 or so "traffic calming" measures
introduced by Islington Council – ie traffic humps – are more
akin to miniature mountains than small bumps! Drivers feel they are too high and can cause damage to the underside of the vehicle, whilst residents feel that the height creates noise all through the night because of the ‘bounce’ effect caused when going over them. The program, Inside Out, spoke to one resident who made a claim against the council following damage to his exhaust system. He pointed out scuff marks on the hump that were still there after other vehicles had caught the top of it. Islington Council denied responsibility, claiming they were not responsible for the damage to the car as the speed bump complied with legislation. According to 1999 Highways Regulations, the maximum height of a road hump shouldn’t be more than 100mm (10cm) and when local MP, Emily Thornberry, was contacted after receiving complaints about the humps, she decided to help. The Council then agreed to pay compensation. However, that was a year ago and the humps are still the same! Inside Out took its tape measure to the humps that had received the highest number of complaints. The first was in Barnsbury Square - measured at 150mm, |
DaC’s George tells BBC TV… "ISLINGTON SPEED HUMPS ARE TOO HIGH!" |
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 which is 5cm too high. Number two was at the top of Offord Road and came in at a staggering 122mm – more than 22mm over the limit. Another hump at the other end of Offord Road measured over 10mm too high. Another in Barnsbury Road was also 10mm over the allowed height. According to Tony Marco, who runs a garage in the area, the danger areas to the vehicle are the middle exhaust box, the rear exhaust, the oil sump and all the rubber bushes that move around and flex as you go over the humps. The program also interviewed Dial-a-Cab driver and Islington resident, George Cato (H80). He said: "I’ve got a shock absorber gone that was only replaced six months ago and with my half yearly inspection due, I had to replace it because the rubber bush at the bottom failed through constant bumping on |
speed humps. It’s the rear
suspension that suffers too." Inside Out asked Islington’s Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Greg Foxsmith about the extra height and he denied the claim saying that the humps in the borough were all within the regulations. But when the program challenged him with definitive measurements of at least five that were over the 100mm maximum according to the regulations, he said: "It may be that there has been some road subsidence around the hump, which means the top is higher than the rest of the road." He added that Islington would look at the examples, but added that he had been assured they were within the legal requirements. However, he also claimed that if they found any illegal humps, the council would reduce them. Inside Out suggested they begin outside Roman Way, where Dial-a-Cab’s fitting Bay is situated. The programme’s measuring device showed a speed bump that was 270mm above legal limits. Perhaps the council should hire a mountaineer to check that one and some of the colossal humps in Copenhagen Street also, where one driver told Call Sign that a supply of oxygen could come in handy! |
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