A new study by a UK car leasing company says that speed bumps are costing drivers an average of £250 on unnecessary repair bills. 

The Flexed.co.uk  study says that motorists living in areas where roads are ‘calmed’ by speed bumps are paying out on broken suspension, cracked exhaust systems and bodywork and trim damage.  Good news for garages, but bad news for the cash strapped motorist.

The report suggests that many speed bumps are poorly designed and in many cases are just not necessary. The authors suggest local authorities should invest in alternative measures to slow down traffic rather than those which punish drivers. Flexed spokesperson Mark Hall says, “Speed bumps are out-dated and it's pretty much accepted that they don't make a great deal of difference.” It is also suggested that they cause environmental damage as cars speed up and slow down more often.

Another study published by Warranty Direct in October 2014 found that the average bill for damage caused by speed bumps was £247, with some drivers paying out over £1,000.

Many alternatives now exist to the standard hump design. Chicanes are the favoured option of many as they keep drivers more alert. It is also suggested that lane narrowing schemes and imaginative parking layouts also slow traffic more effectively.