Sleeping policemen

[1340fxd]

I'm new to Z4 ownership and live in London where we have a lot of these stupid traffic calming sleeping policemen. The ones that worry me are the "tits" in the road - you know, the ones where you can get a wheel either side and hadly slow down. I did a few of these today and got a nasty scraping sound across one.

If the bottom of the car does make contact, what is the lowest hanging part that I'm going to damage?

Any driving tips for dealing with these other than stop, get-out of the car to have a look and then drive over at 2mph for each one?

 

[Andy]

i tend to go one wheel straight over the middle if it's big, rather than getting the "nipple" full on under the nose.

wow.. this is going to turn into an innuendo thread isnt it ?

 

[Herminator]

I test drove a Z4 in an area full of those speed bumps, one every hundred yards, no wonder the guy was selling the car.

He said you need to take them as Andy says, one wheel over the middle of the lump, otherwise the bumper will often scrape.

 

[Medium Dave]

I think I read somewhere that if you try to straddle the speed cushion it can throw your tracking out. I always do as suggested and put one wheel over the middle. Mine has never scraped doing this, even over some pretty large bumps.

 

[gannet]

Another thing to consider when straddling these types of bumps is tyre wear on the inside sidewall... luckily I don't have many round near me but those that I do, one wheel over the middle works for me

 

[GAZA62]

I think I read somewhere that if you try to straddle the speed cushion it can throw your tracking out. I always do as suggested and put one wheel over the middle. Mine has never scraped doing this, even over some pretty large bumps.

Heard this on TV i just slow down a lot and sod who evers behind me getting pissed off that they have to slow down as well

 

[sp3ctre]

Sorry, but they are a fucking nightmare! Do they really need to build a small mountain in the road to slow you down? Smaller speed bumps work just as well and there is less chance of damaging your car.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I drive one wheel over them too if very high else centre it.

I was told, but have not had it verified, that driving around or crossing the centre line to avoid them is an road traffic offence??

 

[Aebous]

Someone tell me in American what he said.....

 

[mikedav]

Someone tell me in American what he said.....

 

[Wondermike]

I think I read somewhere that if you try to straddle the speed cushion it can throw your tracking out. I always do as suggested and put one wheel over the middle. Mine has never scraped doing this, even over some pretty large bumps.

Heard this on TV i just slow down a lot and sod who evers behind me getting pissed off that they have to slow down as well

My car doesn't have sports suspension, so I have to slow down to under 10mph, as the nose pitches forward quite a lot and scrapes the front. I do get a bit guilty about the people behind, so I try and avoid the routes where I know there are loads of these.

IIRC it's usually local residents complaining about traffic speeds that makes the council install these, they don't usually do it off their own back, just as a response.

 

[sp3ctre]

Yeah, I fel guilty too so tend to get over it then floor it as fast as I can up to the next one, then slow down over it.... completely defeating the purpose of the things I think.

 

[GAZA62]

I think I read somewhere that if you try to straddle the speed cushion it can throw your tracking out. I always do as suggested and put one wheel over the middle. Mine has never scraped doing this, even over some pretty large bumps.

Heard this on TV i just slow down a lot and sod who evers behind me getting pissed off that they have to slow down as well

My car doesn't have sports suspension, so I have to slow down to under 10mph, as the nose pitches forward quite a lot and scrapes the front. I do get a bit guilty about the people behind, so I try and avoid the routes where I know there are loads of these.

IIRC it's usually local residents complaining about traffic speeds that makes the council install these, they don't usually do it off their own back, just as a response.

Dont get me wrong i do not like holding people up on purpose but it annoys we when people sit right up the arse of my car as i slow down for a speed hump especially 4x4 drivers and 7 ton lorrys or van man and i also speed up between each ramp as Sp3ctre said.

 

[Wondermike]

Yep usually some brain donor in a van behind me too. Best bit is if you get to a 60 limit and they're still behind you, vroooooooooommmmmm

 

[gannet]

Yep usually some brain donor in a van behind me too. Best bit is if you get to a 60 limit and they're still behind you, vroooooooooommmmmm

Somebody else does this too

It is even better if you can tell they are lining up an overtake :evil:

 

[Wondermike]

...It is even better if you can tell they are lining up an overtake :evil:

Someone tried this to me recently, I was like "...hello, did you stick it in reverse or something..."

Idiots

 

[sp3ctre]

...It is even better if you can tell they are lining up an overtake :evil:

Someone tried this to me recently, I was like "...hello, did you stick it in reverse or something..."

Idiots

Yeah, that motor of yours doesnt half shift!! I've only been in the 200, so I can only imagine what the 350 is like!!

 

[GAZA62]

Yep usually some brain donor in a van behind me too. Best bit is if you get to a 60 limit and they're still behind you, vroooooooooommmmmm

Thats why i am so pleased i bought the 3.0

 

[Wondermike]

Yeah, that motor of yours doesnt half shift!! I've only been in the 200, so I can only imagine what the 350 is like!!

Yep just a shame I don't have manual mode on the 'box that's all, in those situations first you get nothing and then it kicks down 4 gears and rockets off, doesn't seem to be enough in between.

And whilst baiting people who tailgate you can be good fun, there are more and more crazy fools on the roads these days, it can get a bit scary sometimes.

 

[bigshurv]

I don't think it's an offense to straddle the centre line and miss the bumps. I do it all the time.I still slow down, but if the oncoming lane is clear, I use some of it to minimise any potential damage to my car. I did a "bikesafe" course last year with a bike plod, and we spent much of our time on the wrong side of the road looking for vanishing points on bendy country roads.He stated that for safety, we should use however much of the road we need to in order to make safer progress, even if it meant being in the other carriageway. As long as their is nothing coming the other way, you are fine I'm sure.