The commonest traffic calming device is the speed hump. Speed bumps, speed humps, sleeping policemen – whatever you like to call them, most people are all too familiar with them. Most of us reluctantly slow down when we see them – which of course, is the point. Some of us probably drive over them far too fast, and almost everyone dislikes them.

Surprisingly, the speed hump is almost as old as the car itself – the world’s first one was installed in the United States in 1906, while the first speed humps in the UK were introduced in the 1970s by the Wilson government. Today there are around 500,000 speed humps of various sizes throughout the UK.

The advantages of speed humps are clear. If used correctly, they are intended to slow vehicles down and potentially cause fewer accidents. Despite this, there are various claims that they actually cause more accidents as well being damaging to vehicles and people and causing greater pollution.

In recent years, speed humps have been in the news more than you might think. In June 2003, the London Borough of Barnet announced it was going to tear up every speed bump, because of driver complaints. And a Nottinghamshire village - which boasts 125 speed humps - voted by a 98% majority to remove all their humps.

Many drivers claim that they are so preoccupied with having to slow down for speed humps, that they are actually distracted to the point of not seeing other vehicles or pedestrians. However, ROSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) points out that on average, 1 in 10 pedestrians will be killed if hit by a vehicle going at 20 mph, as opposed to 9 out of 10 killed if hit at 40 mph.

And if you don’t slow down in time, driving over a speed hump can be uncomfortable, if not actually dangerous - bus drivers in Sheffield have sued over back injuries while trying to navigate speed humps in the city. ROSPA is quick to point out that anybody hurt by a speed hump is simply driving too fast to begin with.

There’s also some evidence that cars, lorries and other vehicles can be damaged by speed humps. Sports cars and other vehicles low to the ground can easily be damaged, even if driving over them at the recommended slower speed.

Many lorry drivers in particular complain about damage to their vehicle. There have been numerous cases of loads being damaged – or coming off the back of the lorry completely. Experts also point out that a lorry that slows down for a speed hump and then accelerates afterwards is actually making more noise, using more petrol and causing more pollution.

So what is the future of the seemingly despised traffic calming speed hump? It seems as though we are stuck with them although legislation has meant that most speed humps in the UK are now less than 75 mm in height, to reduce vehicle damage. Perhaps Roger Lawson will get his way in the end – he recently submitted a petition to Parliament calling for the removal of all speed humps in the UK.

James Martindale writes for Rocol. Rocol specialise in industrial lubricants, anti graffiti products and traffic calming. Rocol take pride in producing advanced products for industry needs.

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