Scottish Elises

On Friday 27th April, at about 9.45pm, while trying to find a parking space in Shawlands, I approached the end of Titwood Road where it meets Pollockshaws Road. It was dark. I was only doing about 10 - 15mph as I was approaching a junction, ready to slow down and give way.

Even though I was being an observant driver as always, I did not see the massive speed bump at the junction and heard an almight crack as I hit the bump. There were no warning signs for the bump and no white markings on it so you could see it in the dark. I had a friend in the car who is happy to be a formal witness that the bump was difficult to see in the dark, and that I was not going too fast.

It's taken a chunk of fibreglass out of the front clam, underneath where it joins onto the chassis/undertray. It has also ripped the paintwork completely off on both little "chin" bits either side of the reg plate. I can live with scratches and scuffs under there, but to get a chunk of fibreglass ripped off is ridiculous.

I'm sending a letter to Glasgow City Council with the images below as evidence, to claim the funds for the repair work from them. I'm willing to take this all the way to make the claim. Happy to get a lawyer involved if necessary. It's bad enough that they build ridiculously sized speed bumps, but to not even mark them or put warning signs up is just a complete joke!

Chunk of fibreglass ripped off:



Paintwork damage:





Approach to speedbump, showing that there are no warning signs or markings (imagine it in the dark - it's basically invisible!):



Also notice the state of the road around it with the typical GCC potholes:



Scuffs on the speedbump where other cars have also hit it, therefore proving that it's too large for most cars, not just mine:



Fecking council barstewards!

Letter getting posted tomorrow with pics.

D

Hope you get somewhere with it. That really is a hazzard.

A few weeks ago I contacted our Local Councilor to complain about the state of the 1/2 mile road down to the house. He agreed it was in a poor state and re appeared a couple of days later with the Roads Supervisor. Last monday lots of lines appeared on the road and on Wednesday a letter arrived saying that the whole road would be completely resurfaced later this month. Needless to say he got MY vote on Thursday

Hope you get it sorted out Dezzy.

Cheers
C

Thats awful Dezzy I hope you get some retribution

Looks like you have a case, shouldn't be more than 100mm high (which wouldn't be a problem for Elises on std ride heights) and should be marked.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19981448.htm

At the very least I'd expect compensation and the hump removed (or reduced to legal height).

Dezzy - fairly sure they will pay out as you have photographic evidence of the state of the road & speed mountain, the sad thing is the council pay out for damage rather than deal with the cause, it is cheaper for them!! -but doesn't take into account the major inconvenience & hassle for public in getting repairs done, time car off road etc.

IIRC there is a set height, width, marking standard for speed bumps set by Highways Agency- may well help your case if you can find out details. Keith

My experience of trying to get them to payout wasn't very positive

It took nearly 3 years and i got nowhere. Was a personal injusry though - i fell down an uncovered drain in the dark (sober)

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like I do have a case. Cheers for that link Ali - that'll be getting mentioned in my letter!

So, should I get a quote for the repair work or wait til the council contact me? It'll obviously be fibreglass repair for the underside and then a full respray of the front clam (I'm not accepting just a respray of the underside - need to make sure it all matches up).

Am I best going through MMC for the quote?

Just to add to this, I'd make mention that you were busy observing the approach to a busy T junction, even more reason for the road surface change to be painted or marked with a warning sign...

I happen to be doing a lot of work with the highways dept of Edinburgh Council at the moment, including the people who deal with 'traffic calming'. There are strict regulations about where speed bumps can be placed, their dimensions, and warning signs. Have a look at this http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1990/Uksi_19902623_en_1.htm

I think you may have a very strong case if there are no signs.

Mark

Doh! just realised Ali had already posted the link Good luck anyway!

dezzy wrote:Cheers for that link Ali - that'll be getting mentioned in my letter!

If you can measure the size of the bump and include it in the letter that would help, especially if it is over 100mm.


Good luck!

It was very intersting to read the rules for speed humps. Makes you wonder if any comply to all the rules. For anyone who has very been to my flat, they will be aware of the humps on the tight corners coming into the street. See below:


(6) No road hump shall be constructed or maintained in a road—
(d) within 8 metres of a road junction giving access to vehicular traffic to that road or a horizontal bend in which a vehicle has to change its direction by more than 45 degrees within a distance of less than 50 metres;

Hmmm... Dezzy, what's the address that you are writing to?

Roads and Lighting Faults
Glasgow City Council
City Chambers
George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DU

dezzy wrote:Roads and Lighting Faults
Glasgow City Council
City Chambers
George Square
Glasgow
G2 1DU

Dezzy - phone their claims number - they'll talk you through it.

GCC roads e-mail wrote: Dear Mr Hunter

Thank you for your roads fault report. I have logged this fault under Job Ref xxxxxxxxxx
If you wish to make a claim for damage to your car please contact Glasgow Roads Claims Section on 0141 287 9316 during working hours (ie 9 am to 4.30 pm).

Yours sincerely,

xxxxxx


Customer Service Advisor
Access Centre
Glasgow City Council
Centenary House
100 Morrison Street
Glasgow G5 8LN
Fax: 0141 418 1350

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk