Driving Hacks: How To Drive Safely Over Asphalt Speed Bumps? 3 Tips

Asphalt speed bumps are the most common type of speed bumps you will see on roads — and for good reasons. Asphalt speed bumps ensure that drivers do not disregard the speed limit signboard and resist the urge to exceed the 100-mile mark on their speedometers. In this way, asphalt speed bumps actually save the lives of hundreds (if not thousands) of pedestrians and motorists on a daily basis.

As important as asphalt speed bumps are, they get a bad rep for being unpleasant to drive over and causing damage to vehicles — especially those with low ground clearances. Is it an issue with the speed bumps? Not really! The problem lies within the drivers who are unaware of the proper technique for driving over asphalt speed bumps.

Here’s how to drive safely over asphalt speed bumps to avoid damaging your beloved car.

The Right Way of Crossing an Asphalt Speed Bump

We all have been taught what not to do when approaching a speed bump — not to speed up. But we are rarely taught how to drive over asphalt speed bumps in a safe manner. This is especially true for drivers of low ground clearance vehicles, who often wind up scratching their cars after passing over a speed bump.

Worry no longer — we are here to help you prevent the worst-case scenario!

Firstly, if your car has manual transmissions, pay attention to the gear and speed. On the other hand, if you have an automatic transmission, you only need to be aware of the speed. The ideal speed while driving over asphalt speed bumps should be about 3 MPH — yes, you have to be that slow to avoid damaging your car.

Furthermore, when you are about to hit the bump, slow down and release the brake, and then gently accelerate when you reach the top of the bump.

Drivers often have the perception that they should drive over a speed bump at an angle, but that would do you no good — even if your car has low ground clearance. In fact, the more upright your vehicle is, the more easily it will cross the bump, making you feel less uncomfortable.

Why is speeding over asphalt speed bumps inadvisable?

Every driver has heard that driving too fast over asphalt speed bumps is dangerous. But don’t you wonder why that is the case? Let us explain.

Driving over asphalt speed bumps at high speed is similar to hitting a car with a strong hammer — the damage is pretty much inevitable. Though vehicles are built to absorb shocks to a certain degree, the suspension system in a vehicle is not well-equipped to respond to sudden shocks.

Speeding over asphalt speed bumps exposes your vehicle to a sudden shock, which can have a significant impact on the tires, steering wheel, and suspension systems of the vehicle.

Therefore, always approach asphalt speed with one simple rule: you do not have to fly over them, and safety is guaranteed.

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