Even when re-engineered as speed‘ cushions’ or‘ tables’, more than 30 years of speed humps hasn’ t lessened the loathing among 62 % of a sample of 24,070 AA members. Road works wind up 59 % of those questioned but the true strength of feeling is revealed among‘ extremely annoyed’ drivers, making up 38 % of those against speed humps compared to 31 % of those against roadworks. The reason is perhaps best found in the number of times drivers bump into a hump each day – at least one a day for 50 % of drivers, between six and 10 a day for 14 % and more than 10 a day for 21 %. For fleet and business drivers, humps bring added risk to cargo, and even passengers, as evidenced

by the death of an 86-yearold passenger on a bus in 2014. The prevalence of speed humps remains despite

them being introduced as far back as 1983 and the government’ s‘ dump the hump’ initiative in June 2011, which allowed

councils“ to put in place 20 mph schemes on residential roads or use common-sense measures such as variable speed limits

outside schools”. More cost effective than speed humps, they also reduce the potential of damage to vehicles and the impact on ambulances. However, the cost of removing the older humps and the introduction of newer versions means that they remain daily obstacle for drivers. Drivers in Yorkshire and Humberside are most vexed( 69 %) by road humps. However, with 27 % of them having to negotiate up to five speed humps a day, they are better off than the 36 % of Londoners and 29 % of the AA members in Northern Ireland facing the same challenge. Vehicles in the North East( 17 %), Wales( 17 %) and Northern Ireland( 18 %) are most likely to face an ordeal of ten road humps or more a day.

DRIVING ADVICE AA DriveTech’ s trainers recommend the following for driving over speed humps in business vehicles: Go slow on the approach, using brakes, and then let the vehicle’ s momentum take the vehicle over the hump. With half bumps, keep the vehicle stable by straddling the bump equally. Smooth driving in humped areas is better than harsh acceleration and braking between them. Humps indicate the need for increased driver awareness as they tend to be placed in higher risk areas. Route planning to avoid road-humped residential streets can reduce their impact on cargo and passengers.

www. theaa. com

Motorists face yet another fuel price hike, following the news that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries( Opec) has agreed to limit output of the world’ s oil for the first time in eight years. The cost to fill an average family car is set to rise by £ 5 as forecourt prices are pushed up, with a two-year high of 123p a litre estimated. This is a stark increase compared to 2016: in February that year the price was just 101.1p / litre for diesel drivers and 101.5p / litre for petrol. To help to keep costs down, the people behind fuel additive Redex have come up with these tips:

KEEP TYRES INFLATED Having a lower tyre pressure can increase drag on your car, so it is beneficial to check pressures are correct. It could increase fuel efficiency by up to three per cent.

DECLUTTER YOUR CAR Clearing out junk from your boot and foot wells makes it easier to accelerate. By not carrying around any unnecessary weight, you can save around two per cent of fuel.

TAKE YOUR ROOF RACK OFF According to the RAC, a roof rack can affect fuel consumption by ten per cent. If you don’ t need it, take it off, along with anything else inefficient.

DON’ T FILL YOUR FUEL TANK UP While it might be tempting to fill your car up while prices are lower, fuel is heavy, so by doing so you’ re adding quite a bit of weight to your vehicle. By filling up slightly more often and putting less in( 1 / 2 or 3 / 4 full), your car will run more efficiently. However, don’ t be tempted to run the fuel too low – winter driving uses more fuel, so you’ ll cover fewer miles per litre.

USE REDEX You can make your tank go further by using Redex, the fuel additive. It cleans the fuel system in your car, preventing build-up of harmful deposits on injectors. This increases miles per gallon, reduces emissions and ultimately extends engine life.

Redex is available in a handy boot pack of four‘ one shot’ bottles, for both diesel and petrol engines. The range is sold at Tesco, Asda, Halfords, Wilko and independent motoring specialists.

www. holtsauto. com