I’m sure we’ve all eclipsed the recommended speed limit from time-to-time and been left shaking our head as the car rattles and vibrates. So, can this piece of road safety infrastructure damage your car if you go over the bump too fast?

Speed bump or speed hump?

Believe it or not, there is a difference between speed bumps and humps. RAA’s resident Car Advice Manager Andrew Clark explains how they differ.

“The gentler speed humps, which are smaller flatter bumps, are far easier for a vehicle to handle and gentler on the suspension,” he says.

Speed bumps are sharper and more angular and usually made from materials other than asphalt or road base.

What damage can these bumps cause?

If you drive over these speed bumps at a high speed, you risk damaging your car’s tyres, rims or suspension.

“A side effect of sharp humps or bumps is how the car rebounds when it hits them,” Andrew says.

“If the bump is sharp and high enough it can cause the car to nosedive into the road, which can result in the subframe, chassis, or in the worst-case scenario the engine sump, can strike the ground.

“This can damage the sump or sump drain plug and the oil could drain from your engine.”

What can I do?

The simplest way to avoid damaging your car when driving over a speed bump is to slow down.

Approach the speed bump with care and follow the signposted speed recommendation. This will ensure your car’s suspension and other parts can handle the bump.