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Q. Why do I need speed ramps on my site?
Q. Are your ramps designed the same as highway speed ramps?
Q. What weights of vehicles can drive over the ramps?
Q. We get a lot of HGV traffic and the drivers will not slow down. Which ramp do we use?
Q. Do I need an exact length of ramp for my road?
Q. Plastic is much cheaper, why use rubber?
Q. Are they manufactured in recycled material?
Q. How will I know which type of ramp is best for my site?
Q. Which bit of the road do I measure for the ramps?
Q. Are there safe positions for the ramps?
Q. How do cyclists react?
Q. Is there a safe speed limit?
Q. How do speed ramps arrive on site?
Q. Can I fix the speed ramps on my site?
Q. Will they fit on my existing road surface?
Q. My road surface is very poor (unusual). Will they bolt down securely?
Q. What tools will I need?
Q. Is there a choice in fixings?
Q. Do I have to close my road/site down?
Q. How long does it take to install a speed ramp?
Q. Can they be tamper proof?
Q. Can I re-site the ramps?
Q. How long will the rubber ramps last?
Q. Can I see them at night?
Q. Do I have to paint them?
Q. Do I need reflective traffic signs?
Q. What happens if someone complains about the ramp?
Q. Will they divert surface water running past?
Q. Who first thought of bolt down speed ramps?
Q. Am I allowed to slow traffic down outside my house?
Q. Can I put cables through the ramp?

Q. Why do I need speed ramps on my site?
a. You may not. Signage advising drivers of the correct speed safe limit for the site is the first resort. The H&SE recommends using speed ramps or changing the road layout where drivers are not obeying the site’s speed limits. The reason to slow traffic down, if off the highway, is space is at a premium; often pedestrians do not have clearly defined areas to walk safely. Ramps helping maintain slower speeds will reduce the risk of accidents on your site.
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Q. Are your ramps designed the same as highway speed ramps?
a. Definitely not. We are working to get speed down to a safe 5 to 10mph not the 20mph the MOT ramps and speed cushions are designed for. All our products are designed with safety in mind and the maximum height of our ramps is only 75mm. Highway ramps are much wider, jelly mould shape and at least 100mm high.
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Q. What weights of vehicles can drive over the ramps?
a. Any European registered vehicle can drive over safely. The greater the weight, the more wheels and axels the vehicle will have. Even the largest trucks slow down as their cabs drive over the ramps. At the other end of the scale Smart cars, featured in our literature have no problem driving over safely and at the correct speed.
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Q. We get a lot of HGV traffic and the drivers will not slow down. Which ramp do we use?
a. Our BART ramp, inspired by Bart Simpson’s hair, will take on the toughest of jobs. It is the ramp that works for waste transfer stations where there is a long queue of fully laden skip drivers waiting to off-load. If you can slow them down and come back for more, you have to be tough! Back to top

Q. Do I need an exact length of ramp for my road?
a. It is a bargain! We do not charge for cutting the speed ramp to any size to the nearest 10mm so you can make the ramps fit your site exactly. If you leave a gap at either end of a speed ramp drivers will just run the wheels through the gully reducing the effect of the ramp.
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Q. Plastic is much cheaper, why use rubber?
a. They are such different materials, but why do cars and trucks still have rubber tyres not plastic? For taking the wear and tear long term, your average speed ramp should be concrete, asphalt or rubber. We prefer rubber because it is safer and compatible with tyres. If someone with a badly maintained low-slung vehicle drives over a rubber ramp the worst that should happen is a nick in the top of the ramp. Do the same over concrete or asphalt ramps and bits of the vehicle might fall off.
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Q. Are they manufactured in recycled material?
a. Yes. Our rubber compound is sourced from tyre stock that failed the performance specification required for high-speed tyres. Rather than scrap it, we can recycle this rubber compound and run it through our machines to produce high quality goods that are fit for purpose.
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Q. How will I know which type of ramp is best for my site?
a. Please call and ask us, we have manufactured and sold these products for over 35 years. Back to top

Q. Which bit of the road do I measure for the ramps?
a. If it is kerb to kerb, leave 100mm for gully cleaning at each end. If one or both ends are exposed, make the ramp long enough to ensure drivers drive over the ramp and not detour around the ends. Back to top

Q. Are there safe positions for the ramps?
a. Traffic will slow down as they approach the ramps and speed away after they have passed over. Pedestrian crossings, entrance and exits to car parks and long straight runs are all likely contenders for speed ramps. Bolt down ramps are easy to site and re-site to help you fine-tune your site. Back to top

Q. How do cyclists react?
a. Brightly coloured black and yellow rubber ramps are highly visible giving the cyclist every opportunity to ride over safely. Cyclists are anti-ramps, they like to cycle as fast as possible, but they are for the safe environment where other traffic speeds are controlled. It is not recommended to leave a gap for cyclists because of the increased danger of vehicles driving offline to pass their wheels through that same gap.
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Q. Is there a safe speed limit?
a. All sites are different and require a positive approach to the problem. Off highway sites can have a range of 5 to 15 mph speed limits advised. It is important to use reflective signage to the MOT specification so that drivers are familiar with the message the signs are giving. Lower speeds are more popular. Back to top

Q. How do speed ramps arrive on site?
a. We use two methods - either our designated carriers or our own transport if we are installing the speed ramps. Back to top

Q. Can I fix the speed ramps on my site?
a. Absolutely. Most people can easily fix the ramps themselves. The work involved is well within the capabilities of maintenance engineers. Fixing instructions can be faxed or emailed. Back to top

Q. Will they fit on my existing road surface?
a. Bolt down rubber ramps are designed to fix on to concrete, asphalt, and asphalt with concrete underneath, tarmac or blocks surfaces. Back to top

Q. My road surface is very poor (unusual). Will they bolt down securely?
a. There are surfaces out there that are not the most obvious to bolt down to. In most cases the answer is to get a detailed drawing from us and prepare concrete footings where the fixings are located. For these types of sites, fit the ramps without end caps, just have chamfered ends. Back to top

Q. What tools will I need?
a. The main task is to drill 13/14mm holes in to your road surface. Hire a powerful 110v masonry drill. You also need a hammer to knock the plugs in to the ground and socket wrench to tighten up the fixing bolts. Back to top

Q. Is there a choice in fixings?
a. Most people opt for the factory fitted plate fixing with reflectors. The other choice is to have the ramp drilled from the top (4 holes per metre) and simply bolted down. You lose the metal plates but you can still bolt reflectors in front of the ramp.
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Q. Do I have to close my road/site down?
a. As part of our risk assessment, we suggest that you divert the traffic. Engineers installing the ramps should wear high visibility clothing and use chapter 8 safety equipment to warn and alert drivers that work is happening on your roadway and site. Back to top

Q. How long does it take to install a speed ramp?
a. It takes about an hour for two people to fit a five-metre ramp. Back to top

Q. Can they be tamper proof?
a. It is an unusual request. Who would want to steal a ramp? However we are aware that ramps can be attacked so we supply stainless steel security collars that hammer on to the heads of our fixing bolts stopping unauthorised removal. Back to top

Q. Can I re-site the ramps?
a. Careful planning should mean the ramps are in the right place. If you need to move them or your site layout changes they can be easily unbolted and re-located, if you have not used security collars. Leave the nylon plugs in the road surface to seal the drilled holes and ask us for some more plugs. Back to top

Q. How long will the rubber ramps last?
a. We have photos on our web site showing what the ramps look like after 5, 10 and 15 years. It depends on the volume of traffic but it takes a long time before the ramps wear our. Back to top

Q. Can I see them at night?
a. Foreign objects bolted on to the road always stand out. Large black and yellow objects directly in front of you are pretty much unavoidable. Our amber reflectors can be picked up in your headlights 200 metres away from the ramp giving you plenty of time to slow down. Back to top

Q. Do I have to paint them?
a. No, we have saved you the trouble. Our yellow end caps and bright yellow stripes are self-coloured. Back to top

Q. Do I need reflective traffic signs?
a. Drivers understand highway signs. Keep it simple. Use the same format so there is no confusion about speed limits and the location of speed ramps. Highway signs are reflective so that they work 24/7. Seeing the speed limit when driving on an unlit site at night is important. Back to top

Q. What happens if someone complains about the ramp?
a. The few complaints we get are that cars are not able to drive over our ramps. We give advice about which type and height of ramp to fit so if someone is having a problem driving over, their car is not to manufacturers’ standards. Our advice is to take their car to an MOT testing station to find out why. Remember the local authority can build 100mm ramps legally and ours are only 75mm high, max.
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Q. Will they divert surface water running past?
a. Yes, and we often get asked this question. The trick is to run a bead of mastic seal and bond provided by use down the front edge on the extruded ramp and keep joints to a minimum. Back to top

Q. Who first thought of bolt down speed ramps?
a. We did in 1971; yes, you’re right, we don’t tell taxi drivers. Back to top

Q. Am I allowed to slow traffic down outside my house?
a. Probably not. Is it an un-adopted road and can you legally advise a 5 or 10mph speed limit sign? Do you want to annoy the neighbours or is the road being used by fast moving traffic? Talk to your local highway engineers for advice. Back to top

Q. Can I put cables through the ramp.
a. Yes. We have a version with a 60mm x 30mm slot so provided the cable fits in that space our CR10 will protect them and slow down traffic at the same time. Cable protection is a big subject with lots of choices. Back to top