How speed ramp height affects the damage risk for smaller vehicles

With more than 15 years of experience to our name in commercial bollards and traffic control solutions here at Bollard Security, we know that speed ramps can be a highly effective way for your business to manage traffic on your premises, keeping drivers at safe speeds and protecting the integrity of your site and the safety of your visitors. However, you’ll need to choose them carefully – the design of a ramp determines how cars and vans move over it, and height is one of the most important features that you need to consider. If you install ramps that are too high, smaller cars are more likely to suffer damage, which can cause a whole host of related issues. So, to avoid them, let’s take a quick look at how ramp height links to damage risk.

How ramp height influences contact with a car’s underside

The height of a ramp has a direct impact on how vehicles move across your site. A low ramp allows a car’s suspension to absorb the rise and fall, reducing the chance of the underside making contact with the surface. A ramp set too high creates a steeper angle of entry and exit, which increases the risk that the bumper, exhaust, or chassis of a smaller car will strike the ramp.

A higher ramp also places greater strain on suspension. Smaller vehicles with limited suspension travel are particularly vulnerable, making contact with the ramp more likely each time they pass over it. Frequent impacts can lead to visible scrapes, mechanical damage, and growing dissatisfaction among drivers. It’s therefore a smart move to make sure that you’ve always got careful control of the height of your ramps – enabling you to keep speeds in check, lowering the risk of costly damage to smaller cars, and maintaining a safer, more welcoming environment on your premises.

The types of smaller cars most affected by higher ramps

Certain types of cars are at greater risk on taller ramps, so you’ll need to take this into account when you plan your site. Sports cars are one of the clearest examples because they usually have very low ground clearance. If drivers of these cars visit the premises, they can face a strong risk of damage if the ramps are higher than recommended. City cars with compact suspension systems can also struggle because their lighter build means that they absorb the impact of a tall ramp less effectively. If your site regularly receives visitors in either of these types of cars, then you’ll need to take extra care in your ramp design.

While you’re at it, you’ll also need to consider vans and small commercial cars must also be considered. If these vehicles are carrying heavy loads, the added weight lowers the clearance further and increases the risk of damage. That means that even moderate ramp heights can cause the underside of a loaded van to scrape or strike the surface. If your business sees visitors on regular deliveries or collections carried out in light vans, then it’s always a good plan to make sure you’ve installed ramps of a suitable height – protecting the flow of traffic, and of course your relationship with suppliers.

The role of installation standards in reducing damage risk

Just as important as the design of your ramps is the way that your company installs them. National standards specify maximum heights and gradients, so it’s always good to double check you’re following these standards – that ensures that you control speed without exposing smaller cars to unnecessary risk.

Placement is another detail that you’ll need to carefully address. If the ramps are positioned too close together, the cars face repeated jolts that increase the strain on the smaller models. This repeated impact raises the likelihood that someone will experience damage, and they may even hold your business responsible. You can achieve the balance between slowing traffic and protecting every visitor’s car by spacing ramps sensibly and installing them to specification. That attention to installation keeps your site secure and accessible, and helps you to maintain that smooth flow of daily operations.

Those are the key points in a nutshell! If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask our team here at Bollard Security – throughout our 15 years in business, we’ve always taken pride in installing and maintaining security solutions across the UK for domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors, and we take pride in providing quality products that give our customers peace of mind. Don’t hesitate to contact us on 01535 509001 for advice and recommendations on the best arm barriers or other commercial access control solutions for your site – we’re always happy to help.