Curbs at malls: the invisible ‘traps’

JAPIE PRETORIUS writes:

Many people express concern over the damage caused by potholes but what about deliberate vertical and high curbs designed specifically to damage car wheels in parking lots.

An undetected tyre cut in a parking lot could cause a major accident when later travelling at high speed.

Action should rather be diverted to developers who spend millions creating shopping malls to rightfully lure customers but then deliberately go and build curbs that are guaranteed to damage even the most careful driver’s wheel, tyre, rim or hub cap.

A curb slanted at 45 degrees or flatter, 100mm to 150mm high, will not cause damage to wheels at low speed, but will warn the driver of an obstruction if accidentally making contact with it.

On the other hand, vertical curbs 230mm high are guaranteed to cause damage, even at a dead slow manoeuvre. A normal size car rim is ±100mm high. Why build 230mm? Do they want to stop heavy run-away trucks in a car parking lot?

In all the years of driving I have not caused a single accident/incident with a vehicle since my reckless and daring childhood of the 1940/50s. Yet, the other day, while waiting for my partially handicapped wife to get into the car, I forgot about the (trap) vertical curb circle around a dead tree, slowly drove forward and now have a damaged hub cap – my first – congratulations, Mr Developer.

My driving experience includes extra heavy vehicles, abnormal vehicles, 4X4 routes plus driving in countries, both left and right hand drive, in Greater Africa, no lines with dangerous trenches and very large potholes, Europe (Alps), Britain with very narrow ancient roads, Americas and Far East.

Apart from being a racing driver, I was also a precision-driving judge as well as trainer in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Never again will you find me shopping at that mall where I scratched my hub cap or any other mall with deliberate “traps” designed to damage cars.