Indeed. We were in Northern Spain a few weeks ago and were amazed at how speed humps have multiplied in the couple of years since we were last there.

I'm a bit surprised to hear about Spanish driving habits. I know they tend to be suicidal nutters but I've always thought that the Spanish system of lights in front of you changing to red if you don't slow down was the ideal traffic management system. Of course, you're the one who lives there...

You must be hitting them at speed though, to damage the alloys? I tend to slow right down to 10mph and put one wheel central to the hump. It's a trade-off between protecting my car from damage and indignation at having to go so slowly when I have a legal...er...permission, not a "right"...to do 30.

I've always liked the idea of blasting my horn when going over speedbumps, you know to protect the kiddies from danger by giving adequate warning of my presence, but have never had the bottle to actually do it.

Shared surfaces seem to work, but again that slows the cars mainly. maybe teaching kids that roads are dangerous and to have some sort of responsibility would be good. In our street I regularly see kids cycle off the pavements without so much as a glance roadwards, in full view of their parents who do or say nothing.

My day, clip round the ear and no supper.

Could it be the tyre pressures weren't up to the mark? I can't help feeling that neglecting this with low-profile tyres [a ridiculous but obviously profitable recent development for the tyre/wheel industry] must result in lots of damaged wheels.