A 35-centimeter high curb strategically placed on a 90-degree road corner in Salisbury， Wiltshire， UK， has gained infamy， being dubbed the “car killer” by the media and the “rim graveyard” by some drivers.
The curb has become a daily hazard， with numerous vehicles reportedly colliding with it. Frustrated drivers attribute these accidents to its unreasonable design， citing its excessive height and demanding compensation. As of now， eight individuals have lodged claims.
An online community dedicated to this particular curb has emerged， boasting over 4，200 members who share their experiences and complaints regarding the accidents it has caused.
Such has been the curb’s notoriety that it has even been listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps.
The curb， originally designed to enhance pedestrian safety and recently raised to 35cm in October 2024， has seen a surge in accidents since its modification. Previously， the curb was at a more standard， lower height.
The location of the curb is particularly problematic due to its placement on a sharp 90-degree turn， leading towards a train station with high traffic volumes. The road itself is narrow， with a single lane in each direction. This combination of factors makes it difficult for drivers， especially those unfamiliar with the area， to safely navigate the corner without striking the raised curb.
The significant height difference， with this curb reaching up to 35cm compared to the typical 10cm for most curbs， results in substantial damage to vehicles involved in collisions.
One notable incident involved 82-year-old retired pilot Anthony， who， while attempting to avoid an oncoming vehicle during the turn， struck the curb， incurring £4，000 in damages. He was informed at the local repair shop that he was the third vehicle to suffer damage at that spot on that particular day.
Similarly， in March， 34-year-old Tom’s Ford suffered severe damage， with its side panel significantly dented， after hitting the curb. Astonishingly， a BMW behind him also collided with the same curb shortly after Tom had driven away.
A local florist corroborated these reports， stating that vehicles hit the curb almost daily， frequently causing traffic congestion in the area.
In fact， there were zero compensation claims related to this curb in the three years prior to its height being increased in October. Since the modification， the relevant authorities have received eight such claims.
The frequent accidents have led to widespread complaints from drivers. However， public opinion on the matter is sharply divided.
A significant portion of the public believes that the primary cause of accidents at this location is poor driving skills rather than a design flaw.
“Can we stop blaming the curb and start blaming the drivers? Drivers have a significant role to play here，” noted one commenter.
Another observed， “The online page dedicated to it doesn’t seem to be for ‘victims’ but rather a place to mock people who can’t drive.”
“If you can’t even manage a turn， your license should be revoked!” a third commenter stated.
From a professional perspective， a driving instructor， who wished to remain anonymous， also attributed the incidents to driver error. “I constantly teach my students to be vigilant about curbs when turning. If visibility is a problem from the driver’s seat， they should utilize the mirrors or enlist the help of the passenger to guide them，” they advised.
Indeed， the maneuver in question resembles a right-angle turn， a mandatory component of driving tests， suggesting that navigating it should be within the capabilities of most licensed drivers.
Regardless of whether one sides with the experienced drivers or sympathizes with the victims， the situation is set to change. The local authorities have decided to undertake further road modifications， with work scheduled to commence next week.
The upcoming improvements include reducing the gradient of the pedestrian walkway， lowering the height of the curb， installing a bollard to guide vehicles around the 90-degree corner， and implementing additional features to assist drivers in safely negotiating the junction.
In a related note， an interesting road design in Pennsylvania， USA， that emerged in March featured wave-like markings painted on the road surface. Local authorities claimed these markings were intended to deter speeding. However， the design was met with public ridicule， with many finding it impractical and amusing.
The reasoning behind the criticism was that vehicles driving on these wavy lines appeared to be swerving erratically， as if under the influence of alcohol. Moreover， the public consensus was that speed bumps would be a far more effective measure for traffic calming. This dual criticism has left many in the local community questioning the actual purpose of these wavy lines， suggesting they might merely be an attempt at being unconventional.
