A video of a Chevrolet Camaro has gone viral on Facebook (and Instagram!), showing two very different ways to cross a speedbreaker. Shared by J.R. Builds (@j.rbuilds), the clip has already crossed 1.9 million views and has car lovers debating: should you go straight over a bump, or creep across at an angle?
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Two Styles, One Speedbreaker
In the first half of the video, we see how most drivers do it. They slow down and simply drive straight across the bump. Quick, simple, and done.
But then comes the “car guy” method. Using a Camaro, the driver swings wide, lines up diagonally, and gently rolls over the bump one wheel at a time before straightening out. It looks a little dramatic – J.R. even captions it as “Overkill” – but for sports car owners, it’s a familiar ritual.
Why Go Diagonal Over A Speedbreaker?
As over-the-top as it looks, there’s logic behind the angled crawl. Sports cars like the Camaro sit low to the ground. If you go straight over, the underbody often scrapes against the bump. And that scraping noise isn’t just annoying – it can actually cause damage. Repeated scrapes may lead to corrosion, suspension wear, fluid leaks, or even weakened underbody panels. Going diagonal spreads the impact and reduces the chance of hitting bottom.
How To Drive Over A Speedbreaker?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Many recommend the straight-and-slow method as the safest option for most cars.Keeping both wheels aligned helps the suspension absorb the bump evenly.
Driving diagonally increases twisting forces on the chassis. It tries twist one corner, then the next. And racing straight over bumps without slowing down? That’s the worst option. Experts agree it slams the suspension, wearing out shocks and dampers much faster.
So, what should you do if your car is genuinely low-slung like the Chevy Camaro? Here’s the best way to do it right.
- Crawl over the bump as slowly as possible.
- Approach at about a 45-degree angle to shorten the wheelbase.
- Straighten out only after both front wheels clear.
This won’t guarantee zero scraping, but it reduces the risk and saves wear on your suspension.
For everyday cars, the straight, slow approach works fine. But for low-slung sports cars, the angled crawl makes more sense.
In the end, there isn’t one single “correct” way to cross a speedbreaker. The ideal one depends on what the ground clearance of your vehicle is and how it could potentially be affected by the size (and height) of the speedbreaker.
