Doctors warn of health risks from new Hulhumalé road bumps

Doctors working in Hulhumalé have raised concerns about the newly installed speed bumps in the township, saying they could pose health risks to motorists and passengers.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has installed 36 speed bumps in different parts of Hulhumalé. Residents have complained that the bumps are unusually high, causing vehicles to jolt sharply when crossing.

Dr Iyad Naseem of Hulhumalé Hospital said in a social media post that the bumps are poorly designed and deviate from standard models. He warned that their height and shape could result in serious spinal injuries, particularly for those travelling on motorcycles. Citing international medical research, he noted that sudden impacts from improperly designed speed breakers have been linked to spinal damage and other health issues.

“In a country where many people travel by motorcycle, speed bumps of this kind can cause spinal fractures and even brain injury,” he wrote.

Another doctor from the same hospital, Dr Shahzan Hussain Mohamed, also voiced concern, saying the new installations were less effective than the old bumps. He suggested that multiple lower bumps in a row would be safer.

“There are already many people in Maldives with spinal cord problems who have undergone surgery. Driving ambulances over these bumps feels like hitting a wall,” Shahzan said, adding that the design made it difficult to differentiate between the bumps and pedestrians or bicycles at night.

The HDC has not commented on the medical concerns but confirmed that the new bumps have been installed across several locations in Hulhumalé.