DickyNick:
Why are some bridges frequently hit and other aren’t? There must be a reason behind that.
I always wonder if some bridge strikes are caused by drivers being told by other drivers or the office, yeah yeah yeah your fine to get under that bridge with that trailer. Others do it, or it’s been done before. But then all it takes is the road to be resurfaced or the driver running with the axle lifted or his air left up accidentally.
I think the reason is simply that there’s no advance warning of upcoming low bridges - they seem to assume everyone has a sat-nav that will direct them round the hazard. Lichfield is a perfect example; no advance warnings at the important turnings (e.g. by the school on the north side). All approaches should have signs telling drivers the way to the A51 and Rugeley and, importantly, why they can’t go through the town centre.
The other reason is just that we get to pull different trailers all the time - some companies have a rag-bag of different trailers, some 4.2m, some 4.5m, and sometimes people just forget. I go through Litchfield for Amazon and I never have a low trailer so I always go along Clappers Lane but I can understand if it’s your fifth trailer that day.
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Again no excuse on either scenario.
There’s a ■■■■ big sign at the entrance to the bridge.
He’s supposedlly a pro driver of an artic that pulls high trailers that should be sufficient for him to make a decision, but no, he just tear arses through it wrecking his trailer.
Sat navs have also Jack ■■■■ to do with it, I use a car sat nav, and have never 2 hatted a bridge yet.
Also ‘‘people’’ don’t forget, but inept knob heads who should not be let anywhere near an artic… do.
the bridge is marked 14 feet and 4.2 m. one of these measurements is clearly wrong.
If you assume 4.2m is the correct bridge height then measure you trailer in the yard with your measuring tape at 13ft 10.
when you approach that bridge marked at 14 ft you are not going to fit under.
Cronus:
I wonder if anyone who has hit a bridge has ever kept his/her job… unless he/she is the owner of course I. I presume the larger companies would have disciplinary procedures in place with dismissal the norm, but smaller family hauliers may react differently?
Few years back loaded 360 n dumper on wagon,south london,last words to driver,small sheff firm,ok for height?
Sure enough he hit a bridge knocked dipper ram,few weeks later after machinery firm changed haulier,was loading 360 again at woodhead,different sheff haulier,same driver,!
DickyNick:
Why are some bridges frequently hit and other aren’t? There must be a reason behind that.
I always wonder if some bridge strikes are caused by drivers being told by other drivers or the office, yeah yeah yeah your fine to get under that bridge with that trailer. Others do it, or it’s been done before. But then all it takes is the road to be resurfaced or the driver running with the axle lifted or his air left up accidentally.
I think the reason is simply that there’s no advance warning of upcoming low bridges - they seem to assume everyone has a sat-nav that will direct them round the hazard. Lichfield is a perfect example; no advance warnings at the important turnings (e.g. by the school on the north side). All approaches should have signs telling drivers the way to the A51 and Rugeley and, importantly, why they can’t go through the town centre.
The other reason is just that we get to pull different trailers all the time - some companies have a rag-bag of different trailers, some 4.2m, some 4.5m, and sometimes people just forget. I go through Litchfield for Amazon and I never have a low trailer so I always go along Clappers Lane but I can understand if it’s your fifth trailer that day.
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Again no excuse on either scenario.
There’s a [zb] big sign at the entrance to the bridge.
He’s supposedlly a pro driver of an artic that pulls high trailers that should be sufficient for him to make a decision, but no, he just tear arses through it wrecking his trailer.
Sat navs have also Jack [zb] to do with it, I use a car sat nav, and have never 2 hatted a bridge yet.
Also ‘‘people’’ don’t forget, but inept knob heads who should not be let anywhere near an artic… do.
I like the way you phrased it that you haven’t hit a bridge YET rob
DickyNick:
Why are some bridges frequently hit and other aren’t? There must be a reason behind that.
I always wonder if some bridge strikes are caused by drivers being told by other drivers or the office, yeah yeah yeah your fine to get under that bridge with that trailer. Others do it, or it’s been done before. But then all it takes is the road to be resurfaced or the driver running with the axle lifted or his air left up accidentally.
I think the reason is simply that there’s no advance warning of upcoming low bridges - they seem to assume everyone has a sat-nav that will direct them round the hazard. Lichfield is a perfect example; no advance warnings at the important turnings (e.g. by the school on the north side). All approaches should have signs telling drivers the way to the A51 and Rugeley and, importantly, why they can’t go through the town centre.
The other reason is just that we get to pull different trailers all the time - some companies have a rag-bag of different trailers, some 4.2m, some 4.5m, and sometimes people just forget. I go through Litchfield for Amazon and I never have a low trailer so I always go along Clappers Lane but I can understand if it’s your fifth trailer that day.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Again no excuse on either scenario.
There’s a [zb] big sign at the entrance to the bridge.
He’s supposedlly a pro driver of an artic that pulls high trailers that should be sufficient for him to make a decision, but no, he just tear arses through it wrecking his trailer.
Sat navs have also Jack [zb] to do with it, I use a car sat nav, and have never 2 hatted a bridge yet.
Also ‘‘people’’ don’t forget, but inept knob heads who should not be let anywhere near an artic… do.
I like the way you phrased it that you haven’t hit a bridge YET rob
You’d have thought with a bridge that is being hit that often that they’d put up two massive steel H beams across the road at the same height as the bridge, one either side each several feet before the bridge so that these neds can whack those instead. I’ve seen a few bridges where that has been done.
Conor:
You’d have thought with a bridge that is being hit that often that they’d put up two massive steel H beams across the road at the same height as the bridge, one either side each several feet before the bridge so that these neds can whack those instead. I’ve seen a few bridges where that has been done.
Someone has said though there is no warning when you turn onto this road. I don’t know, if never driven down there. And that the first warning you have is when your at the bridge itself. Now no that’s not an excuse. But if it’s frequently struck, and if that is true about it not being signposted when you turn onto the Road? Then surely that would be the first thing to do?
Our rail bridge across the A6 has illuminated warnings either side that light up when anything overheight (or close to it) approaches, surley that system should be possible to install on this and other frequently struck overbridges? Some in North Notts have chains a few yards before the bridge, they appear to work?
I’ve long suspected that the reason so many bridge strikes happen with double decker trailers - is simply that a driver, full time or agency, Brit or Foreigner - will be specifically given a “safe road map” from A to B in their duty content paperwork…
Then, there’s a diversion in place when you get there, and you’re not familiar with the outlying roads on that diversion.
Who gets warnings on their satnavs for “bridges under 16’2” high?
I suggest then - that it is DIVERSIONS that cause most of these bridge strikes, rather than “wrong turns”, or straight-forward ■■■■-ups.
I don’t believe this theory that “johnny foreigner doesn’t understand the headroom warnings, because it’s in feet and inches”.
Winseer:
I’ve long suspected that the reason so many bridge strikes happen with double decker trailers - is simply that a driver, full time or agency, Brit or Foreigner - will be specifically given a “safe road map” from A to B in their duty content paperwork…
Then, there’s a diversion in place when you get there, and you’re not familiar with the outlying roads on that diversion.
Who gets warnings on their satnavs for “bridges under 16’2” high?
I suggest then - that it is DIVERSIONS that cause most of these bridge strikes, rather than “wrong turns”, or straight-forward ■■■■-ups.
I don’t believe this theory that “johnny foreigner doesn’t understand the headroom warnings, because it’s in feet and inches”.
When it’s a properly planned overnight diversion you do frequently see 2 diversions. 1 for vehicles over x height and one for vehicles under x height. For example at Holmes chapel they send vehicle under 15’9 down the A50 and vehicles over 15’9 along the A54 to join the A34. Even though the bridge on the A50 is 16ft.
I hear what your saying but it’s no excuse to ignore signs is it! And then to still carry on under a bridge marked lower than your vehicle.
I can only guess the reasons are
1/ simply not know the height of the vehicle at all
2/ driver having guessed (wrongly) the height
3/ not paying any attention to signs (it which case they should be done for driving without due care)
4/ this theory about disbelief. Ie the driver knew his height, he sees the signs and the marking on the bridge itself, but having got that far he just doesn’t believe it’s all true and goes and ploughs through.
