Another bridge strike

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Chris Bertram
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Another bridge strike

Post by Chris Bertram »

Newtown, Powys. Driver misjudges height of load. Again. It's a container, this time.
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MiChaos
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by MiChaos »

This bridge in Swindon, victim to a lot of bridge strikes, has a "barrier" erected either side, so that if (when!) it does get hit, the bridge itself is usually okay. Are these commonplace on often-struck bridges?

Also reminds me of this pic - I often wonder why we don't use these more - seems more reliable than the laser-activated variable message signs; the ones in Swindon malfunction a fair few times!

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Lockwood
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Lockwood »

But that sign is twice as high as that bridge...
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Chris Bertram
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Chris Bertram »

Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These are very small; those are far away...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Big L
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Big L »

Lockwood wrote:But that sign is twice as high as that bridge...
Sign is still accurate though...
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urbanfox
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by urbanfox »

Was one at this bridge in Hinckley a few weeks ago...

As can be seen in the video in this article, the billboard now has a bright yellow 'LOW BRIDGE' warning on it :roll:
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M4 Cardiff
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by M4 Cardiff »

What's the exact traffic offense that bridge bashing falls under (assuming that no other road offenses are being committed at the time), and what are the penalties?
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Ruperts Trooper
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Ruperts Trooper »

Driving without due care and attention covers it - possibly causing criminal damage as well ?
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OLD GIT
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by OLD GIT »

urbanfox wrote:Was one at this bridge in Hinckley a few weeks ago...

As can be seen in the video in this article, the billboard now has a bright yellow 'LOW BRIDGE' warning on it :roll:
Getting a lot more common to see "Low Bridge" signs like that .Well round this way anyway .
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by urbanfox »

General bridge chatter here, but I noticed, while driving around Milton Keynes the other day, a number of bridges that were well over 17' were signed. Any particular reason for that (only have to be signed if under 16' 6")? Presumably it was some sort of future-proofing when MK was all built?
There's a bridge over our yard at work signed at 7.8 metres (about 25 feet!), other than aircraft, I'm not quite sure what is likely to hit that.
Ruperts Trooper wrote:Driving without due care and attention covers it - possibly causing criminal damage as well ?
Would it not need to be intentional for criminal damage? Perhaps the recklessness that exists to drive something that you know (or should know) is 14' 6" under something that is 14' high would cover it.
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Ruperts Trooper »

urbanfox wrote:
Ruperts Trooper wrote:Driving without due care and attention covers it - possibly causing criminal damage as well ?
Would it not need to be intentional for criminal damage? Perhaps the recklessness that exists to drive something that you know (or should know) is 14' 6" under something that is 14' high would cover it.
Driving a high vehicle under a low bridge seems to me to be intentional.
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urbanfox
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by urbanfox »

Ruperts Trooper wrote:
urbanfox wrote:
Ruperts Trooper wrote:Driving without due care and attention covers it - possibly causing criminal damage as well ?
Would it not need to be intentional for criminal damage? Perhaps the recklessness that exists to drive something that you know (or should know) is 14' 6" under something that is 14' high would cover it.
Driving a high vehicle under a low bridge seems to me to be intentional.
You aren't doing it with the intention of damaging the bridge though.
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Vierwielen »

UK registered vehicles that are over 3 metres in height must have as sign in the driver's cab giving the vehicle height in feet and inches. This rule applies to non-UK vehicles that are over 4 metres in height. The latter seems to tie in with the requirement that the clearance on E-routes should be 4.5 metres.
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by ravenbluemoon »

Some of the better advance warnings I've seen for low bridges are the ones with a small gentry with chains dangling down at the appropriate height.
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Vierwielen
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Vierwielen »

It appears that the EU have been considering a 4 metre limit on trailer heights for all roads trailers - see here. It appears that the current regulation is that a country may impose any limit that it likes, provided that it is no less than 4 metres.

An EU document suggests that the EU itself might be stepping back from making such decisions thenmselves, but that they will make the UNECE regulations mandatory.
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by UTCPaul »

Our work vans are under 3m, so don't have height signs in them.

They fit under the entrance to here on the left

http://goo.gl/maps/tYG3v

but when you exit on the right, the ground is higher.
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MiChaos
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by MiChaos »

urbanfox wrote:
Ruperts Trooper wrote:Driving without due care and attention covers it - possibly causing criminal damage as well ?
Would it not need to be intentional for criminal damage? Perhaps the recklessness that exists to drive something that you know (or should know) is 14' 6" under something that is 14' high would cover it.
Wouldn't it also violate a road traffic order of some kind, considering most low bridges have moved away from warning triangles to red Order signs?
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Raykay »

Ruperts Trooper wrote: Driving a high vehicle under a low bridge seems to me to be intentional.
Driving under the bridge may have been intentional, but for the offence of criminal damage, there would have to be the intent to damage or destroy the bridge.
WHBM
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by WHBM »

This has to be the most inappropriate height sign I know

https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.510618 ... ,,0,-15.99

so high up it's way above the driver's field of vision.
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Johnathan404 »

I have websites about: motorway services | Fareham
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