1 May 2014 Prevention of bridge strikes Name of presenter here.

1

May 2014

Prevention of bridge strikesName of presenter here

May 2014 2

Introduction and backgroundSection number to go here

May 2014 3

Overview of the course

• Introduction and background

• The Law

• Vehicle height measurement

• Journey planning and routing

• Traffic signs

• On the road

• Reporting a bridge strike

• Consequences of a bridge strike

• Practical training

May 2014 4

Definition

• What is a bridge strike?

–A bridge strike is an incident in which a vehicle, its load or equipment collides with a bridge

May 2014 5

A few key questions

1. How many bridge strike incidents do you think happen each year?

2. Have you ever known of anyone who has experienced a bridge strike? Do you know what happened? Do you know what caused it?

3. If your vehicle hits a bridge, who might this affect?

4. A bridge with diminishing headroom and a skew bridge are particularly hazardous – why do you think this is?

5. What do you think causes bridge strikes?

6. Does anyone know what the law is in relation to displaying the vehicle height in the driver’s cab?

7. Why are round and triangular signs used at low bridges?

May 2014 6

Why bridge strikes?

May 2014 7

Oyne12th May 1978

May 2014 8

Bridge strikes at rail over road bridges

19841902

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May 2014 9

Time of reported bridge strikes

Bridge Strikes by Hour

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Hour in Day

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May 2014 10

Bridges over the road

Bridge with flat soffit

Arch bridge

Collision protection beam

May 2014 11

Bridge types Arch bridge with

diminishing headroom along the road

May 2014 12

Driver survey – causes of bridge strikes

•Drivers not knowing vehicle height

•Drivers not believing signs

• Inadequate signing

•Poor information about low bridges when planning a route

•Poor route planning

•Drivers not understanding signs

•Other

What do you think are the main causes of high vehicles hitting low bridges?

May 2014 13

The law

Section number to go here

May 2014 14

Vehicle height notice in cab• the maximum travelling height of the

vehicle must be displayed on a notice (in a prominent position) in the cab of a vehicle when the overall travelling height of the vehicle, it load or equipment exceeds than 3 metres (10 feet):

– in feet and inches, or in both feet and inches and metres

–not less than the overall travelling height of the vehicle

–not more than 150 mm above the overall travelling height of the vehicle

• applies when trailers are being towed

May 2014 15

Equipment alarm

• vehicles with high level equipment with a maximum height more than 3 metres must be fitted with a device to give a visible warning to the driver if the equipment is raised whilst being driven, unless the equipment can be fixed in position by a locking device.

May 2014 16

Traffic signs

• if a vehicle is higher than the dimensions shown on a circular traffic sign, the driver must stop and must not pass the sign

• if the vehicle is higher than the dimensions shown on a triangular traffic sign at the bridge, the driver should not pass the sign.

May 2014 17

Reporting a bridge strike

• any road traffic collision that causes damage to a 3rd party is required to be reported

• each bridge strike will cause damage to a bridge, and must therefore be reported.

May 2014 18

Vehicle height measurementSection number to go here

May 2014 19

Driver survey – vehicle height

• 69% of drivers do not use anything

• Drivers often rely on others for this information

• 25% use a non digital measuring device

“...in 15 years of HGV driving I’ve never seen a regular low loader HGV driver other than a car transporter driver in

possession of a proper measuring stick” ... “regular low loader drivers don’t even get a tape measure issued to them!”

Do you use any devices to measure the height of your vehicle?

May 2014 20

Overall travelling height

• what is overall travelling height?

–greatest height measured from ground level to the highest part of the vehicle, its load or equipment

• applies to a vehicle and trailer combination

May 2014 21

Vehicle, load and equipment height

• couple trailer and tractor units

• set trailer and unit air suspension systems for automatic ride height

• when the suspension has settled:

–park on a level area

–check maximum travelling height

• recommended to use a height measurement pole

–essential if load is not contained

–hook top of pole over highest part of vehicle, load or equipment

May 2014 22

Trailer coupler height

• coupler heights can vary

• do not rely on the overall height shown on the headboard to determine maximum travelling height

• if measured height is different from that shown on the headboard, report the discrepancy to your Transport Manager:

– the headboard marking is incorrect

– tractor unit not appropriate for the trailer

May 2014 23

Recording and displaying the height

• Ensure that the maximum travelling height is:

– recorded on the in cab display

–entered into LGV specific software routing systems that include information on vehicle heights

–matches the dimension on the headboard

May 2014 24

Journey and route planning Section number to go here

May 2014 25

Driver survey – route planning

Do you have access to a copy of the Truckers’ Atlas?

31% - yes, own copy in vehicle

3% - yes, own copy not in vehicle

12% - yes, employer’s copy

39% - no, don’t have access

15% - no, don’t know what it is

How often does your route planning take into account low bridges?

• 21% - never

• 35% - rarely

• 16% - sometimes

• 4% - often

• 23% - always

May 2014 26

Route planning• routes should be:

–planned in advance

–selected to eliminate the risk of bridge strikes

• sources of information include:

–Atlases such as Truckers’ Atlas

–LGV specific satellite navigation systems with low bridge signed height limits data

– local highway or road authorities

Reproduced from AA Truckers’ Atlas with kind permission. © AA Media Ltd 2011. © Crown copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Licence number 100021153

May 2014 27

Satellite navigation systems

• one of the reasons offered by drivers involved in bridge strikes

– following directions given by satellite navigation system

–but this is because traffic signs will have also been ignored

• car satellite navigation systems do not have bridge height data installed

• downloads are available to install bridge height data packs

–visual and audible alert on approach to bridges with less headroom than height entered by driver

• use cautiously in addition to pre-planned route

• NEVER ignore traffic signs showing height limits

– the signs are there to prevent a higher vehicle going under the bridge

May 2014 28

Traffic signs and road markingsSection number to go here

May 2014 29

Driver survey – road traffic signs

What is the maximum height of vehicle you can safely take under an unsigned bridge?

• 52% of drivers were incorrect

• 27% did not answer

• 21% were correct

What is the meaning of this sign, and whatmessage does it convey to you?

• 34% - correct

• 36% - nearly correct

• 15% - incorrect

• 15% - no response

May 2014 30

Flat soffit bridges• signs should be roundels

–on the bridge

– immediately in advance of bridge

• roundel signs PROHIBIT – they mean:

– ‘do not pass this sign if your vehicle is higher than the dimension shown’

• dimension will be either:

– imperial only

–metric and imperial

May 2014 31

Advance traffic signs flat soffit bridges

• Advance signs come in several forms

• advance signs give warning of a restriction at:

–a named location

–a distance from the sign

• an alternative route may be indicated

May 2014 32

Arch bridges• signs should be triangular

–on the bridge

– immediately in advance of bridge

• triangular signs WARN – they mean:

– ‘you should not pass this sign if your vehicle is higher than the dimension shown’

• dimension will be either:

– imperial only

–metric only used with an imperial only sign

–metric and imperial

May 2014 33

Arches bridge and road markings

• arch bridges have chord marks (goal posts)

– to indicate the limits of the signed height under the bridge

–road markings also indicate these limits

• advance road markings and sign instruct high vehicles to use the centre of the road

May 2014 34

Advance traffic signs arch bridges

• triangular signs which show an arch may be provided near the bridge

• dimension will be either:

– imperial only

–an imperial sign above a metric sign

– there is no dual dimension equivalent

• triangular signs may give warning of a restriction at:

–a named location

–a distance from the sign

May 2014 35

Break

Section number to go here

May 2014 36

On the road

Section number to go here

May 2014 37

Starting your journey

• you are ready to start your journey when

– walk round checks are complete

– overall travelling height of your vehicle has been measured

– the in-cab height indicator set to the measured height

–the route for the journey has been planned to avoid bridges lower than the measured overall travelling height

May 2014 38

On the road

• follow your planned route

• obey all traffic signs

• use satellite navigation systems with care

• avoid short cuts as these may lead to a low bridge

• if diverted from your route:

–plan an alternative route – consult your Transport Manager

–police who divert vehicles do not consider if a low bridge is on the route

– look out for and obey all traffic signs

May 2014 39

Problems with traffic signs• signs at the last practical

turning point / junction in advance of a low bridge are not always provided

• some signs may be:

–obscured by vegetation

–dirty or vandalised

–damaged

–missing

• if there is a continuous white line through the arch seek assistance

May 2014 40

Arch bridges

• slow down as you approach the bridge

• only move to the centre of the road when you are sure it is safe to do

• beware of vehicles in the opposite direction

• if necessary sound your horn or use dipped headlights to warn of your presence

• do not swerve – you will hit the arch

May 2014 41

Reporting a bridge strikeSection number to go here

May 2014 42

Driver survey – reporting a bridge strike at a railway bridge

• 37% indicated a course of action that would allow for trains to be promptly stopped and bridges inspected

• 41% suggested an inappropriate action

–“Contact employer in first instance and get them to contact owner of bridge or highways agency.”

–“I would check that the passengers were ok, if not call an ambulance, the police and the fire service as the bridge may be structurally unsound then I would contact my employer.”

• Some vehicle operators urge their employees to contact them first!

If you were involved in a bridge strike, what action would you take?

May 2014 43

Reporting a bridge strike at a railway bridge

• report the strike immediately to the Rail Authority

–use the telephone number for control office on the plate at the bridge

–do not wait until back at depot

• advise the police using 999

– this is a legal requirement for any road traffic collision

• report the strike to your employer

• don’t move the vehicle

• applies to bridges over roads and over railways

May 2014 44

Information to be provided

The following information should be provided:

• your name, address and telephone number

• the bridge identification and name

• the location of the strike and road name

• time of the strike

• whether the vehicle is wedged, on fire or carrying dangerous goods

• whether anyone is injured or trapped

• the vehicle registration and details of the owner

• the drivers insurance details

May 2014 45

Action taken by the rail authority

Control Centre:

• contacts Signaller who implements Operating Instructions

• arranges for the bridge to be examined

• reports strike to police and other emergency services

• informs Highway/Road Authority

May 2014 46

Consequences of a bridge strikeSection number to go here

May 2014 47

Dangerous and expensive

• bridge strikes affect the safety of:

– trains and travelling public

–vehicle drivers

–members of public

• cost

–vehicle owners

–vehicle drivers

– the community

May 2014 48

Skew bridges

• risk of vehicle overturning

• angle of skew can turn vehicle

– into abutment

– traffic on opposite carriageway

• driver at risk of serious injury

• road closed for recovery of vehicle and load

May 2014 49

Bridges with variable headroom

• Wedged between arch and road

• Suspension collapsed

• Road surface damaged

• Arch severely damaged

May 2014 50

Wedged vehicles

May 2014 51

Consequences on the railway

bridge strikes:

• could result in a train being derailed with catastrophic loss of life

• jeopardise the safety of the public travelling by train

• cause delays and disruption to trains

• cause damage to railway bridges

May 2014 5252

Potential for derailment

May 2014 53

Fenny Compton 15th February 2011

May 2014 54

Bridges over the railway

• parapets made from masonry

• risk of trains hitting debris and derailing

• risk of other vehicles falling over the ‘edge’

• strike to be reported to the Rail Authority before dialling 999

May 2014 55

Bridge at Howden, Humberside

• Howden - two articulated lorries collided on overline bridge

–demolished parapets with debris on line

– road vehicles in precarious position

–haul route constructed to recover vehicles

• 5 day closure

• Network Rail costs

– repairs - £166.7k

–delays - £127.0k

May 2014 56

Consequences on other road users

• a bridge strike could:

–cause the death or serious injury of another road user

–serious congestion and disruption

May 2014 57

Costs to Vehicle Operator

• bridge examination

• repair of bridge damage

• train delays:

–depending on location and length of disruption could exceed all other costs

• inspection of road infrastructure

• repair of road surfacing and/ or replacement of any damaged road signs

• vehicle recovery

• damage to their vehicle and other road users’ vehicles

• business loss due to:

– the vehicle and driver being off the road

– loss of operator’s licence

• increased insurance premiums

• direct compensation and personal injury claims

• legal fees and other associated costs

May 2014 58

Damaged vehicle and load

May 2014 59

Level crossing with overhead lines

• Bathley Lane level crossing - East Coast main line

• traffic signs showing ‘Safe height 13’ 9’’ (4.1m) load gauge’

• car transporter aerial came into contact with 25kV overhead line

• damage to power supply to trains

• 6 hours disruption

• Network Rail costs

– repairs - £2.4k

–delays - £1,017.1k

May 2014 60

Consequences on the driver

• A driver:

–could be killed or seriously injured

–suffer serious economic loss including loss of their job

–be prosecuted for offences which can result in imprisonment or loss of your driver’s licence

–have to pay increased personal car insurance premiums

May 2014 61

Guidance for professional driversSection number to go here

May 2014 62

Guidance for professional drivers

• Have you seen this guide?

• This guide gives guidance to professional drivers so that bridge strikes can be prevented and to provide advice on the risks and consequences of bridge strikes

• The guide identifies that your responsibilities are to:

–know your vehicle height and width

–know your route

–obey traffic signs