How to Spot and Avoid Low Bridges
The average person, driving around in their family van, or compact car wouldn’t understand. For truck drivers, low bridges are a common hazard that can cause a lot damage to a truck, and even cause a major accident. While the Youtube videos of trucks getting stuck under bridges may seem funny to the public, the fact is, low bridges are a hazard that all truck drivers need to take seriously.
With a little technology and some planning, you can avoid low bridges and have a smooth, safe drive the next time you’re cruising down the highway.
Low Bridge Avoidance Systems
Depending on your budget, investing in a system that detects low bridges and automatically plots a new route is a good idea. There are numerous options for avoidance systems available, so do your homework and compare products before buying. Making sure your avoidance system has all the features you need and is easy to use can make the difference between a smooth drive and a possible accident.
Plan Ahead
If you don’t want to invest in an electronic avoidance system and route planning system, you can do things the old-fashioned way – with a little modern day tech to help you out. There are route planning websites developed specifically for truckers. These planners, like OpenRouteServices.org, have different filters to help truck drivers plan their routes. One of the filters you can use picks out low bridges across North America, and gives you alternate route options. It may take a bit more time than the high-tech systems, but this is still a relatively simple way to avoid low bridges.
Know Your Truck
All provinces and states have strict regulations on how heavy and tall a commercial truck can be. It’s the responsibility of the driver to know the dimensions of their truck and be aware of all signs when approaching a bridge – the clearance height for all bridges should be posted. Keep your eyes peeled for these important signs before going under any bridge. In Ontario all vehicles “are limited to a height of 4.15 metres (13.6 ft.) to ensure adequate clearance is maintained at bridges and overpasses.”