Strike it Out: Preventing bridge strikes
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Striking a bridge with your vehicle has SERIOUS consequences.
At best, damage to your vehicle and loss of earnings - at worst, cause INJURY or DEATH.
CHECK IT: PLAN IT: DO IT!
CHECK IT
- Your vehicle height; width; and weight
- Remember to include trailers and loaded materials
- If your vehicle is higher than 5m / 16’6" plan your route with great care
PLAN IT
- Plan your route to avoid low bridges freightscotland.org/lowbridges or 0800 028 1414
- Do not use SAT NAV – it may not hold accurate bridge height information
Do it
- Always display the height of your vehicle in the cab as a reminder; this is the law if your vehicle is higher than 3m / 10 feet
- Always obey the height signs on bridges
Don’t risk wasting a life, your job, your vehicle or getting a jail sentence.
DIVERSIONS AND BRIDGE SIGNS
If you have been diverted from your original route be bridge height aware. Can you make it safely?
CHECK IT
- Your new route could be lower
- All bridges under 5m / 16’6" inches have a height sign
PLAN IT
- You may have to re-plan your route - freightscotland.org/lowbridges or 0800 028 1414
- Do not use SAT NAV – it normally doesn’t hold accurate bridge height info!
DO IT
- If in doubt - stop and check it out
- Always obey the height signs on bridges
- Routes with low bridges may already have advance warning and diversion signs to provide you with alternative route information
CHECK IT– your height conversion chart
Feet/Inches |
Metres |
|---|---|
16’6" |
5.0 |
16’0" |
4.85 |
15’6" |
4.7 |
15’0" |
4.55 |
14’6" |
4.4 |
14’0" |
4.25 |
13’6" |
4.1 |
13’0" |
3.95 |
12’6" |
3.8 |
12’0" |
3.65 |
11’6" |
3.5 |
11’0" |
3.35 |
10’6" |
3.2 |
10’0" |
3.05 |
STRIKE IT OUT
- CHECK IT: vehicle height; load height; and width
- PLAN IT: freightscotland.org/lowbridges or 0800 028 1414
- DO IT: display vehicle height in the cab and ALWAYS obey bridge height signs
If in doubt –CHECK IT OUT
CHECK IT– your height conversion chart
Feet/Inches |
Metres |
|---|---|
16’6" |
5.0 |
16’0" |
4.85 |
15’6" |
4.7 |
15’0" |
4.55 |
14’6" |
4.4 |
14’0" |
4.25 |
13’6" |
4.1 |
12’6" |
3.8 |
13’0" |
3.95 |
11’6" |
3.5 |
11’0" |
3.35 |
10’6" |
3.2 |
10’0" |
3.05 |
Map of low bridges: freightscotland.org/lowbridges
STRIKE IT OUT
- CHECK IT: your vehicle height; load height; and width – including your load
- PLAN IT: freightscotland.org/lowbridges or 0800 028 1414 for your route avoiding low bridges
- DO IT: remember to display your vehicle height in the cab and ALWAYS obey bridge height signs
If in doubt –CHECK IT OUT
CHECK IT: PLAN IT: DO IT!
Don’t risk wasting a life, your job, your vehicle or getting a jail sentence.
For a map of low bridges – www.freightscotland.org
Further info on how to avoid bridge strikes can be found at