Department of Transport

Norris publishes new proposals to curb ‘bridge bashing’
_______________________________________________________________

date 24 August 1995
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 265

Transport Minister Steven Norris today published proposals which aim
to counter the problem of vehicles striking low bridges, 'bridge
bashing'.

The package of measures, contained in a consultation document, is
intended to help to reduce the number of bridge-bashing incidents
which is currently running at an average rate of more than two per
day.

Mr Norris said:

"I hope that in partnership with hauliers and operators, the measures
which the Government are proposing should form the basis for real
progress towards elimination of the risk of bridge bashing.

"The #5 million per year cost to the taxpayer, the unnecessary delays
on the roads and railways, the damage and potential danger, including
that of the real risk of a train derailment, caused by bridge bashing
can all soon become things of the past."

The package of measures includes proposals to ensure that drivers
have sufficient information to make them aware of the height of their
vehicle and also a provision for warning systems to alert drivers of
vehicles fitted with power-operated equipment when the equipment is
not in its travelling position.

The new consultation document replaces proposals from 1993 which were
found to be too unwieldy and difficult to implement.

Notes to Editors

1. The proposals are in the form of an amendment to the Road
Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

2. Currently there are more than 700 bridge-bashing incidents a
year, more than two a day, which cause disruption on the road network
and cost millions to repair.

3. The new proposals allow various options to either display or
supply relevant information to drivers in the cab. Firstly there is
the use of a simple sign in the cab, which would allow vehicles to
display the actual overall travelling height of the vehicle.
Secondly the draft regulations contain various options which allow
information concerning the height of the vehicle and details of the
route they are taking to be supplied to the driver and thus be
readily available for his information.

4. A list of examples that could be employed for displaying or
supplying the information required by the driver are attached to the
Consultation letter.

5. Copies of the consultation document are available from I K
Bidmead, Zone 2-01, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London
SW1P 4DR.


# = pounds sterling

Railhub Archive ::: 1995-08-24 DoT-001