Lorry drivers requested to stop crashing....
Discussion
saaby93 said:
I know... but how much is 'large' to jack up the bridge centre and reballast the track?
If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
For each foot of vertical jacking it would need about 150ft of levelling either side. So 6ft would be 1800ft of track work. Including disruption/ planning and it may be 2 to 4 lines it would probably be a couple of million at least... If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Just tie a break line over the road a centimetre or so lower than the bridge height a few meters before the actual bridge - if a lorry breaks the line a big sign lights up saying 'Stop you dumb ass'.
I recon could make my painfully obvious solution for £100 and sell it to the council for £350'000.
It does make you wonder why things like this haven't been implemented.I recon could make my painfully obvious solution for £100 and sell it to the council for £350'000.
We have speed limit signs that respond to approaching cars and flash up the speed limit if the vehicle is exceeding it - you'd have thought doing something similar for a height restriction would be relatively easy.
Then again - watching the video above - would it make a difference.
Edited by Moonhawk on Sunday 29th January 09:01
We live in Dulverton and a lane goes past our house that is 6"6 wide and 9"6 high sign posted at the top off the hill as well as bottom but the sat nav takes them down this lane as it's a shorter route. And this often happens
Edited by scoobygaz1 on Sunday 29th January 08:58
Edited by scoobygaz1 on Sunday 29th January 08:59
This or a girder set at the right height ie lower than the bridge and some way before the obstacle. The youtube video shows something similar but too close.
Won't stop the idiots but will mean the clear up process will be quicker! Particularly for trains.
But this means the LA, train companies etc need to work together. Not a hope!
Won't stop the idiots but will mean the clear up process will be quicker! Particularly for trains.
But this means the LA, train companies etc need to work together. Not a hope!
KarlMac said:
The truth is a better solution already exists and in is in use near me on the roads around Sherwood Forest.
Picture of a similar system, these are a few hundred yards either side of the bridge with turning points just after.
Picture of a similar system, these are a few hundred yards either side of the bridge with turning points just after.
Shortage of drivers means they are simply just chucking the keys to a new pass and saying crack on.
I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
KarlMac said:
The truth is a better solution already exists and in is in use near me on the roads around Sherwood Forest.
Picture of a similar system, these are a few hundred yards either side of the bridge with turning points just after.
They have those on the blackwall tunnel, scarry the state they're in.Picture of a similar system, these are a few hundred yards either side of the bridge with turning points just after.
Surely a radar/laser height alert system on the lorry isn't that much of a technical challenge?
TheInternet said:
Muddle238 said:
... this bridge has been hit by 11 lorries in 12 months according to the article
I raise you 'Notorious Tulse Hill bridge struck by truck for 17th time in just six months'.bmw535i said:
I don't think any of these fancy signs are going to work. Drivers are too busy concentrating on their laptops/phones/porn aren't they? Either that or looking for prostitutes to murder or too busy changing gear.
Is that bridge in a red light area?
No but Hinckley was once famous for its erotic car wash..Is that bridge in a red light area?
The bridge in the orignal post has been hit since the 1970s, it doesnt help that its on one of the countries most busiest trunk routes and Hinckley itself is a big logistics/distribution centre. They built a huge dpd depot near that bridge and one of their lorries recently hit it. Some lorries come off the M69 roundabout and go through the town centre only to hit the other low bridge near the railway station on the same line..
pherlopolus said:
saaby93 said:
I know... but how much is 'large' to jack up the bridge centre and reballast the track?
If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
For each foot of vertical jacking it would need about 150ft of levelling either side. So 6ft would be 1800ft of track work. Including disruption/ planning and it may be 2 to 4 lines it would probably be a couple of million at least... If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
Evanivitch said:
pherlopolus said:
saaby93 said:
I know... but how much is 'large' to jack up the bridge centre and reballast the track?
If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
For each foot of vertical jacking it would need about 150ft of levelling either side. So 6ft would be 1800ft of track work. Including disruption/ planning and it may be 2 to 4 lines it would probably be a couple of million at least... If it's around £800,000, they've covered it in year one and afterwards theyre quids in
cossy400 said:
Shortage of drivers means they are simply just chucking the keys to a new pass and saying crack on.
I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
Yep agency sent me a driver with 10 years experience. Turned out he left the army a few months prior and had been through his test in the army many years ago an driven about 3 times. He went on a 5 day hiab course and they sent him over. It was 2 weeks before he did major damage to the truck (reversed into a post).I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
As for drivers hours, don't get me started. So long as they work to rule they get plenty of rest under EU hours. The last thing the industry needs is longer rest periods.
Hitting low bridges has nothing to do with being tired, its about being lazy. As soon as I see a low bridge I start to think ok what truck am I in, how high is it (plate on dash), how low is the bridge, does the bridge have higher / lower points, whats behind / infront of me. If I am in any way unsure I stop. A lot of drivers have this **ck it attitude and it gets right on my nerves. I had one guy drive round for 2 weeks with a major gearbox fault. When I asked why he just shrugged and said I thought it might be ok.
So long as they get paid at the end of the week / month they don't really care about doing damage to trucks, cars, trees or bridges. I have one driver who has had 3 stupid accidents last year, all because he was being lazy and did not get out of his cab. Cant sack him. Even if I did I would into yet another agency driver.
Also, another point to note. If you live in the middle of nowhere down a single track road its YOUR problem we cant get to you. We get loads of complaints each year even though it clearly states on our website if you live down a width restriction / weight restriction we cant get to you its not our fault. Ohhh but the bin wagon can get down so surely your truck can. Yeah ok but the bin wagon is not a 32 tonner 8 wheeler with a turning circle of the titanic. People don't have a clue. Again it causes us problems no matter how many times I tell drivers DO NOT go down if you cant fit they are still of the attitude of risk it and see.
/rant
red_slr said:
cossy400 said:
Shortage of drivers means they are simply just chucking the keys to a new pass and saying crack on.
I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
Yep agency sent me a driver with 10 years experience. Turned out he left the army a few months prior and had been through his test in the army many years ago an driven about 3 times. He went on a 5 day hiab course and they sent him over. It was 2 weeks before he did major damage to the truck (reversed into a post).I do drive a class one and I think you should be banned if you hit a bridge.
No deterant at the minute, like mobiles at the wheel the paper reported 8000 in one week caught and that was when they made it quite clear they were on a crack down.
Ill be alright mentality.
As for drivers hours, don't get me started. So long as they work to rule they get plenty of rest under EU hours. The last thing the industry needs is longer rest periods.
Hitting low bridges has nothing to do with being tired, its about being lazy. As soon as I see a low bridge I start to think ok what truck am I in, how high is it (plate on dash), how low is the bridge, does the bridge have higher / lower points, whats behind / infront of me. If I am in any way unsure I stop. A lot of drivers have this **ck it attitude and it gets right on my nerves. I had one guy drive round for 2 weeks with a major gearbox fault. When I asked why he just shrugged and said I thought it might be ok.
So long as they get paid at the end of the week / month they don't really care about doing damage to trucks, cars, trees or bridges. I have one driver who has had 3 stupid accidents last year, all because he was being lazy and did not get out of his cab. Cant sack him. Even if I did I would into yet another agency driver.
Also, another point to note. If you live in the middle of nowhere down a single track road its YOUR problem we cant get to you. We get loads of complaints each year even though it clearly states on our website if you live down a width restriction / weight restriction we cant get to you its not our fault. Ohhh but the bin wagon can get down so surely your truck can. Yeah ok but the bin wagon is not a 32 tonner 8 wheeler with a turning circle of the titanic. People don't have a clue. Again it causes us problems no matter how many times I tell drivers DO NOT go down if you cant fit they are still of the attitude of risk it and see.
/rant
One came just passed on a wagon and drag..... didn't have a clue how to hitch up, we sent him away but told him if my office had been told they d of sorted him some assistance.
Another out all day, asked him drop his trailer and tighten the curtains and run the TIR cord round, (TIR is on the front of our trailers curled up) Again gave the lots of experience card and didn't even know what a TIR was.
A blags a blag, but if I was blagging and didn't know what a TIR was then google would be my friend and not the office that ive told I know what im doin in there 100 grand motor.
Problem is a lot of people think you just sit on your arse looking out the window and get paid a kings ransom for it.
The reality is far different in some cases.
But I still believe it should be a ban, as sooner or later the scrap would be weeded out and the good would then be paid there worth.
Whats the penalty for hitting a bridge, I assume it's DWDCA at the very least?
I'd of thought it would be in the hauliers best interests insurance wise not to hit any, my train line into London is disrupted I'd say at least once a month due to bridges being hit which must run into the millions when it impacts of major commuter routes.
I'd of thought it would be in the hauliers best interests insurance wise not to hit any, my train line into London is disrupted I'd say at least once a month due to bridges being hit which must run into the millions when it impacts of major commuter routes.
untakenname said:
Whats the penalty for hitting a bridge, I assume it's DWDCA at the very least?
I'd of thought it would be in the hauliers best interests insurance wise not to hit any, my train line into London is disrupted I'd say at least once a month due to bridges being hit which must run into the millions when it impacts of major commuter routes.
Never been that unfortunate but I do know that the train companys charge for how ever long the bridge is shut for until its deemed safe. I'd of thought it would be in the hauliers best interests insurance wise not to hit any, my train line into London is disrupted I'd say at least once a month due to bridges being hit which must run into the millions when it impacts of major commuter routes.
And the Currie European who drove over the forth bridge recently when the signs were up saying it was shut, it was reported he d been done for dangerous driving.
The whole job is a mind field, with all the laws and bit s and pieces your expected to know.
But that's the job, sat nav sent me here doesn't really cut it.
Its quite simply boils down to driver responsibility. There may be other factors involved, but it always, always boils down to driver responsibility.
Any so called professional driver that leaves any depot/start point should make sure they know the maximum height of the vehicle they are driving. If you don't , have a nose around the cab for the "cab height" board and if pulling a trailer, check that also for a sticker with the max height on it. If you can't find them go into the traffic office and ask, you may feel a bit daft but you have a tongue in your head so use it, as you will look far more stupid if you end up ploughing into a bridge.
If no one at the depot can answer your questions, and there is no device for measuring the max height, don't take the truck or trailer out. I know it involves a bit of dicking about but you have to cover your arse at all costs.
The place I currently work at, (started there via agency) just have vans but they carry access type tower equipment the frames for these are various different heights, and stand upright during transport on open backed vans. The first time I took one out I asked various staff in the yard what the height was of said frame. Not 1 person could answer me
1 of the drivers even asked why I wanted to know
When I enlightened him he said, "But how are you going to measure it?" I got my tape measure from my bag and showed him.
Any so called professional driver that leaves any depot/start point should make sure they know the maximum height of the vehicle they are driving. If you don't , have a nose around the cab for the "cab height" board and if pulling a trailer, check that also for a sticker with the max height on it. If you can't find them go into the traffic office and ask, you may feel a bit daft but you have a tongue in your head so use it, as you will look far more stupid if you end up ploughing into a bridge.
If no one at the depot can answer your questions, and there is no device for measuring the max height, don't take the truck or trailer out. I know it involves a bit of dicking about but you have to cover your arse at all costs.
The place I currently work at, (started there via agency) just have vans but they carry access type tower equipment the frames for these are various different heights, and stand upright during transport on open backed vans. The first time I took one out I asked various staff in the yard what the height was of said frame. Not 1 person could answer me
1 of the drivers even asked why I wanted to know
When I enlightened him he said, "But how are you going to measure it?" I got my tape measure from my bag and showed him.
Height restrictions cannot be trusted !
I have had experience of a bridge signed at a height that would give me 3" clearance but when measured was 4 " lower .
The road had been resurfaced and not checked for height after .
Many are shown in feet and inches only and some in metric only .
Trucks are also labelled in either but rarely both .
My truck sat nav is set for 3"higher than the highest vehicle that I drive ..
Our height restrictions are different from the continent our extra tall trailers would not be allowed in many of them.
I have had experience of a bridge signed at a height that would give me 3" clearance but when measured was 4 " lower .
The road had been resurfaced and not checked for height after .
Many are shown in feet and inches only and some in metric only .
Trucks are also labelled in either but rarely both .
My truck sat nav is set for 3"higher than the highest vehicle that I drive ..
Our height restrictions are different from the continent our extra tall trailers would not be allowed in many of them.
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