Class A Low Bridge Accident

^^^ Yeah - the previous post certainly was a huge grasp at a very small straw, and a lot of BS, IMO.

Per the article, the couple is from Montana. So no metric confusion involved.

I'll add that most people I've met from foreign countries have been far better versed in our inperial measurement system than I've seen Americans with the metric system.

9' 9" is almost exactly 3 Meters. Atiny bit more. It is past time that we US Americans recognize we are backward and live i in a metric world.
When I took my future( and still) wife to Canada in '81, she could not believe how fast I convertet Km/h to Mp/hr until she saw me glance at the speedo where the speeds matched.
As Canada ???? officially switched to metric about 30 years ago against majority voters approval ( CDNs Govs. can do that) acceptance and as part of the world community, Canada is a success story of conversion, in spite of the lniial reaction. The majority gov. in parliament tn that time survived election handily for another majority.

Equate measure conversion to learning another language. Its much easier , we have all been instructed in metric, celcius since the mid 1960s I recall celcius as centigrade.

Blame could be laid on confusion with measurements to foreign tourists, as many have never been exposed to or taught our arcane system.
As a once 16 yr foreign resident, a conservative American I also advocate signage in both systems to convert the resistant.
Next we have to dispose of the penny and a paper $ as all other western mations have done.

There are usually signs on both sides... One time we called county because a CAR hit said sign.... (Don't ask I don't know).

One railroad overpass in battle creek Mi if you work for the local waste management and you drive under it. even if you are driving the company executive sedan. you don't work for them any more.

I am also wondering if they had the sunshade down and didn’t see the sign because it was low enough to block it?
I’m also wondering if he was thinking “that sign is wrong” that first bridge looks taller than 9’. Either way I would’ve at east slowed down, stopped and got out to look.

I've seen this type of accident many times w OTR and MD trucks. Professional drivers make this mistake every day. It's usually due to unfamiliarity w the area, stress, and using a regular GPS/Waze/ggl maps instead of a dedicated truck/RV GPS.

Prob time for the MH driver and wife to get off the road though or stick to MT where everything is bigger. Btwn the 2 of them they have been able to not wreck.

Possibly the driver was from a foreign country and thinking in . . . . METRIC!

I've seen a simple economical solution for this. Depending on approach speed, prior to the low clearance issue, from all approaching directions hang (from above) a light soft flexible easily movable object like a 4" round PVC pipe from rope/chains a few inches lower than the minimum clearance. That way you get a much more "subtle" warning prior to the impending disaster. No reading/thinking required. Kinda like Botts' dots and/or rumble strips, but, in the air.

Chum lee

Here's a YouTube video of a 11' 8" bridge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw

I wonder if the google street view camera hit the bridge also. I was looking at it(the street view) clicking to progress forward and when it came to going under the bridge(from both directions) the picture was really messed up. :h :h :h

valhalla360 wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I do wonder if putting a sign ON the low bridge/overpass/tunnel is enough. I've been on some roads where it is impossible to pull over or turn around or exit within visual distance of the potential hazard. What do you do?

I've seen signs that indicate "last exit before bridge". Should there be signs that say "vehicles over 9' 8" exit now" so the driver can avoid the hazard. Especially in heavy traffic, you could find yourself "pushed" forward.

Approaching SB (direction of MH) all well in advance of the bridge:

There is a low bridge sign with the height.
There is a narrow bridge sign.
There is a curve warning sign with 15mph advisory speed.
There is the sign on the bridge.
There is the large bridge beam at eye level.
It's a straight and level wide open approach.

It's a rural 2 lane 2 way road that doesn't appear to be particularly busy.

Doesn't sound like that was a factor in this case then. But I wonder if it is in other cases.