Class A Low Bridge Accident

kenbert wrote:
Glad to here they will be OK, but my takeaway from this is that 2013 Diplomat is built like ****. It disintergrated on impact.

I think all Class A's (except for the ones built on a real bus chassis) would fare the same, they are essentially a wood and fiberglass box on top of a steel chassis. They don't usually stay together well in serious accidents.

This is one reason I would not buy a Class A -- I like being in a crash tested cockpit with airbags in a Class C. Plus the cab roof is only around 6 or 7 feet off the ground, so even if I hit a low overpass, worst case I'd lose the overcab bunk.

I wonder what his eye level was above the ground when he hit that bridge? Seems to me that it was not too far above his head and that he probably ducked when he saw it coming. Glad they will probably recover.

Glad to here they will be OK, but my takeaway from this is that 2013 Diplomat is built like ****. It disintergrated on impact.

I don't remember any really low bridges in Flathead County, Montana, so they likely had no experience with such a thing.
There IS, however, one right here in Billings, that goes under the railroad tracks downtown. IIRC, it is 8 feet high. It used to grab a tall vehicle fairly often, even took a 9 foot cabover camper off a truck once. Nobody has tried to go under it in several years with a tall vehicle. HMMMM... Used to be one or two a year, now none. Interesting.
Sorry this happened to the folks from Somers. Hopefully, people will learn from it: KNOW how high your rig is, and be aware that not all bridges/underpasses have 14 feet clearance! Yes, most do, but some do not. Pay attention!

Enough with the metric BS!

What evidence is there that these people are not from the US?

The MH has Montana plates on it.

Copied from the news article:

“ Elaine Ferguson, 93, female passenger of Somers, Montana, was transported to Freeman West suffering moderate injuries. The male driver, of the same town, Sherman Ferguson, 83, also transported to Freeman West and suffering moderate injuries. ”

:):)

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
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.

So you are suggesting he thought it was 32ft high (9.9m) contrary to the bridge beam approaching at eye height suggested?

There are arguments for conversion to metric...this ain't one of them.

Warning thread drift....

As far as arcane: For scientific calculations, metric has clear advantages. For intuitive understanding (such as how high is that bridge ahead), imperial units make more sense.
- Metric units are largely based on the distance from the equator to the pole and the relationship of that distance to the mass of water. That is pretty arcane. Can people adapt, yeah but certainly not intuitive.
- Imperial units are largely based on the human body...something each of us has and is familiar with.
(both systems have been updated over the years for standardization as the distance from the equator to the poll varies based on where you measure it and water's properties vary with temperature and pressure. Likewise not everyone's foot is exactly the same length)

I do agree with eliminating pennies but not because coins are bad but because they are too small of value to have use.
What western countries are you aware of that have eliminated paper money? I've been to most of them and they all still accept physical cash. In fact, the USA is further towards paperless money than many. Credit cards are generally not accepted for small amounts in Germany...good luck if you arrive on Sunday and don't have Euro already. Had an issue at the major brand grocery store in Amsterdam as it was cash only.

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.

Google Streetview shows a big yellow diamond sign a 100 feet or more before the bridge, also warning of the low bridge height.

You can also see 2 unused posts just in front of the bridge that looks like they are about the same height as the bridge, I wonder if those used to hold a breakaway barrier that would warn overheight vehicles before they hit the bridge. That seems like the best way to keep this from happening.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
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.

9'10" is even closer to 3 meters, so I'm not clear what this has to do with the metric system. His RV is almost certainly over 11 feet, maybe even 13 feet, so no complex math required, 9 foot any inches is lower than 11 foot.

rhagfo 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.

I am sorry, don’t care if I come to a low bridge that I won’t clear I will STOP!
Then deal with the issue, either get police involved or helpful motorist to control traffic so I could back out of the situation!
If a MH disconnect the toad, and the back out the MH until at a place you can turn around, it is one unit like backing a large car.
TV and trailer same thing just a little more difficult, I once went down a dead end street, and needed to back up about two blocks before being able to turn around.

I don't disagree with you. I guess I just wonder if these folks are really so totally clueless as to the height of their vehicles.

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.

I am sorry, don’t care if I come to a low bridge that I won’t clear I will STOP!
Then deal with the issue, either get police involved or helpful motorist to control traffic so I could back out of the situation!
If a MH disconnect the toad, and the back out the MH until at a place you can turn around, it is one unit like backing a large car.
TV and trailer same thing just a little more difficult, I once went down a dead end street, and needed to back up about two blocks before being able to turn around.