Most recent incidents relating to bridge height in South Africa. Photo: File/ Facebook.
Simple ways to mitigate bridge height/ clearance
The South African has sourced simple or strategic ways to mitigate bridge clearance or restrictions in unfamiliar territories for truckers
Most recent incidents relating to bridge height in South Africa. Photo: File/ Facebook.
Bridge height restrictions or clearance have been a hot topic following incidents of heavy-duty vehicles getting stuck under low bridges.
UNDERSTANDING BRIDGE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
The South African has sourced simple or strategic ways to mitigate bridge clearance or restrictions in unfamiliar territories.
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A piece by Bryn K Buck titled Height Restrictions and the Correct Approach has all the answers.
These are four suggestions by Bryn K Buck, a skilled traffic sign designer with over seven years of experience:
- Determine which type of structure to deal with – is it a beam bridge, arch bridge, overhanging building, or low trees? There are different rules for each kind of obstruction in terms of signing – prevention of strikes.
- Ensure all signs are present, correct, and well maintained – mitigation against strikes.
- Assess the structure and ensure visibility is simple. Place regulatory signs at the last suitable ‘escape’ point so a high vehicle can turn off the road – prevention of and mitigation against strikes.
- Assess the route which has the restriction and determine the suitability of alternative routes for high vehicles – prevention of strikes.
IMPORTANCE OF A SCALE MAP OF THE AREA
“The best way to create a workable strategy is to get a 1:50,000 scale map of the area you’re interested in, mark the low bridges on it, and then produce a series of lines to avoid it.”
Buck
He adds: “This then will clearly show you where you need signing improvements as well. Once this is done the task of improving signs at the bridge itself becomes less desperate and you can avoid the need for costly detection systems and turning facilities because you’ve correctly managed the network”.
This is a developing story. Updates on this topic will be published at the disposal of new information.
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