An enforcement and education blitz is taking place at bridge strike hotspots in South East Queensland from now and into December.
This follows 386 strikes to rail bridges and protection beams in a 12-month period.
The strike prevention blitz is being conducted by Queensland Rail, together with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Queensland Rail senior manager of security and emergency preparedness Travis Cooper explained, “We’ve seen 101 bridges and 285 protection beams struck by over height vehicles between October this year and last, and while, thankfully, no one has been seriously injured – every strike has that potential.
“Just last month we saw a car narrowly miss being crushed after a truck got wedged at Corinda – next time maybe we won’t be so lucky.”
The crackdown gets underway this week and will run for the fortnight, with officers physically stopping drivers as they approach the most struck bridges in the region.
Officers will be on the ground at Wynnum, Yeronga, Corinda, Chelmer, Dutton Park and Rocklea.
NHVR operations manager South Northern Region Jarrod Wilson said, “These incidents not only pose a serious and potentially deadly risk to the driver and other motorists but can also cause costly damage to important infrastructure and create significant headaches for commuters and travellers.
“Fortunately, these incidents are entirely avoidable by accurately measuring your load before you get behind the wheel, and thoroughly planning your route using the NHVR’s National Network Map.
“Our message is clear and simple – know your truck, know your height, and know your route.”
Information boards have also been placed at key locations to help educate the public about the consequences of bridge strikes.
Drivers who damage rail infrastructure can be fined from $1290 and four demerit points, to a $12,904 penalty if the matter goes to court.
A driver who damages a bridge, tunnel or overhead structure may also be liable for other penalties such as contravening clearance signs ($645 fine and four demerit points) or $6452 if the matter goes to court, along with careless driving of a motor vehicle ($645 and three demerit points).
“When an over height vehicle strikes a rail bridge, we have to stop trains to assess the damage – and that can mean the difference between our customers getting home to their families or extensive delays,” Cooper added.
“We’re trying to stop these incidents happening at the source – asking drivers to know their vehicle and load height before they find themselves injured, red-faced and wedged under a bridge.
“We’ve put high visibility message boards in place, and our reinvigorated social media campaign ‘Truck Load of Trouble’ is in market and now we’re at some of the top strike locations.
“We’re not mincing our words – drivers, know your height, plan your route and obey the signs and rules.”
Queensland Police railway squad tactician Senior Sergeant David Wheatley added, “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. During this bridge strike prevention blitz, we’ll be asking heavy vehicle drivers ‘how high is your vehicle and load?’ and then we will measure it.
“We’re also starting conversations around what mapping software heavy vehicle drivers are using and how they selected this particular route.”
Transport and Main Roads general manager land transport safety and regulation Joanna Robinson commented, “Bridge strikes are not only dangerous for the driver of the over-height vehicle, but they’re also dangerous for those using the train network and other road users.
“Falling debris from the bridge can damage other people’s cars, or in worst case scenarios, serious injury, cause a road crash or kill someone. Items from the truck can also become projectiles in the collision.
“On top of the significant safety risk, there’s also hundreds of hours of delays every year caused by these avoidable incidents.
“We are pleading with truckies, please don’t take the risk, just know the height of your load, and obey the signs.”
you can blame drivers and companies relying on gps mapping.
most gps unit don’t have heavy vehicle relevant maps.
so they direct you as if your a car.
there is to my knowledge only two commercial providers of heavy vehicle suitable mapping. truck whiz and hema maps.
hema also produce the truckies atlas.
another issue is most maps published dont have the bridge clearances marked on the map.
yes this info is published by the road authorities but you have to go looking for it.
its not easy to find for me and im computer savvy and English is my first language.
it would be very difficult for drivers from overseas for whom English is a second language especially if they are not tech savvy.
the attitude of managers doesn’t help either when they say get in the truck you’ll figure it out, not my problem.
how about we make it their problem. you hit a bridge you get fined and so does your boss.
then they might make sure the drivers have the info they need.