Trucks on parkways/hitting overpasses in New York area

Hello all,
I live in the New York area (Westchester specifically) and around here we have parkways that do not allow any commercial vehicles. Many of these parkways have very low bridges/overpasses and at least once a week we have an incident where a truck will hit an overpass because a trucker didn't realize he shouldn't be on that road or his GPS guided him onto that road. These accidents cause huge traffic backups, incur a ton of expenses (towing, emergency responders, truck and freight damage, etc.) I have yet to hear of any major injuries or fatalities but it certainly could happen someday.

I'm amazed that this keeps happening, I would think word would get around the trucking industry in regards to which roads to avoid and that truckers should be careful to look for the warning signs that are posted. One of the common things that I hear is that these truckers are using the wrong type of GPS, and they should be using a GPS system that is specifically made for trucking which will avoid parkways altogether. I feel trucking companies should be providing this to their drivers, and owner-operators should be investing in these.

Any suggestions on what the industry could do or that New York State could do to help prevent this issue? Would flashing warning lights, larger signs help? Would a bar hanging down at the maximum height limit at the entrance ramp help (like in parking garages, etc.)? Is there some way to get word around the industry to help drivers avoid these roads?

I appreciate any good discussion that comes out of this. I'm not a trucking expert and therefore I am not criticizing anyone, I do know that it is a tough job and it's not always the trucker's fault, I would just like to see what can be done to help truckers and keep everyone safe (and minimize the costs and other damages caused).

Thanks everyone!

-Scott P.

 

Hello Scott,

I will give you my opinion, I have driven in NYC for over 26 years. Many of the bridges are wrongly labeled... height wise and this gives out of town drivers the wrong idea. Sometimes you can get under a 12' 2 bridge and other times you will scrape it.

The most often hit bridge is the E. Tremont bridge on th Hutchinson River Parkway. Probably hit 4 times a month. If you are heading north coming over the Whitestone the road splits and all trucks must get off (some dont) but even if they miss the split they can still get off... unfortunately they are lost and they make it under the first low bridge and believe they can make the second one... THEY DONT... the DOT put a special system in to alert truckers of the low bridge but unfortuately they just dont see it.

It is frustrating for us too, listening to everytime someone hits an overpass and all you hear is dumb driver. Most who criticize have no idea what truck drivers go through in NYC.

Solution would be, and this is not my idea, color the bridges GREEN if you fit 13'6 or RED if you dont!

James

 

Or clearly mark the bridges....

 

I used too travel NYC regularly, I have come up on some bridges that are mis labled. On College Ave in Flushing there is a bridge marked 12'6. I stopped and was kind of stuck cause I couldnt turn around. And the people of NYC being so helpful and polite waving at me with one finger... It wasnt until a truck coming the other way made it under, I tried and made it.


The fact that bridges are not properly marked is a major problem. NYDOT needs to launch a major effort to measure and keep up on bridge clearance when repaving is done.

As far as the Parkways, I dont know. I thought it was vommon knowledge to any driver running the region. One way to help is for companies sending new drivers or drivers unfamiliar to the region should warn them before they go. There are signs that say "No trucks on parkways" on main routes into the area, as well as signs at the parkway entrances. Drivers are too reliant on GPS equipment. Also I do notice many drivers who are not real fluent in english, though its a rule to get a CDL. Maybe posting signs in different languages. I like the idea of green and red bridges, but NY will never spring the cash to do it.... Sometimes its an honest mistake or mis labled bridge height. But sometimes it really is just a dumb driver.

 

FYI, interestingly enough I just saw this article a few minutes ago. Looks like the State is doing something to help prevent this. The question is will it be enough...
http://www.lohud.com/article/20121122/NEWS/311220041/Messages-roads-warn-trucks-off-parkways

 

another visual edition to the signs they already have.

why aren't truckers reading the signs in the first place. also, why isn't new york keeping up with the signs already posted????????????? i understand there is a cost but if they would have been keeping up in the first place instead of just letting them all go without being updated.

and there are gps devices. they're called truck gps's.

unfortunately many don't want to spend the money and prefer to use cheap car gps's.

and most mega carriers if not all give directions through there qualcomm systems installed on the truck. correct me if i'm wrong though. as i've never worked for a qualcomm using company.

i don't do new york that much. but if there's that many trucks that keep hitting there low bridges. something isn't right and new york only has themselves to blame.

i beleive chicago is also in that situation although not as bad.

 

Snowwy have you ever driven in NYC? I guess that you have not... its very frustrating....

Truck GPS does not tell you that you will fit inder a 12' 2 (it will give you the truck route) have you used one and are you speaking from experience. Kings Hwy in Brookln is another example its a truck route that has lower bridges.

Any truck driver that has driven on the BQE will understand what I am talking about.

 

Companies that use the qualcomm give the highway numbers that a person is supposed to use to get from point A to B. Sometimes though this maybe misleading. Husband ended up on a road I believe in Charlotte, NC that had a very low bridge, he had to turn around, go further up the main highway and come in from the backside of town. He was following qualcomm directions.

We have bought for the car a few years ago the Garmin at Best Buy for around $249, his new Roadmaster costed around $350. For the safety of it being a truck gps and having things like the major truckstops and things like that, I don't believe a person would go wrong by spending the extra money and therefore being a little safer.

 

thats too much like right

 

i am about to go under the 12'2" promenade in brooklyn in about an hour

IMPOSSIBLE! you say
AGAINST ALL LAWS OF PHYSICS!! you say

watch me, its SHOWTIME!!!