Here's a newbie mistake...

Really though, I think it's quite simple. If a sign says "15 Ton Limit", and you're driving a semi, um... don't go past the sign. It's common sense. If you don't know how much your vehicle weighs, G.O.A.L? GVW and GVWR are on the tractor and I imagine the same info is on the trailer.

If you "think the sign is for another bridge", get a drug test, or an IQ test.

 

Been there, done that. Different bridge, different state. Totally my fault I was in the situation. I stopped, turned on the flashers, and pulled the brakes while sitting in the middle of the road with five to ten cars behind me. Got out to tell the folks behind me they were going to have to back up or go around me so i could back into a parking lot 1/2 a block back. About that time the State Patrol came across the bridge and I flagged him down and explained what was going on. He told me to go ahead and cross it and I wouldn't do it. Wound up he stopped the traffic his way and I got the people behind me to go around and others to back up and I got the truck turned around and headed back in the other direction while he watched. Then we all drove away happy and with no tickets. (except for all the 4 wheelers I delayed, they are probably still talking bad about my mama)

 

Xactly, this wasn't rocket science, it was a cut and dry no-go decision...

 

Weren't you the one who said you ignored a "road closed" sign? The sign said "road closed", yet you went past the sign. Were you gambling on the sign being meant for a different road than the one it was posted on? And in your case you didn't even have to get out and look to know what you should've done. Common sense tells you that when the sign says road closed, you don't go on it, doesn't it?

Now, about that drug/IQ test.....

 

Yes! Yes he was!

 

lol! Touche! But! Allow me to defend myself.

I would never argue that it wasn't a stupid decision. I just didn't get into a mess over it. If I decided to drive through the river, and the state police were waiting on the other side, or worse, floated away, then I'd have some 'splainin' to do, but I didn't. I backed out of the situation (albeit with a little luck). Actually, I turned that rig around in a *driveway* much more narrow than Levee Road, forget the *parking lot* 1/4 mile down the road. I also didn't claim, on the 6 o'clock news no less, that I thought the sign was for a different road. That was about 7 years ago. I've been driving all sorts of vehicles since then and my record is untarnished. Anyway, my bad judgment doesn't make what this guy did any less of a dumb choice. If I got fined, fired, or into an accident for my stupid mistake, I'd have no one to blame but myself. Just like this guy.

 

Since the driver saw the sign, even if it is the ONLY sign (which, according to the report, it is not), stopped and thought about what to do, and then drove across the bridge knowing full well he was breaking the law.... He is completely responsible. Period. He had all kinds of options that did not include crossing that bridge.

 

And what will YOU do when your're on a narrow 2 lane road, in the middle of

whoknowswhere, and come up to a bridge that is posted for half your gross

weight ???

1. Yes, it's a legal truck route according to your road atlas.

2. No place in sight to turn around.

What To Do ?????

 

Can't fault the driver for staying in route and complying with company policy. I've been routed that way many times by Prime. The bridge is so #### tight when two trucks pass there is ZERO "0" room for error.