{"id":9095,"date":"2024-02-06T16:38:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T06:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=9095"},"modified":"2024-02-06T16:38:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T06:38:11","slug":"emr-urges-hgv-drivers-to-know-their-vehicles-height-after-last-year-saw-54-crashes-across-its-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=9095","title":{"rendered":"EMR urges HGV drivers to know their vehicle\u2019s height after last year saw 54 crashes across its network"},"content":{"rendered":"

East Midlands Railway (EMR)<\/a> is urging drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), buses, and vans to fully understand the height of their vehicles after the railway operator was affected by 54 bridge strike incidents last year.<\/p>\n

Bridge strikes, where vehicles collide with bridges, continue to be a significant and recurring problem across EMR\u2019s network.<\/p>\n

The operator has shared the top 10 most-hit bridges on its network in an effort to alert drivers to understand which structures regularly catch people out.<\/p>\n

The list includes a bridge on Debdale Lane (A6075) in Mansfield \u2013 which has been hit 40 times in the last ten years \u2013 and other hotspots such as the bridge in Rothwell Road in Kettering and Matlock Road in South Wingfield.<\/p>\n

Industry research has found that 43 per cent of HGV drivers admit to not measuring their vehicle before heading out on the road, and 52 per cent admit to not taking low bridges into account.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On average, each strike costs the UK taxpayer\u00a0around \u00a313,000 and in 2023 the top ten bridge strikes in EMR\u2019s region led to 3,325 minutes of delays alone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

EMR is urging drivers to understand their vehicles\u2019 height limits and guard against the causes of bridge strikes.<\/p>\n

These causes include:<\/p>\n

Going off the line of route, including under diversion<\/p>\n

Operating \u2018not in service\u2019 and taking a shortcut<\/p>\n

Insufficient route knowledge returning a vehicle to the depot for maintenance<\/p>\n

Those normally drive a single-deck vehicle taking a double-deck vehicle on a single-deck route<\/p>\n

Michael Webb, Joint Head of Performance at East Midlands Railway, said: \u201cUnfortunately, bridge strikes are a constant issue that affects our network each year. Drivers and rail customers may experience frustration and delayed journeys, but a bridge strike has the potential to cause a train derailment with catastrophic consequences as well as loss of life or serious injury to the vehicle driver, passengers, and other people nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose responsible for causing a bridge strike may be liable for costs associated with the incident, including the inspection and repair of the bridge and the cost of train delays, which can be considerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have shared the top ten most-hit bridges across our network to raise awareness but we are also urging drivers to understand fully the height of their vehicle and not take any unnecessary risks \u2013 especially if they are on roads they are not familiar with.\u201d<\/p>\n

More information regarding guidance for drivers can be found here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/prevention-of-bridge-strikes-good-practice-guide<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Top 10 bridge strike locations in 2023\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Mansfield \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Debdale Lane (A6075) \u2013\u00a0
2.\u00a0Kettering-<\/strong>\u00a0Rothwell Road \u2013\u00a0\u00a0
3.\u00a0South Wingfield<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Matlock Road (A615)
4.\u00a0Syston<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Fletton Bridge \/ High Street
5.\u00a0Trowell \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Stapleford Road (A6007)
6.\u00a0Hinckley<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Rugby Road (B4109)
7.\u00a0Market Harborough<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Scotland Road
8.\u00a0Longton<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Bridgewood Street
9.\u00a0Sileby<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 King Street
10.\u00a0Bull Bridge<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Ambergate<\/p>\n

Photo credit: East Midlands Railway<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is urging drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), buses, and vans to fully understand the height of their vehicles after the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":9096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[7,11],"class_list":["post-9095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","tag-transport","tag-usa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t