Five bridge strikes per day! That’s the shocking figure quoted by Network Rail for the period 2021/2022, and the sad fact is that the trend is not decreasing.
In my role as a firefighter, I recently witnessed first-hand the devastating impact caused by bridge strikes. A laden vehicle hit a railway bridge at speed, seriously injuring the driver, damaging the vehicle and load, and of course damaging the bridge and railway. The driver was incapacitated meaning there was no one to immediately inform the rail authorities to stop the trains; a potential major incident was only averted as the trains were on strike! The bridge was closed for over three weeks causing significant disruption to both vehicle and rail traffic.
OPERATORS’ LIABILITIES
In incidents like this, operators are liable for damage to the vehicles involved, the load and the property, not to mention being at risk of prosecution. Bridge strike incidents are high on the Traffic Commissioner’s agenda, and they know when one happens as they are informed of all strikes. An incident risks the loss of both the business and transport manager’s good repute and having action taken against their operator licence such as curtailment or revocation. Additionally, the loss of the vehicle or driver means they may lose business and suffer financial penalties such as increased insurance premiums or compensation claims.
HEIGHT AWARENESS
So what can be done about it? Network Rail reports the biggest causes are drivers not knowing their vehicle’s overall height, poor route planning and drivers not understanding the signs. So to prevent such incidents requires action in these areas.
A professional driver will know their vehicle’s overall height and width prior to commencing each journey, otherwise, how can they be expected to negotiate the various height and width restrictions they will encounter whilst out on the road? Construction and Use (C&U) regulations require vehicles exceeding three metres high to have a height indicator mounted in the cab. Plus, if vehicle-mounted equipment can exceed the overall height (for example a tipper) then a warning device is also required in the cab.
MARKING YOUR VEHICLE
It is an offence for operators to cause or permit a vehicle to be used in breach of C&U regulations, so operators must ensure their driver is able to find out the overall travelling height, and width, of their vehicle prior to commencing a journey. They should have appropriate training and equipment to do this, and drivers should feel empowered to challenge any discrepancies. They can then check or adjust the in-cab height marker as drivers are responsible for ensuring the vehicle’s overall height is displayed in the cab. Any over height warning devices should be checked by drivers as part of their daily check.
Having your vehicles or trailers clearly marked with the overall height is a must, things that may affect this such as fifth wheel height or suspension setting must be accounted for. Bridges below 16’ 6” are marked in metric and imperial measurements, you must ensure that there is compatibility across all vehicle and trailer displayed measurements and any measuring devices. For example, if the trailer height on a headboard is displayed in metres, but the in cab marker is displayed in feet and inches, it makes it considerably more challenging for the driver to work out the overall height.
If the load height is variable or not symmetric, for example, a car transporter, a measuring device will most likely be required. Drivers must be trained to make a conscious decision to stand back and observe the highest point; for example, a teardrop trailer’s highest point is approximately one-third of the way down the trailer.
PLANNING YOUR ROUTE
Good route planning is essential to mitigate the risk of a strike, but not only for the regular routes. Contingency plans to work around possible incidents at known hot spots and road closures should be created; many bridges have alternative routes signposted as ‘avoiding low bridge’ which should also be utilised. Knowing your fleet, and the loads carried, enables the routes to be assessed; heights exceeding 4.95m and widths exceeding three metres need special consideration. Use commercial vehicle route planning software, satellite navigation equipment or atlases which account for height restrictions. Plan work schedules ensuring sufficient flexibility, so drivers don’t suffer excessive pressure or fatigue likely to induce errors. Training is again important; drivers must understand the planned routes and stick to them without being tempted to take shortcuts. If there is an event taking them off the planned route, they must feel confident to stop and seek advice from the operator on an alternative safe route.
RECOGNISING THE SIGNS
When it comes to bridge signs, they are either round ‘order’ type or triangle ‘warning’ type, often accompanied by additional signage such as hi-visibility strips and text like ‘low bridge’. Drivers should be trained to recognise these signs and act on them if their vehicle is higher than the dimensions indicated, and most importantly to not pass the sign.
HIGHS AND LOWS
Arched bridges present the driver with additional challenges having low and high sections. The bridge height sign relates to the highest area (normally the centre) which is marked with a three-metre wide channel, indicated by white ‘goalpost’ signage. To pass safely a driver must take their time, drive in line with the centre of the channel and stay in line whilst under the bridge as the low and high parts remain throughout.
REPORTING STRIKES
If a driver has struck a railway bridge, the first action is to report to the rail authority using the information on the bridge ID plate. Next is to call 999 and report to the police followed by a call to their company advising of the incident. A damaged bridge and vehicle present a hazard, and the public must be kept away. The Road Traffic Act requires any bridge strike causing damage to be reported, operators should investigate the cause and monitor to learn from the incident and prevent a repeat.
So to summarise, the operator’s health and safety policy should include the management of bridge strike risks, and training programmes should regularly include the prevention of bridge strikes to keep the subject in drivers’ minds. Drivers must know their vehicle height, know their safe route avoiding low bridges, and recognise and act on bridge-related signage. Robust actions in these areas will hopefully see an improvement and help raise the public perception of the industry.
*www.logistics.org.uk/mac
