It seems like more and more often these days, an article pops up in the news about how a semi-truck hit an overpass.

Take for instance, this accident from Philadelphia, that happened just a few days ago. A truck hit an overpass in the city and dragged its roof for more than 3 miles through the streets downtown. As the accident happened later at night, residents woke up to the sound of loud metal scraping against the road.

As the driver stated, “There was no safe place to pull over.”

If you think this wouldn’t happen to you, then keep reading to learn how these accidents tend to happen, and how certain cities are fighting back to keep their streets looking nice and clean for everyone to enjoy.

How Truckers Can Miss Overpasses

Although it may seem like a no-brainer, truck crashes due to overpasses are more common than you would think. Sometimes the overpass may be in areas where it’s hard to turn around, causing the driver to just try to move forward instead.

Other times, the accident is the result of inexperienced or distracted drivers. In fact, this type of accident is a great example of how truck driving can be so dangerous, and why proper training is important for fleet carriers.

Another factor are non-trucking GPS machines, which some drivers may rely on to travel around the country. If you use that technology, without consulting your atlas or noticing the incoming warning signs, then you may be setting yourself up for failure.

What Happens When There’s an Accident

When a truck hits an overpass, the city will have to pay $5,000 or more just to clean up the mess, for police officers to help out, and other necessary tasks. The city can make some of that money back by fining the drivers for hitting the overpass and requiring police help.

Not to mention the fact that these accidents can cause traffic delays and dangerous road conditions for other drivers. They can also close down roads completely, causing residents to change their daily routes drastically.

Possible Solutions

While all permanent low clearance overpasses should be well marked within the United States, that often may not be enough to prevent an accident.

For example, in Delaware, Ohio, where overpass crashes are an increasing problem, the city is enforcing a laser-activated warning system. Trucks that are too tall will set off a laser, that will trigger a flashing message to warn drivers to stop immediately. There will also be a phone number provided for drivers to call for assistance in turning around.

Other cities are looking at more long-term solutions, like creating plans to re-build all overpasses at a better clearance height for truckers. A fix like this may take decades to fix, but it might be worth it for these accidents to slow down.

We Can Help You Stay Accident-Free

When it comes down to it, to negate many of the numerous problems that can occur, transportation businesses need to ensure that everyone is aware of the risks when they are out on the streets. Drivers need to be aware of any incoming problems as they drive, something that is further helped by ELD technology.

In respect to the impending ELD mandate, if you need additional help, UTECH is here for you. With our knowledge and expertise, we will ease your fears, so you can continue doing your job efficiently.

We are leading specialists in the trucking industry, to help ensure safety for everyone on the roads. GPSTab has gone through a rigorous certification process, and we guarantee that it will make a great choice as an ELD solution for your business. With the well-known and tested GPSTab platform, our edition will provide more functionality to fleets of all sizes, while keeping drivers happy.