Kentucky joins safety campaign advocating for low clearance awareness
In an effort to ensure road safety and reduce costly and dangerous accidents, Kentucky is participating in a public awareness campaign called "Check Your Height, Know It's Right." This initiative, which runs from July 22 to July 26, is a collaborative effort by The Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership of 19 states and D.C., and builds on an initiative from the New York State Department of Transportation.
The campaign aims to educate drivers about the importance of knowing and verifying the height of their vehicle, including any equipment or load, and comparing it to posted bridge clearances on their route. Drivers are advised to strictly obey low clearance signs placed on and approaching bridges and to avoid relying solely on navigation devices, as they may not consider vehicle height.
Vehicles taller than 13 feet 6 inches must have a special hauling permit, and the campaign emphasizes lowering truck beds and checking trailer or cargo height before travel to prevent bridge strikes. If hauling equipment or livestock, drivers should also check the trailer and load height.
The campaign targets CDL and passenger vehicle drivers, as well as operators of recreational vehicles, commercial trucks, leased trucks, and vehicles hauling equipment or livestock trailers. The safety practices are not limited to commercial drivers but apply to any driver operating tall or leased vehicles that could strike overpasses.
Kentucky has approximately 180 bridges with vertical clearance lower than the 14-foot federal standard. Bridge collisions can cause vehicle and infrastructure damage, delays, and put the public and emergency responders at risk. To avoid such incidents, drivers are encouraged to measure their vehicle's height before traveling, including checking the door decal or owner's manual for the maximum height.
In addition, resources such as Pennsylvania’s 511PA service and mobile app provide information and alerts about low-clearance bridges. Drivers can also use apps or tools such as 511PA’s “Low Bridge” map layer for route planning.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is providing these tips to help drivers comply with posted low-clearance signs and to avoid relying solely on navigation devices or apps. It's crucial for everyone on the road to prioritize safety and to be mindful of their vehicle's height when navigating through low-clearance bridges.
- Kentucky, with its emphasis on road safety, is particularly concerned about the high number of bridges with low vertical clearance, totaling approximately 180 bridges that fall below the 14-foot federal standard.
- To address this issue, Kentucky is working closely with the transportation industry and finance sectors to ensure that drivers obtain special hauling permits for vehicles taller than 13 feet 6 inches, and are encouraged to lower truck beds, check trailer or cargo height, and measure their vehicle's height before traveling.
- Furthermore, collaborative efforts between state departments of transportation and financial support from industry partners are crucial in raising public awareness about the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the significance of following low clearance signs for safe transportation.
