Kentucky participates in the 'Ensure Your Height, Acknowledge Correctness' initiative focusing on low clearance safety awareness
In an effort to ensure the safety of drivers and the public, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has joined forces with The Eastern Transportation Coalition in a public awareness campaign called "Check Your Height, Know It's Right." This initiative aims to educate drivers of commercial trucks, rental vans, RVs, cars, and pickups about the importance of checking their vehicle's height to avoid collisions with low clearance bridges.
The campaign runs from July 22 to July 26 and is particularly relevant for Kentucky, which has approximately 180 bridges with vertical clearances lower than the 14-foot federal standard. Drivers are encouraged to measure their vehicle's height, including trailers and loads, before embarking on their journey.
It's crucial for drivers to be vigilant to posted low-clearance signs instead of relying solely on GPS navigation apps. Mobile GPS mapping tools are not designed to flag potential low bridge clearance issues for non-passenger vehicles. Dump truck beds should be lowered, or tall equipment should be properly stowed before entering the highway. If hauling equipment or livestock, drivers should check the height of the trailer and load.
Bridge hits, or collisions where vehicles strike low-clearance infrastructure, can have severe consequences. Overheight collisions frequently cause costly damage to commercial trucks, rental vans, RVs, and other vehicles, potentially rendering them inoperable. Low-clearance bridges can sustain structural harm, which compromises public safety and requires costly repairs or inspections. These incidents can also cause traffic delays, create dangerous road conditions, and endanger drivers, passengers, emergency responders, and other road users.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet emphasizes adhering to posted clearance signage and treats these collisions as preventable incidents through heightened driver awareness and adherence to vehicle height limits. The state encourages these safety measures to reduce bridge hits and enhance road safety by educating commercial and private vehicle operators on these best practices.
The campaign targets all classes of drivers, including CDL and passenger vehicle drivers. Crash data shows that drivers may not always consider vehicle or load height and related restrictions during operation. By taking the time to check their vehicle's height before traveling, drivers in Kentucky can ensure safe passage under low clearance bridges and contribute to a safer road environment.
[1] Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. (2022). "Check Your Height, Know It's Right" Public Awareness Campaign. [2] The Eastern Transportation Coalition. (2022). Partnership of 19 states and D.C. supports Kentucky's bridge safety campaign. [3] Kentucky Department of Transportation. (2022). Over 180 low clearance bridges in Kentucky pose safety risks. [4] National Bridge Inventory. (2022). Federal 14-foot standard for bridge clearance.
- To maintain infrastructure safety, the finance sector could potentially partner with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and The Eastern Transportation Coalition, providing funding to expand the "Check Your Height, Know It's Right" campaign.
- The transportation industry plays a crucial role in this campaign, as it encourages fleets, including commercial trucks, rental vans, RVs, cars, and pickups, to prioritize vehicle height checks and adhere to posted clearance signage.
- In the aftermath of a bridge strike, both the transportation and finance industries could face repercussions, with costly damage to vehicles and potential business losses, as well as extensive infrastructure repairs or inspections to maintain public safety.
