Governor Hochul Launches Campaign to Prevent Bridge Strikes in NY

We've seen it happen more times than we can count. We're talking about seeing a truck wedged under a bridge. They missed the height sign because they weren't paying attention. Governor Kathy Hochul has decided to do something about it.

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The governor has announced the launch of a new enforcement campaign designed to prevent bridge strikes, along with raising awareness throughout the Empire State. So what exactly is a bridge strike?

It's when commercial trucks, rental box trucks, or moving trucks, fail to take note of their vehicle's height and collide with bridges or overpasses. This not only creates a public safety hazard but also causes traffic delays and damage to the bridges themselves.

Did you know that there were an astounding 808 bridge strikes reported across New York State between 2021 and 2022 and who knows how many weren't reported? But fear not, Governor Hochul and her team have come up with a plan.

State Police will be hitting the roads through November 11th, patrolling areas that are known for bridge strikes and parkways where commercial motor vehicles and oversized vehicles could collide with an overpass.

Government officials will be working with local law enforcement and commercial vehicle inspectors to crack down on these incidents. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Thruway Authority, and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee have joined together to spread awareness on the issue.

New York State Bridge Strike Enforcement Campaign

Governor Hochul is launching the "Check Your Height, Know It's Right" campaign that aims to let drivers know the importance of knowing the height of their vehicles and avoiding bridges that they're too tall for.

Keep this in mind, Google Maps can be helpful but it doesn't always give information on bridge heights. So, it's up to the drivers to check for themselves before hitting the road...and the overhead bridges.

The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee will be visiting motor carrier inspection sites to hand out information on bridge strikes and how to prevent them. The New York State Thruway Authority has reported a 44 percent increase in bridge strikes on the 570-mile superhighway since the beginning of 2023.

Amazing Facts About "The Bridges of Upstate New York"

There are hundreds of bridges all across Upstate New York. Here is a sample of some of the most interesting. They run from a bridge that is visited by nearly a million people each year, to the oldest covered bridge in the United States.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio