Why and how to reduce the risk of bridge strikes

Recent landmark legal cases mean Network Rail can now claim back costs incurred by bridge strikes from fleet operators if their vehicles collide with any part of the rail network, with particular emphasis on bridge strikes.¹

A bridge strike is an incident where a vehicle, its load or equipment collides with a bridge, often where roads pass under railways.

With bridge strikes now reported to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner for potential regulatory action against commercial vehicle operators we offer some guidance on the wider implications of bridge strikes and how you can work to reduce the risk.

The wide-ranging impact of bridge strikes

Network Rail reports there are an average of five bridge strikes a day in the UK.

Imagine one of your fleet is involved in one of them. Let’s consider all the potential repercussions, starting with the most serious – the injury or death of your driver, passengers and/or other road users.

Even if the individuals involved avoid death or serious injury, your organisation will suffer significant financial liabilities in repairing the vehicle and dealing with its damaged, lost, contaminated or delayed load. Delayed or lost loads due to bridge strikes may also negatively impact your reputation and relationships with supply chain partners.

Your organisation may also be liable for inspection and repair costs to the bridge and business interruption claims from rail operators.

Finally, regulatory breaches may not only result in fines or penalties but could possibly mean your business will face operator licence restrictions.

Nine-point checklist to reduce bridge strike risk

While bridge strikes can cause significant harm, there are straightforward ways to reduce the risk of your fleet being involved:

1. 01

   Ensure drivers wise-up and size-up when planning journeys

   Research by Network Rail found 32% of drivers admitted to setting off whilst not being aware of the height of their vehicle, with 56% not considering low bridges when planning their journey.² Network Rail released a list of the most struck bridges in 2021 in a bid to raise commercial vehicle driver awareness with their campaign to urge lorry drivers to ‘wise up, size up’. Consider checking if any of these bridges are on your route.

2. 02

   Refresh drivers' knowledge

   Ensure your drivers participate in ongoing regarding the overall height of their vehicles and test their knowledge regularly.

3. 03

   Give drivers the information they need

   Display details on the types of trailers and vehicle heights to raise their awareness of how combinations of load and trailer heights can affect the overall height of the vehicle.

4. 04

   Check for signs

   Ensure drivers know the location of the mandatory vehicle height sign in vehicles and if this can vary, there is a process for ensuring this is set correctly.

5. 05

   Ensure drivers have height-measuring poles

   Particularly those driving vehicles where the overall height can change when away from base, that is, when they collect trailers of varying heights, high loads and where the height can vary based on the load carried such as car transporters and open flatbed trailers.

6. 06

   Map around the highest vehicle

   Consider planning all routes on the basis of the highest vehicles you operate and when exceptions are generated by planning systems, separately risk assess these routes.

7. 07

   Take care with sat nav

   Drivers should use in-vehicle satellite navigation systems only when it has been confirmed that the system is appropriate for the size of the vehicle and they have been trained to do so bearing in mind bridge strike mitigation moves.

8. 08

   Use the data

   Network Rail has compiled data from every underline bridge involved in a bridge strike since 2000. This data can be added to navigation and route planning tools to enable road users to be alerted of bridges involved in previous strikes, so that they can take appropriate action.

9. 09

   Call on government guidance

   Encourage drivers to develop best practice by reading latest official guidance.³

For further support on reducing bridge strikes, fleet risk management or any other haulage risk, contact your WTW representative, or our Haulage and Logistics Sales Leader, Stewart Osmond.

Footnotes

¹ https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/railway-safety-campaigns/wise-up-size-up/
² https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/bridges-tunnels-and-viaducts/the-risk-of-bridge-strikes/
³ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-of-bridge-strikes-good-practice-guide