Blitz underway to prevent big rig bridge strikes in New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that state police are taking part in a week-long effort to reduce big rig bridge strikes statewide.

From Sunday, November 5 through Saturday, November 11, New York State Police (NYSP) will take part in a bridge hit enforcement campaign across New York State.

Troopers will increase patrols in areas to known to be prone to bridge strikes. NYSP will also “coordinate enforcement details with local law enforcement commercial vehicle inspectors in areas that have high occurrences of bridge strikes,” Hochul’s office says.

The bridge strike patrol comes in response to a 44% increase in bridge strikes on the New York State Thruway so far in 2023 compared to 2022. Officials say that there have been 91 reported bridge strikes in 2023 compared to 63 reported bridge strikes in all of 2022.

The enforcement campaign will be accompanied by a social media education effort from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Thruway Authority and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee called “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right.”

“Bridge strikes are potentially hazardous to motorists and first responders and have caused needless inconveniences for local communities – but these incidents are 100 percent preventable,” Governor Hochul said.“While we have implemented measures and technologies across the state to help prevent bridge strikes, nothing is more powerful than knowledge. Drivers of overheight vehicles have a responsibility here as well: follow posted warnings, know the height of vehicles and most importantly pay attention.”