Across the country, drivers often rely on GPS mapping tools that do not acknowledge the height of non-passenger vehicles (i.e., overheight commercial vehicles, leased/rental/delivery box trucks) and therefore do not alert drivers of potential low bridge clearances. Bridge hits damage vehicles, cause delays, damage infrastructure, and most importantly, can put drivers of such vehicles as well as other motorists are at risk.
To address this critical safety issue, the Eastern Transportation Coalition, working with its TETC Bridge Strike Mitigation Task Force Working Group developed this Bridge Hit Media and Strategy Toolkit to assist agencies in educating drivers on this issue, as well as to share strategies that transportation agencies have employed to mitigate bridge hits. A key component of the toolkit is materials that will assist your agency in launching a media campaign around Bridge Strike Awareness, using the suggested tagline: “Check your Height, Know It’s Right.”
The media campaign message will encourage individuals to check the height of their vehicle prior to driving under bridges, specifically in areas they may be unfamiliar with. The messaging also emphasizes the importance of drivers of non-passenger vehicles not to rely on GPS/Navigation systems, and to be highly cognizant of signage, noting bridge heights. The media campaign portion of the toolkit features customizable brochures, rack cards, graphics, videos, and instructions for how to properly use these elements.
The following materials are provided in the Bridge Hit Media and Strategy Toolkit:
- An instructional PowerPoint presentation
- News release
- Print materials: brochure and rack card
- College move-in/move-out awareness bridge hit brochure template
- Social media graphics
- Social media videos
TETC Member Agencies: For access or more information to the Bridge Hit Media and Strategy Toolkit, contact Marygrace Parker [email protected]