New York State Police, Troop L, Participated in Statewide Bridge Hit Mitigation Enforcement Campaign

July 26-30 Initiative Focused on Preventing Bridge Strikes and Improving Highway Safety

The New York State Police, Troop L, joined the statewide Bridge Hit Mitigation Enforcement Campaign from July 26 through July 30, in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

The initiative’s goal was to focus on reducing bridge and overpass strikes involving commercial motor vehicles through education and targeted enforcement.

On Long Island, commercial vehicles are prohibited from traveling on all parkways because of low bridge clearances. Despite posted restrictions, bridge strikes continue to occur when operators fail to know their vehicle’s height or travel on roadways not designated for commercial vehicle traffic.

Bridge strikes can cause significant damage to transportation infrastructure, lengthy traffic delays, costly repairs, and increase the risk of secondary crashes. Commercial vehicle operators are encouraged to know the exact height of their vehicle, carefully plan their route and obey all posted bridge clearance signs before traveling.

During the campaign, members of Troop L’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit conducted high visibility enforcement in areas known for bridge strikes while educating commercial vehicle drivers on safe route planning and bridge clearance requirements.

During the initiative, Troop L’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit:

• Conducted 48 commercial vehicle inspections
• Placed 4 vehicles out of service for safety violations
• Issued 67 traffic tickets

The campaign supported the statewide safety message:

“Check Your Height. Know It’s Right”

Motorists and commercial drivers are reminded to:

• Know the exact height of your vehicle before beginning your trip
• Plan routes that accommodate your vehicle’s height and weight
• Obey bridge clearance signs
• Never attempt to drive under a bridge if you are unsure of the available clearance.

Preventing bridge strikes helps protect New York’s transportation infrastructure, reduces costly repairs, minimizes traffic delays and keeps everyone on the road safer.