AN ERGONOMICS APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF HIGH VEHICLES STRIKING LOW BRIDGES

The incidence of high vehicles striking low bridges has increased considerably since about 1970. Now, between 400-500 such accidents occur every year. This study investigated two possible reasons for the accidents. These were drivers' knowledge of theeir vehicle heights, and drivers' understanding of the low bridge warning signs. Drivers' opinions of ways of preventing the accidents were also obtained. Only 12% of drivers were correct in their estimate of their vehicle height and 27% were within 3 in (76 mm) of the correct height. The majority of drivers made estimates which erred on the "safe" side. 21% of drivers did not understand the road sign that shows "headroom at hazard ahead". The ways of preventing high vehicles striking low bridges most popular with the drivers were those which provided them with information which was most directly relevant, i.e, whether or not the vehicle would get safely under the bridge. (Author) (TRRL) completion of the inner ring road and the north east and north west radial roads is particularly important.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00036870
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Science and Technology Press Limited

  IPC House, 32 High Street
  Guildford, Surrey  England 
• Publication Date: 1980-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 43-46
• Serial:
  • Applied Ergonomics
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0003-6870
  • EISSN: 1872-9126
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00036870

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Clearances (Navigation); Crash investigation; Crashes; Demand; Driver information systems; Drivers; Height; Highways; Improvements; Interviewing; Networks; Parking; Perception; Policy; Prevention; Public transit; Regions; Roads; Safety; Transportation; Urban areas; Vehicle design; Warning signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver interviews; Road networks
• Old TRIS Terms: Bridge clearance; Driver perception
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 3455: Bridge; 1631: Collision; 2209: Comprehension; 1772: Driver; 2029: Ergonomics; 6440: Error; 6489: Height; 2257: Human factor; 1236: Lorry; 553: Traffic sign; 1255: Vehicle; 9113: Warning
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00319250
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 6 1981 12:00AM