Low bridges in Swindon often catch out lorry drivers who end up wedged under the structures.

There have been several occasions where the railway bridges on Corporation Street (off Great Western Way) and Wootton Bassett Road have been briefly blocked by wide loads who have missed the warning signs or misjudged the size of their vehicles.

This leads to temporary road closures and long tailbacks of traffic, and sometimes disrupts train schedules.

Swindon Advertiser: A furniture delivery lorry stuck under the Corporation Street bridge in 2017A furniture delivery lorry stuck under the Corporation Street bridge in 2017 (Image: Dave Cox)

Drivers of high-sided vehicles that fail to plan their journey and carry out the appropriate checks run the risk of losing their licences.

Road safety technology provider, Snooper, warns that most cases of a vehicle striking a low bridge will be considered dangerous driving and lead to the driver responsible facing significant prosecution charges.

Swindon Advertiser: A lorry crashes into a low bridge on Corporation Street in 2019A lorry crashes into a low bridge on Corporation Street in 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

According to data from the Road Safety and Standards Board, 43 per cent of lorry drivers did not know the size of their vehicle, while just over half admitted to not taking low bridges into account when planning their journeys.

The latest annual figures show that a vehicle strikes a low bridge in the UK five times a day on average, with 1,833 bridge strikes reported.

Each bridge strike costs £13,000 on average in repair and delay costs for which the driver’s employer could be liable. Bridge strikes cost the UK taxpayer £23 million pounds each year.

Swindon Advertiser: A lorry hit the low railway bridge on Wootton Bassett Road in 2021.A lorry hit the low railway bridge on Wootton Bassett Road in 2021. (Image: Newsquest)

So, Snooper is appealing to drivers and operators to ensure that vehicle sizes are recorded and routes are planned so that drivers are aware of any low bridges en route.

Founder Gary Digva said: "Bridge strikes are a pertinent issue for a majority of drivers and decision-makers, however, many other day-to-day challenges can take priority.

“HGV drivers and operators usually have to handle customer demands while juggling both economic and time pressures.

“This means that bridge strikes are not always front of mind with many incidents being put down to driver error, but they are entirely avoidable.

“Not taking the time to understand the height of a vehicle can lead to a lot of issues for various parties.

Swindon Advertiser: A lorry missed the warning signs for the low bridge on Corporation StreetA lorry missed the warning signs for the low bridge on Corporation Street (Image: From public)

“Striking a bridge can place drivers, pedestrians, rail staff, and the travelling public in danger while costing the UK taxpayer millions each year.

“Drivers and operators can be severely impacted by costs, bans and serious criminal charges in the most severe cases.

“It is therefore vital that truck drivers pay attention to the height and the width of their vehicle and plan routes accordingly to avoid bridge strikes.”

Visit https://gb.snooper.eu/

Swindon Advertiser: Just for a change, a lorry got stuck under the railway bridge on Old Vicarage Lane in South Marston in 2021Just for a change, a lorry got stuck under the railway bridge on Old Vicarage Lane in South Marston in 2021 (Image: Newsquest)