Eagle Ave. Bridge poster boy for crashes

The Eagle Ave. bridge over the Southern State Parkway has become the poster boy for dangerous bridge strikes in New York State. That overpass has been struck 27 times in the recent past by trucks operating with GPS devices that are meant for automobiles and do not correctly note the height of the bridges under which traffic must pass.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced earlier this week that, after his initial push in September of last year and months of work with regulators and trucking organizations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will begin issuing official recommendations to members of the commercial trucking industry on the proper uses of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and incorporate GPS training into new entry-level certification programs for commercial motor vehicle operators. This means that commercial drivers will be trained, and reminded, to only use GPS systems designed specifically for the industry.  These specialized units take into account the specifics of the truck they’re in – including the height, weight and contents - and will then route the trucks onto appropriate roads.  The consumer GPS units too often being used are frequently routing trucks onto inappropriate roads, causing them to crash into low overpasses and bridges.

  In September, Schumer called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate the dramatic increase in low bridge strikes by commercial trucks across New York State as a result of the growing use of GPS by drivers. According to reports from local police organizations, GPS-related bridge strikes in New York represent over 80 percent of all such accidents. Schumer has been working with the DOT on investigating this problem and today, alongside FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro, announced that major steps are being taken to address GPS-related bridge strikes.