"Moron" truck driver hits bridge in Dublin

Mizu_Ger · 18-10-2007 9:31am #1

A truck crashed into the railway bridge at Grand Canal Dock this morning causing delays to the DART. Iarnrod Eireann quote is deadly:

"The bridges around the Grand Canal Dock area are visibly very low," a spokesman said. "It takes a peculiar type of moron not to be aware of that."

EDIT: Spelt Moron wrong in the title! Mods can you change?

FunkyChicken · 18-10-2007 9:33am

Yeah right. Got a link to that?

Mizu_Ger · 18-10-2007 9:36am

Irish Independent: http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/rail-delays-as-truck-crashes-into-bridge-in-dublin-1198970.html

Hail 2 Da Chimp · 18-10-2007 9:41am

Heh heh, Touché!

star-pants · 18-10-2007 9:42am

... they even have height warnings on the side of the bridges to state how high it is.... surely if you drive a truck you should have a general idea how tall your truck is...?

kaimera · 18-10-2007 9:44am

Excellent, allowed me to piss about some before work training started.

Mizu_Ger · 18-10-2007 9:44am

star-pants wrote: »

surely if you drive a truck you should have a general idea how tall your truck is...?

He knows now!

connundrum · 18-10-2007 9:45am

Lololol! But with the amount of bridge hits which have happened in the history of bridges, you'd have to think that truck drivers are lacking in the necessary spacial awareness.

I often drive into the liftable barriers on the M50 toll bridge.. I swear I'm getting closer to clearing them

Ghost Train · 18-10-2007 9:46am

Well if its not the drivers normal truck or he's used to having more clearance I can understand it happening, maybe he had other things on his mind, maybe his granny had died.

Any pictures of the truck/driver/bridge?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 18-10-2007 9:51am

How was the height shown?.

Maybe the driver was east European and didn't understand feet and inches!.

Kintarō Hattori · 18-10-2007 9:55am

Heh Heh Heh - That's pretty funny.

Woooot - Post No: 3000!

star-pants · 18-10-2007 9:57am

star-pants wrote: »

... they even have height warnings on the side of the bridges to state how high it is....

Edit -- I'm not certain if *that* bridge has the height on it (I work just around the corner) and there's another dart bridge just 2 roads south of the GCD one and it has an LCD type sign up stating the low bridge. They're fairly low ... and narrow enough (just about fit two cars past each other) -- I walked under the GCD one lastnight and I would consider it low enough... (can't gauge a height though I'm afraid)

ciaran76 · 18-10-2007 10:01am

Very good press release I wish more companies would say things like this.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 18-10-2007 10:02am

star-pants wrote: »

Edit -- I'm not certain if *that* bridge has the height on it (I work just around the corner) and there's another dart bridge just 2 roads south of the GCD one and it has an LCD type sign up stating the low bridge. They're fairly low ... and narrow enough (just about fit two cars past each other) -- I walked under the GCD one lastnight and I would consider it low enough... (can't gauge a height though I'm afraid)

I think you might be talking about the bridge at the 98FM offices and the OP is talking about the bridge at the DART station.

edanto · 18-10-2007 10:05am

Congrats eo!!

Yeah I saw this idiot truck driver this morning - traffic was being turned around of course but no trouble going past on a bike.

Four or five guards crouched down by the wheels looking pretty bored as they let the air out of the tires. Our idiot was up on top of the truck with his hand on his digger arm that had scraped a big scratch into the bottom of the bridge (and not the first one either!).

It was one of those big building site trucks with a crane arm and the arm just wasn't flat, it was sticking up over the height of the truck because of the amount of rubble there.

Ya wouldn't think there was any serious damage to the bridge, but I guess the trains will be off all morning as they inspect it.

star-pants · 18-10-2007 10:06am

Mairt wrote: »

I think you might be talking about the bridge at the 98FM offices and the OP is talking about the bridge at the DART station.

Yes the one you walk under to get to the DART station at GCD? (I got the DART from GCD station lastnight & back -- I assume that's the one OPs talking about) I was saying there is one further south off Haddington Road that has the height/warning on it for definite - but wasn't certain there was a sign on the one at the DART

Mizu_Ger · 18-10-2007 10:12am

I'm not sure which bridge they are referring too. All I know is what the Independent have.

Alter-Ego · 18-10-2007 10:19am

Thanks to him i got to spend 30 mins in pearse this morning. :rolleyes:

Maximilian · 18-10-2007 10:31am

I drove under it this morning on the way into work via the footpath. It was a truck with some kind of crane thing incorporated into it. The top was wedged into the underside of the bridge, leaving a nasty looking scar. They'll have some fun getting that thing out.

keen · 18-10-2007 10:52am

haha, good to hear some people talking straight for a change.

godtabh · 18-10-2007 10:58am

eolhc wrote: »

Well if its not the drivers normal truck or he's used to having more clearance I can understand it happening, maybe he had other things on his mind, maybe his granny had died.

Any pictures of the truck/driver/bridge?

Its their responsibility to make themselves aware of the vehicle they are driving. Its called common sense

Setun · 18-10-2007 11:02am

Mizu_Ger wrote: »

A truck crashed into the railway bridge at Grand Canal Dock this morning causing delays to the DART. Iarnrod Eireann quote is deadly:

EDIT: Spelt Moron wrong in the title! Mods can you change?

Didn't this happen just over a week ago aswell? I posted up something on transport forum about it - my gf was trying to get a dart and ended up having run back to get the bus instead.

Terry · 18-10-2007 11:15am

Daddio wrote: »

Didn't this happen just over a week ago aswell? I posted up something on transport forum about it - my gf was trying to get a dart and ended up having run back to get the bus instead.

I'll give her a dart.

Sorry. It was just there. I had to do it.

Setun · 18-10-2007 11:20am

Terry wrote: »

I'll give her a dart.

Sorry. It was just there. I had to do it.

Careful now. :rolleyes:

azezil · 18-10-2007 11:24am

That feckin eejit made me an hour late for work *shakes fist*

godtabh · 18-10-2007 11:29am

azezil wrote: »

That feckin eejit made me an hour late for work *shakes fist*

its a pain in the hole isnt it

ScumLord · 18-10-2007 11:30am

Lol, great press release.

godtabh · 18-10-2007 11:32am

ScumLord wrote: »

Lol, great press release.

Its just a pity it wont make an difference on the streets

Kintarō Hattori · 18-10-2007 11:38am

azezil wrote: »

That feckin eejit made me an hour late for work *shakes fist*

kearnsr wrote: »

its a pain in the hole isnt it

*** Heh Heh ***

DublinDilbert · 18-10-2007 11:39am

The driver will know all about it when his company gets the fine for the bridge strike, i believe they've up'ed it from €3K -> €50K last year.... that's assuming its an Irish registered truck / company.... if it's not Irish registered they should just take the truck till the fine is paid, but i doubt they would...

godtabh · 18-10-2007 11:50am

DublinDilbert wrote: »

The driver will know all about it when his company gets the fine for the bridge strike, i believe they've up'ed it from €3K -> €50K last year.... that's assuming its an Irish registered truck / company.... if it's not Irish registered they should just take the truck till the fine is paid, but i doubt they would...

Have they been actually collecting money on this? Maybe i've missed it but I've yet to see reports in the press about it

FunkyChicken · 18-10-2007 12:01pm

I apologise to the OP. I didnt think they'd describe him as an idiot and a moron. Thats bloody classic

Dinxminx · 18-10-2007 12:37pm

This happened in Madrid last summer. It was a bridge for pedestrians to cross over the motorway and I was in an apartment block pretty close by; it felt like an earthquake! Luckily there were no people actually on the bridge when the truck hit it..

H.O.T.A.S. · 18-10-2007 12:45pm

Fair deuce to Iarnrod Eireann, I'd prefer to hear that some moron was the reason I was late rather than some leaves on the track or points failure

watna · 18-10-2007 12:56pm

I hope this truck driver feels bad, he made thousands of people late for work this morning. Unfortunately, I wasn't won of them! I was on the last dart to get through because I had an early meeting. I would have liked a little sit down on the dart for a while instead of coming in to work!

MOH · 18-10-2007 1:21pm

I'm getting a bit sick of IE calling people idiots and morons when 90% of the time I'm delayed due to their own utter incompetence.

Simple solution:
- IE compensate every passenger affected by bridge strike, say 10 quid each
- IE go after haulage company for this compensation
- Haulage company sacks driver

Not much point fining them 50 grand, when the people affected by the problem don't get anything out of it.

Reku · 18-10-2007 1:23pm

Daddio wrote: »

Careful now. :rolleyes:

You two really need to get different avatars and star numbers (both also have 4 stars), for a fraction of a second I thought Terry had gone off the deep end and was replying to his own post saying he'd give his own girlfriend a dart...

:o

wil · 18-10-2007 1:31pm

"The bridges around the Grand Canal Dock area are visibly very low," a spokesman said. "It takes a peculiar type of moron not to be aware of that."

Glad to see someone at last using the correct terminology.

Gives regular morans a bad name though.

Saw another truck stop inches from hitting that bridge a while back, the look on his face.:eek:

Bridge strikes was discussed on RTE radio a few days ago.

Ghost Train · 18-10-2007 1:46pm

kearnsr wrote: »

Its their responsibility to make themselves aware of the vehicle they are driving. Its called common sense

I never said he wasn't a moron, but these things happen, the driver would probably agree it was stupid mistake to make

These are the type of warning system Iarnrod Eireann need to invest in
http://www.laservision.com.au/page.asp?lid=1&sec=Hot+Press&id=130

Capt'n Midnight · 18-10-2007 9:18pm

Mizu_Ger wrote: »

He knows now!

Let's not forget the muppet who was extracted from one bridge and then hit another the same day,

Mairt wrote: »

How was the height shown?.

Maybe the driver was east European and didn't understand feet and inches!.

Aren't they all metric now.
Once there is a low bridge warning sign they should be able to do the driver for not driving with due care and attention.

http://transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=7670&lang=ENG&loc=1888

Minister for Transport wrote:

I am aware from Iarnród Éireann that the number of bridge strikes by heavy goods vehicles has increased from 82 in 1995 to 203 in 2005.

Iarnród Éireann has taken a number of initatives to reduce the incidence of bridge strikes including a signage programme on all headroom restricted bridges and an information and publicity campaign to highlight the need for care and attention on the part of HGV drivers. Iarnród Éireann has also published a map identifying each bridge height and has distributed the map to hauliers.

It should also be noted that Section 138 of the Railway Safety Act, 2005 provides for increased penalties up to €50,000 and /or imprisonment for up to 3 years - for bridge strikes.

Just waiting for a supertruck to get jammed in the port tunnel.

Capt'n Midnight · 18-10-2007 9:19pm

http://www.laoistoday.ie/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3806&ArticleID=3255517

IARNROD Éireann has labeled truckers who hit the railway bridges in Portlaoise as the dumbest in Ireland. In a statement released last Monday, entitled "Dumb and Dumber", they questioned the basic intelligence and competence of the drivers involved in these incidents.
The number of trucks hitting bridges in the town continues to dramatically outstrip the rest of the country - raising concerns for pedestrians and motorists alike.
The Mountrath Road Bridge, with 17 incidents so far this year, and the Mountmellick Road Bridge, with 13, are the two most hit bridges in the country. Despite clear height signage, and the recent installation of new infra-red technology, the problem persists.
The infra-red technology triggers a large motorway-style light display to flash the message "Vehicle Too high Divert Now" at the nearest junction to the bridge to alert drivers whose trucks exceed the permitted height. Despite this, there have been 30 bridge strikes between these two locations so far this year.

Wishbone Ash · 18-10-2007 9:37pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Just waiting for a supertruck to get jammed in the port tunnel.

Don't the lights go to red and the barrier drops if an over-height vehicle ignores the "too high - divert now" signage?

Manic Moran · 18-10-2007 9:43pm

ciaran76 wrote: »

Very good press release I wish more companies would say things like this.

A few months ago in the UK there was a newspaper which conducted an investigation into some former-military socialite, Major (Insert double-barrelled name) DSO KBE OBE and a crapload of other acronyms, as there was perhaps some concern over the veracity of his claim. Amongst the people the newspaper contacted was the Army. The officer was very forthright: "This gentleman has never held the Queen's comission. He has not served in the Army. As far as we can tell, he was never even in the cadets. Perhaps I might suggest the Space Cadets?"

NTM

star-pants · 19-10-2007 12:29am

was doing the other thread of random google images and stumbled across this
http://www.chris.obyrne.com/Fun/Bus/bus1.jpg

wil · 19-10-2007 1:29am

star-pants wrote: »

was doing the other thread of random google images and stumbled across this
http://www.chris.obyrne.com/Fun/Bus/bus1.jpg

Brilliant, I guess it fits now
but shouldnt that read "Height Watchers from Heinz."

That should be the inspiration for a novel approach.
Rather than advise trucks about the height of bridge,
Put can opener signs on bridge
Install large sharp blades sticking out just below bridge
Advise them of the what their vehicle height will be after the bridge.
For most the top should shear off fairly easily.
Never have the same problem twice:D

Wishbone Ash · 19-10-2007 1:53am

wil wrote: »

Put can opener signs on bridge
Install large sharp blades sticking out just below bridge
Advise them of the what their vehicle height will be after the bridge.
For most the top should shear off fairly easily.
Never have the same problem twice:D

That won't make any difference. When you pass a sign that doesn't affect you several times, the sign becomes redundant. A truck driver may go under a bridge 1000 times with a load that just fits nicely under the bridge. One day he goes to the docks and picks up a container that is 15cm taller than the norm. Complacency sets in on his journey. He's travelled this route thousands of times before. He's on auto pilot. He's thinking about his destination, paperwork, family, etc. All of a sudden BANG!!!

19-10-2007 3:34am

why the hell don't they just put up an "idiot bar" (200mm lower than the bridge) 100m before the bridge, it least if a driver hits that, all he does is hit a "warning" rather than the real thing.

Dalfiatach · 19-10-2007 3:45am

Deleted User wrote: »

why the hell don't they just put up an "idiot bar" (200mm lower than the bridge) 100m before the bridge, it least if a driver hits that, all he does is hit a "warning" rather than the real thing.

Buy that man a pint, a suggestion that makes perfect sense and would be a hell of a lot cheaper than installing loads of fancy infra-red technology everywhere at a cost of millions.

Which is exactly why it'll never be implemented in this increasingly-insane country we live in...

ShiverinEskimo · 19-10-2007 4:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

why the hell don't they just put up an "idiot bar" (200mm lower than the bridge) 100m before the bridge, it least if a driver hits that, all he does is hit a "warning" rather than the real thing.

Ever consider a civil engineers job with your local council because this idea just made you the State Expert on civil engineering.

Manic Moran · 19-10-2007 6:53am

Back in the days that you used to be able to walk on top of trains (at least, if you were part of the train crew), they used to install what were known as "tell-tales" in front of every tunnel and low bridge. They were basically a bunch of ropes dangling from a bar. If you happened to be facing the rear of the train, and you felt this rope hit you, duck!

NTM

Wishbone Ash · 19-10-2007 5:56pm

Deleted User wrote: »

why the hell don't they just put up an "idiot bar" (200mm lower than the bridge) 100m before the bridge, it least if a driver hits that, all he does is hit a "warning" rather than the real thing.

I think they did that on the East Wall Road which has/used to have the most struck bridge in the country.

Just in case lots of non-truck drivers out there are wondering how idiots can manage to hit bridges, spend a few hours in Dublin Airport and watch all SUV/MPV drivers entering the short term multi-storeys and forgetting that they have roof boxes attached! Ouch!

"Moron" truck driver hits bridge in Dublin

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