Low bridge strike are very expensive and can be easily to avoid with simple steps taken while driving a high sided vehicle, In this case focusing on buses and other Public Service Vehicles.
This is a risk to the public while traveling.
The Details:
- Point 1: The raise of bridge strike incidents across the UK with it seeming to be dressed down as just a mishap especially when the vehicle is out of service. I have a few that have happen recently. On November 7th 2025 A double decker smashed into a bridge in Bolton ripping the roof clean off, In this case no passengers were on the bus but the bridge is clearly marked at 3.7 meters. It was running out of service back to the depot, Was this a shortcut?
Around the 21st July 2025 a Double decker was smashed into a bridge in Salford again ripping the roof clean off, This time the bus was in service with passengers injured, The bridge once again knowing the area is very clearly marked from both sides. The damage was very bad with the roof being left on the other side of the bridge as the bus passes through.
On 22nd July 2025 The day after the above another double decker was slammed into a bridge, This time something i find a little more alarming is it was a Driver training vehicle with a driver under instruction. Which puts a little bit in my eyes of a complication on the matter.
On the 3rd of December 2025 A school bus was turned into a tin can after being driven into a low bridge, This time school children was hurt in the incident, this was in the North west. Again from the images provided by sources the bridge is very clearly marked
Going back a little but to the 14th December 2024 in Glasgow 8 people was injured as a double decker smashes into a bridge.
And those are just the ones that make the news, Something that has been in the focus of the media recently with the amount happening.
- Point 2: This is rather alarming that this many Bridge strike incidents are happening and these arn’t little bump into the bridge they are total destruction of the buses and injures to travelers that are simply trying to get somewhere. The last thing you want on any trip. Within Manchester it is clear looking at social media it has become a clear concern from the public regarding the amount of these some saying that the buses arn’t safe, With many even saying that the driver ability and standard has dropped. This is all understandable as the same happened with Hybrid vehicle fires when there was a raise in them. However the difference being those you have a chance to get out with a bridge strike you are a passenger in the entire event there is no jumping out. For those involved I am sure it is a very traumatic event which some might suffer for years after.
- Point 3: In my view these incidents need to be 0 there are so many different ways to alert drivers to the low bridges, However this is a sign of the age we are in where technology is relayed apon to ensure safety, Personally when I was driving double deckers as my day job In Manchester we didn’t have any of these it was a clear you pay attention to the vehicle you are driving, Now I at first did have an advantage of being at a depot that was only Double decker vehicles, However I did move to a mix depot, The habit I got into when I first started to drive buses was no matter what bridge I came to if it had a Low Bridge warning I would check the height listed and the height marker in the which is a Legal requirement. Any vehicle over 3M MUST display a clear height marker in the cab that is easy to read. So it became second nature when driving see a bridge or the warning for the bridge Check the height against the height of the vehicle.
Not saying I got it right all the time, I do recall on the out of service run which wasn’t typical for the depot so I was using google maps in my cash tray to guide me to the other location I was driving on Unknown roads and I came across a bridge but my simple slow down as I was unfamiliar and check the bridge marker and the height in the cab it was clear I didn’t fit under and I used the provided turning space to turn my vehicle around and looked at going a different way.
I am not sure what is happening at the moment as only the driver can say that but lets be honest for a second they are not going to admit to not paying attention they are going to do what ever they can save save there skin in front of the traffic commissioner. The only cause for bridge strikes is not paying attention. Which is in contravention of the Road traffic act 1988. Careless Driving or “driving without due care and attention” which can result in a fine and points for a Professional driver you will expect the worse as you will be used as an example to others.
However As i mentioned in the above the incident with the Training bus the driver was under instruction, so whom is to blame for that is it the instructor or the driver. Well under the eyes of the law I believe both are equally to blame, The driving instructor for telling the driver to go that way and not paying attention to the road that was in front of them. As a driving instructor you should be just as aware as the driver of the vehicle. The driver is at fault learner or not for hitting the bridge, They are in control of the vehicle therefore responsible for the vehicle On seeing the bridge they should of stopped when they seen it was too low and informed the instructor but instead they hit it, Can’t say without being there the actions or if anything was said on the vehicle but the driver should of stopped and reinforced that fact the bridge was too low for the vehicle but there seem to be a level of trust where the driver trusted the instructions to following the guidance and they would fit under the bridge.
As I have mentioned many times to I am blue in the face with many not agreeing for some reason there is not excuse for hitting a low bridge, The Driver is responsible for the vehicle while it is in there control. Doesn’t matter who tells you what if you hit a bridge or have a crash you are at fault.
Don’t fall into the trap of complacent driving get into a habit early on of checking the signs and your vehicle at every bridge, Your judgement is far better than any tech that is to warn you, The tech is only as good as the person who has programmed it.
Stay safe.