New York State Police (NYSP) troopers launched an enforcement initiative aimed at overheight commercial vehicles.
This campaign was carried out on Tuesday, October 8, along the New York State Thruway (I-90) in the Syracuse area, as reported by Thruway officials.
Troopers from NYSP Troop T’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) collaborated with the New York State Thruway Authority to conduct spot checks for height violations among commercial vehicles.
The maximum height limit on the Thruway is set at 13 feet 6 inches.
A similar enforcement operation focused on truck height took place in September.
.@nyspolice Troop T Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) held an overheight vehicle enforcement this week in the lower Hudson Valley Region. The height limit on the Thruway for commercial vehicles is 13ft 6in. Before you hit the road – check your height and know it's right. pic.twitter.com/9iGtz7vX0p
— New York State Thruway Authority (@NYSThruway) September 18, 2024
Bridge strikes have become increasingly problematic in New York State in recent years, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to establish a Bridge Hit Mitigation Task Force in November 2023. This task force includes members from the NYSP, the New York State Department of Transportation, the Thruway Authority, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
The task force aims to educate commercial drivers, including those operating rental box trucks and moving trucks, on the importance of knowing their vehicle’s height to safely navigate under bridges.
“Bridge strikes are potentially hazardous to motorists and first responders and have caused needless inconveniences for local communities – but these incidents are 100 percent preventable,” Hochul said. “While we have implemented measures and technologies across the state to help prevent bridge strikes, nothing is more powerful than knowledge. Drivers of overheight vehicles have a responsibility here as well: follow posted warnings, know the height of vehicles and most importantly pay attention.”
