Oct. 14, 2009

Saying “enough is enough,” Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, joined by Gov. David A. Paterson, today announced a series of initiatives and legislative proposals aimed at reducing the rising number of tractor trailers and trucks hitting parkway bridges in Westchester and elsewhere in the region.

Solutions to the problem, based on the recommendations of a regional task force that included Westchester, New York State, New York City and Connecticut, were announced at the Traffic Management Center in Hawthorne. In 2008, there were 46 bridge strikes by trucks and tractor trailers in Westchester. So far this year, there have been 45, including three since Friday. A survey of commercial truck drivers found that the use of GPS was a major factor in these accidents.

Spano is calling for a variety of strategies to reduce the number of commercial vehicles driving illegally on passenger-vehicle only parkways, causing bridge/truck collisions. He is proposing the adoption of both state and federal laws that would address the problem of GPS leading truckers onto passenger-car parkways with low bridges.

“This year so far, we have had 45 trucks hit bridges on the parkways we patrol – three of these accidents happened just since Friday,” said Spano. “When a truck hits one of our bridges, it poses a danger to motorists, ties up police for hours, and causes traffic backups that inconvenience everyone. Miraculously, there have been no serious injuries so far, but it is only a matter of time before a truck carrying explosives or hazardous materials hits a bridge. I believe that new laws, new technology and cooperation with Internet and GPS map providers can reduce the number of these incidents, and prevent a tragedy.”

Governor Paterson, who expressed concern about the growing number of these accidents, said,  “We are here today to put an end to bridge strikes by preventing truck drivers from illegally straying onto parkways and other restricted roads. This legislation will ensure that our roads and bridges are safer for New Yorkers. I want to thank County Executive Spano and Westchester County for their assistance. The County Executive has been an outspoken leader on this issue and I am pleased that through collaboration, we have drafted legislation to address this critical public safety issue for all New Yorkers.” 
                                                                              
Based on the recommendations of the regional task force, Spano is proposing:

• State legislation that would provide for increased penalties for all commercial vehicles that end up on state and county passenger-car parkways
• State and Federal legislation that would require truckers to use special commercial GPS units that alert drivers to passenger-car only parkways and low-bridge heights
• Looking at new technologies that would alert large commercial vehicles that they have entered a restricted roadway
• Stepping up enforcement on local parkways, which has already been done in part
• Working with the providers of GPS data and Internet maps to make information about roadway restrictions more readily available to their users, particularly drivers of commercial vehicles

“We do not want to limit the use of GPS, we just want to make sure that truckers who are using it, have the most accurate information and that they are paying attention to road signs as well,” said Spano.

Thomas Belfiore, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said GPS and Internet-based driving directions are increasingly cited by wayward truck drivers as having played a role in leading them on to parkways where they don’t belong. “It’s a poor excuse,” he said.

Signs stating “Passenger Cars Only” are in place at every entrance to the Bronx River Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway, Cross County Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway, yet trucks continue to end up on the parkways, in many instances because drivers are following GPS instructions and not reading signs. Of the 63 truckers who ventured on to county parkways this year, 50 said they were following GPS, according to a survey conducted by county police this year. Sixteen of 22 drivers surveyed who had actually struck a bridge also said the accidents happened because they were following their GPS and not paying attention to road signs.

“Technology such as GPS is a great help, but it does not eliminate the need to read posted road signs and use common sense,” said Belfiore.

Belfiore said the task force was working with the providers of GPS and Internet mapping services to encourage them to include more detailed information about restrictions affecting commercial vehicles on various New York parkways.

Spano said he has written to federal representatives asking them to require trucks utilizing GPS to use only a version designed exclusively for commercial vehicles. These products already exist, Spano said, but many truckers are simply relying on GPS devices intended for drivers of passenger cars.

“The same GPS that is suitable for you or me is not appropriate for the driver of a multi-ton tractor-trailer,” he said.

Spano also said the county was looking into technologies that detect when a large vehicle enters a restricted parkway. Such technology would trigger flashing road signs, flashing bridge lights or audible warning sounds to alert the driver to the problem and the presence of a low bridge ahead.