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Every so often there's a news story about a lorry or bus coming a cropper by trying to drive under a bridge that's too low.
Sometimes it's funny (in a Super Dave Osborne type way); other times it's soberingly tragic.
Advance warning signs obviously don't work for some.
So, ahead of the bridge,
and allowing time to stop, have special posts on either side of the road that are just a bit taller than the bridge gap.
Now, when something oversized does try to drive through the frame, sensors in the posts spot it and set off a big, flashing warning sign up ahead.
At the same time large rollers spring out from the posts and make light contact with the vehicle (in a car wash type way). The rollers transfer onto each side of the vehicle garish but (eventually) removable large stickers: "NEXT TIME READ THE SIGNS YER FEKKIN' EEDJIT".
Warning, safety and summary justice all 'rolled' into one (groan).
Matt Blaze: Truck vs. Overpass
http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/truck/
One of my favorite accident scenes of 2004. [jutta, Sep 20 2006]
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sell the rollers as ad space. |
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The NYC tunnels all have heavy dangly things that hang down and whack into trucks that are too big. They still have to stop the traffic to get them back out of the way, though. |
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I'd post a picture, but I think Homeland Security is down on photographing the local infrastructure. |
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You have to admit, Doctor, that [boysparks]' idea of placing the measuring device prior to the actual obstacle is a smarter idea. It would be even smarter if a handy last-minute exit road was also provided to avoid corking the bottleneck. |
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+ I think this is a very sensible idea. |
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I see Trolls like truck eating bridges. |
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I think that the "special posts on either side of the road that are a just bit taller than the the bridge gap." should be just a bit lower instead, like the things they have at parking garages. But that would change this idea. |
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Erm, oops, sorry, you're right, thanks. |
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The 'taller' requirement was accidentally left in from the first draft of the idea (which daftly required a horizontal bar across the road too). So long as the sensors are at the right height (which I guess would be a bit lower than the bridge like you say) then it should still work. |
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Hell no, leave the posts taller! Lord knows there's a fair number of folks out there who need a good dose of humility. |
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No, now is NOT the time to ask about those scars on my forehead... |
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Can these sensors be connected to a video surveilance camera, "to meter traffic flow," which feeds directly to some appropriate website and/or TV channel, so that those who fail to heed the warnings become the next video clip to be passed about the office for years to come... thus reminding the hapless driver of their error for all eternity. |
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After all, a frame of shame should insure that the shame transferred to the vehicle and driver is maximized as much as possible... This would also make the stickers as ad space more desirable, ensuring that the system can generate additional revenue for the public good. |
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