Network Rail has released new data showing that collisions between heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and bridges resulted in over 100 days (150,000 minutes) of delays for rail passengers last year. Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, there were 1,532 reported bridge strikes—averaging one every six hours—costing Britain’s rail industry approximately £20 million in delays, cancellations, and repairs.
How OWL can help to prevent Bridge Strikes
Preventing Errors During Load Stowing
- Scenario: A logistics company equips its fleet with OWL Geofencing. If a vehicle carrying a high load attempt to enter a restricted zone near a low bridge, the geofence triggers an alert, notifying the driver to stop and check the load’s height before proceeding.
Validating Vehicle Height Measurements
- Scenario: A fleet management system integrates geofencing with vehicle telematics to compare the actual height of a loaded vehicle with clearance data in geofenced areas. Drivers are alerted if their vehicle exceeds safe limits.
Overcoming Poor Signage and Driver Awareness
- Scenario: For areas with inadequate signage, geofencing serves as an additional safeguard by warning drivers about low-clearance bridges well in advance, reducing reliance on physical signs that might be obscured or poorly placed.
Increasing Awareness of Vehicle Heights
- Scenario: A geofencing system prompts drivers to input their vehicle height into an app before starting their journey. If the height exceeds a bridge’s clearance within the geofenced area, the system recommends an alternative route.
Driver Education and Data Insights
- Scenario: Fleet managers use geofencing analytics to identify high-risk areas and educate drivers about frequently violated zones. This data also informs future route planning and infrastructure improvements.
These use cases showcase how geofencing can address common errors and improve driver behaviour to significantly reduce the risk of bridge strikes.
