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The gantry you see above was pulled down by an over-height lorry crane along Sunset Way in November 2006. The driver travelled on the road without fully retracting the boom. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Incidents like this happen frequently. From 2000 to 2007, there were 119 cases of vehicles hitting road structures such as pedestrian overhead bridges, gantries and covered walkways. 67% of the known cases involved drivers who forgot to retract the cranes fitted on their lorries before driving off.

Consequences of Colliding with Road Structures
An accident like this in which a vehicle collides with a road structure is potentially dangerous and costly.

Dangerous because:
  • the driver may be killed or suffer physical/psychological injury
  • passengers may be killed or seriously injured
  • it can be fatal to other drivers and members of the public
  • it can be fatal to users of the road structures, e.g. pedestrian overhead bridges

Costly because:
  • your company will be liable for the cost of the incident including inspection of structures by professional engineer(s), repairing the damaged structure and vehicle recovery
  • your company will pay for the damages to the vehicle and be liable for injury claims
  • your company may also be liable for prosecution
  • your company may lose business as the vehicle and driver are off the road
  • your company could be required to pay higher insurance premiums

Before the Journey

  • Check that the crane fitted on your lorry is fully retracted
  • Apply for a police escort if the overall vehicle height exceeds 4.5m
  • Plan and select your route in advance to ensure that your vehicle height does not exceed the height limit of any road structure along the way

During the Journey

  • Obey height limit signs
  • Drive safely within the vehicle speed limit*
  • Stop and seek advice on alternative route if and when you:
  • are diverted from your planned route
  • are lost or become disorientated
  • realise that your route is obstructed by a road structure lower than the height of your vehicle

*Note: Under the law, every goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 12,000kg has to be fitted with a speed limiter, so that the heavy vehicle will not exceed the speed of 60km/h. Any person who tampers with the speed limiter or drives a heavy vehicle with a faulty speed limiter can be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to 3 months.

In the Event of an Accident

  • Stop the vehicle immediately
  • Switch on the hazard lights of the vehicle to warn others
  • Render necessary assistance and call for an ambulance if someone is injured
  • Call 999 and wait at the scene for the Police to arrive

Responsibilities of Owners

  • Provide each driver with a list of height limits of road structures
  • Install a crane warning buzzer, where an audible alarm will be activated if the vehicle moves without retracting the crane
  • Advise drivers of road closures or diversions and provide guidance of alternative routes to take
  • Ensure that drivers are provided with guidance and advice should they need help along the way
  • Ensure schedules should not cause the driver pressure, stress or fatigue as this may increase the risk
  • Include the prevention of hitting road structures in training programmes and safety briefings for all drivers and staff

What is the Law?

Under Section 65A of the Road Traffic Act, any person who, when driving or attempting to drive a heavy motor vehicle causes the vehicle to collide with any building or structure, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable:
  • On conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;
  • In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

Movement of Tall Vehicles

With effect from 27 February 2006, the following changes will apply to movements of heavy vehicles:
  • There is no need to apply to Traffic Police for a height permit to drive a heavy vehicle; and
  • Only vehicles with overall height exceeding 4.5m will require police escort.

A summary of the changes is as follows:
Before 27 Feb 2006 On or after 27 Feb 2006
Is a height permit required? Yes, if vehicle height exceeds 4m. No
Is police escort required? Yes, if vehicle height exceeds 4.3m. Yes, if vehicle height exceeds 4.5m.

Police or auxiliary police escort

Under Section 79 of the Road Traffic Act, any person who drives or causes to be driven on any road a heavy motor vehicle the overall height of which exceeds 4.5m without being escorted by a police officer or auxiliary police officer shall be guilty of an offence.
Extract of Section 79 of the Road Traffic Act [20 Kb]

Penalty for offence

Anyone who drives a heavy vehicle with overall height exceeding 4.5m without police escort is committing an offence. The penalties for the offence are:
  • For first conviction, imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than 3 years and, in addition, a fine not exceeding $2,000;
  • In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both.

Any vehicle which collides with buildings or structures may be penalised as follows;
  • For first conviction, a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;
  • In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both

Multimedia

Documents

Prevent Road Structure Collisions Brochure [776 Kb]
If you would like the educational video in CD or if you need more copies of the brochures, please call us at 1800-2255 582 or email your particulars to Roads_Customer_Relations@lta.gov.sg.

Related Information

Last Updated: 9 April 2008