The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) today announced a new public awareness campaign aimed at helping drivers avoid hitting low bridges with vehicles.
The theme for 2025’s bridge hit campaign is “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right.” The campaign will encourage people to check that their vehicle is not too tall to safely fit under bridges that extend over state and local roadways.
These overhead collisions, commonly known as bridge hits, not only damage vehicles and infrastructure, but they also cause delays and put the public and emergency responders at risk.
“Bridge strikes are preventable, and it starts with drivers knowing their vehicle height and making sure their loads are secure,” said ALDOT Deputy Director of Operations George Conner. “This campaign is a great reminder that taking a few seconds to double-check your vehicle height can ensure safety while preventing major traffic delays and costly damage.”
Drivers are responsible for knowing the height of their vehicle and being observant for and complying with posted bridge heights. Drivers should always watch for and adhere first to signage indicating bridge heights and not rely solely on navigation devices/apps.
In Alabama, the importance of a driver knowing the height of their vehicle also applies to the Wallace and Bankhead Tunnels in Mobile. The Bankhead Tunnel in particular has been a frequent source of over height vehicles ignoring warning signs and striking the tunnel entrance.
The campaign targets all classes of drivers (CDL and passenger class drivers) operating commercial trucks or leased trucks (delivery and moving box-type trucks) and recreational vehicles.
Crash data shows that drivers may not always consider vehicle height and related restrictions during operation. For example, a typical 26-foot moving/delivery truck may have a height ranging from 11’ to 13’-6”.
ALDOT, along with a number of state transportation agencies, is adopting the “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign with the support of The Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership of 19 states and the District of Columbia focused on connecting public agencies across modes of travel to increase safety and efficiency.
