The blog 2M40 is about one underpass in Paris that has a clearance of only two meters and forty centimeters. Many truck drivers either do not read, do not understand, or do not believe the clearance warning. Several times a month, the underpass wins the battle against these drivers and 2m40 posts the pictures. The blog is in French, but the pictures tell the story. The tagline is “Un blog impactant,” which means “An impacting blog.” Link -via the Presurfer
Splint Chesthair
Not surprised to see a lot of rentals there. I worked for rental place and lots of the box trucks would be damaged liked this. I just think it's not something normal people who drive cars 99% of the time think about. You're never worried about a car clearing an overpass so you don't think to make a note of it. It's like the old joke about two guys in a 14 foot high truck. The driver stops and the passenger asks why. The driver says the sign says Clearance "12 Feet" and the passenger says, "Oh come on, there aren't any cops around."
Scotchdrnkr
We had an old highway thru the St. Louis area that had many low clearance bridges. We finally got it rebuilt last year and now it can be used by just about any truck of legal size. Wonder why this one is so low.
Nilo Velez
I can't understand it. Here in Spain, when we have a tunnel of a bridge that low, we place a soft metal arc some meters away.
If your truck is too high, you will hit the arc, but that won't be so terrible.
Eleaffar
Seems the tunnel is on the Champs Elysées ... probably they prefer an aesthetic touristic area to the safety of the local's cars.
Splint Chesthair
@Nilo
Here, people would hit the arc, not know why an arc is hanging over the road, the proceed to destroy the roof of their truck.
We have metal signs that hang down from chains and if you hit the sign, you're too tall, but it still fails to warn people.
Julien
@Eleaffar
you're right, there is not metallic arc thingy to deter people to enter that small tunnel because it's on the Champs-Elysées; and the town council doesn't want the 'view' to be obstructed by such thing, thus causing all those accidents.
damn leftists...
AL24
@Julien
How is not wanting a "metallic arc thingy" a "leftist" position?
LennyNero
From what I see on the blog, it seems that this is not just an occasional, but a regular occurrence. This leads me to conclude several possible causes. The most likely cause is insufficient warning time/distance. Drivers who are posed with the choice of either stopping and backing up or possibly squeezing through, will typically try to squeeze (to their obvious detriment). The other blatant issue seems to be a dreadful lack of active warning devices to signal the EXTREMELY low clearance ahead. There are some pickup trucks that wouldn't fit in that tunnel, let alone trucks. This sort of navigational hazard should at the VERY least have flashing warning lamps around the signs and at best have an active denial system which either stops oversize vehicles well before they ever get to the tunnel or just before the tunnel entrance. As far as I've seen in the blog and other stories, the ONLY warning is a small clearance sign prior to the tunnel and the sign ON the tunnel itself which seems to spend most of its time destroyed. The simplest solution that I've seen work effectively is a height sensor system which immediately signals a set of traffic lights to turn red when an oversize vehicle passes. People are funny, they'll disregard flashing amber lamps (lol amberlamps) around a sign, but they WILL stop for a red light.
It amazes me that the delays incurred by the traveling public of France and the damage costs incurred by the local road maintenance people wouldn't prompt some action from a governmental agency to remedy the situation. Doesn't France employ traffic engineers?
thesledgehammer
Here in Seattle, there's a low bridge at the University of Washington Arboretum which has claimed its fair share of vehicles over the years, the most recent one (reported by the local news, at least) being a tour bus full of high school softball players.
Foreigner1
I think they don't warn all to efficiently because those city-offifcials just want to keep their laughs.
I think this is just one French style practical joke that they only just kept on the legal side- Heey joe sukkérz wie waarned joe but ief joe kannoot ried ze sains------- 
astrodex
Here in Boston Storrow Drive runs along the Charles River and has several low clearance bridges. When renting a truck in the area you are often asked to sign a contract stating you will not go on Storrow Drive. Even with the contracts and lots of signage this still happens from time to time.
Ilan Ben Menachem
govt need to warn stickily...other wise need to put the fine...
Fat Girl
Every now and then here in Chicago you'll see a semi jammed under an overpass. I've seen them before they get jammed trying to slowly inch their way by. I don't know why that would help, but it's what they do.
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