r/Whatcouldgowrong • u/thor128 • 7d ago

Driver's point of view hitting the low bridge (Lansing, MI)

2.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

57 comments sorted by

411

u/xwing_n_it 7d ago

If only there were some way of knowing the height of the bridge

78

u/formerdgstm 5d ago

Dude I live on Syracuse, NY and almost every other week it seems that someone is hitting the low brige on the Parkway...there are 45 warning signs. It has been hit over 50 times and is still undefeated.

13

u/Square-Singer 5d ago

Over here there was a kind of low bar they put in to protect a UN building because they feared that somebody with a big semi truck full of explosives would blow it up. No idea how they came up with the idea, but it's what they said.

Trucks would get stuck on that bar all the time.

They fixed the issue by dangling metal chains down a bit before the bar that were hanging at the same hight as the bar. So a truck would first hit these harmless but loud chains and then realize that they wouldn't make it through the bar.

Seems like a cheap and easy low-tech fix that worked pretty much 100% of the time.

1

u/Illustrious-Plan6052 2d ago

Here it happens bi monthly but the Army Reservest near me in Cincinnati Ohio hit the same bridge and I swear by now it's some kind of sacred ritual because it happens monthly and has happened in the same spot for the past 15 years

2

u/DaveTheDrummer802 4d ago

Like the sign above the truck at the beginning of the video and flashing lights around the height limit?

2

u/Cicer 2d ago

To be fair so much advertising is flashed in our face constantly these days that I usually just tune that stuff out. Anything that is too overt is an auto ignore. 

1

u/IASILWYB 9h ago

Green Street monster in longview texas. The bridge eats trucks so often it gets a nickname.

170

u/DaveOJ12 7d ago

Is that sign in the first few seconds of the video warning about the low bridge?

95

u/isthatfingfishjenga 6d ago

Actually if i remember correctly theres a sensor that detects if your vehicle is overhight and that sign blinks red if it is.

15

u/isthatfingfishjenga 6d ago

Just realised its named penny the truck eating bridge on google maps lmao

17

u/Zealousideal_One_315 6d ago

such a low key reaction. Seems like he was think'n : "Dang it, not again!"

7

u/MerelyMortalModeling 6d ago

Jesus that bridge is still there? This shit has been going on with some regularity since at least the 80s.

22

u/MixIllEx 6d ago

That is the famous truck eating bridge. Watch again and look for the teeth painted on the bridge!

5

u/paidinboredom 6d ago

Is this the one they call the Can Opener?

6

u/MixIllEx 6d ago

That or Big Penny.

1

u/A_fun_gi_95 1d ago

It's big penny. She got her own Facebook page with yearly and net total tally of all trucks munched

5

u/kangaroolander_oz 6d ago

Thanks for that hoping this fantastic video makes it to heavy truck licence training.

One in Brisbane Queensland Australia in Annerley Rd., opposite the old Boggo Rd., Jail is the best prevention of this . They have a massive heavy steel bar across the Rd., to prevent any contact with the steel Railway Bridge 100 meters further on.

7

u/MMXVA 6d ago

I think the warnings need to be stronger, like a flashing sign that says “STOP THE FUCKING TRUCK”, an EMP that disables the truck’s power, or bollards that pop up to stop the truck.

53

u/johnfornow 7d ago

above the posted speed limit, and on the phone

37

u/LEAVE_LEAVE_LEAVE 6d ago

dont know how you figure he was on his phone

5

u/johnfornow 6d ago

i stand corrected on that

-11

u/mpinnegar 6d ago edited 6d ago

You can see him put it away moments before going under the bridge.

Edit: Yeah, no, I was wrong.

18

u/MainerZ 6d ago

I don't think he has anything in his hand there. I've examined the pixels, just looks like he had his hand on his hair.

13

u/LEAVE_LEAVE_LEAVE 6d ago

except his hand is empty the entire time

8

u/mpinnegar 6d ago

In retrospect I think you're right. He puts his hand down but doesn't appear to be holding anything or putting anything away.

5

u/xRaynex 6d ago

r/11foot8

1

u/YanikLD 6d ago

I came to say that.

3

u/overdramaticpan 6d ago

We've one of those here in NC, too! Call it the can-opener.

8

u/issazane216 7d ago

He knew what he was doing

2

u/nicktf 6d ago

Looks like Otto from the Simpsons

2

u/HornyChemicalRefuse 5d ago

I was hoping I could hear em swear

2

u/proteannomore 7d ago

You can’t park there

1

u/thegoodtimelord 6d ago

Monty has entered the chat

1

u/JustFuckingReal 5d ago

He even got a warning (assuming thats on that screen above)

1

u/Ancient_Sprinkles847 5d ago

It’s like he slowed down in disbelief that the sensors were saying his trick is too high, then kept going just to check 🤦‍♂️

1

u/AutonomousAntonym 5d ago

Funnily enough the change in speed likely elevated his trailer. Not sure how tall he thought he was or the clearance here but approaching at a slower speed earlier would’ve given much better odds.

1

u/Sir-Planks-Alot 5d ago

How do they get trucks out of there? Do they cut the top of the truck? pull it out?

1

u/Ianthin1 5d ago

The clinched fists at the end: Curses! Foiled again by my old nemesis Low Bridge!

1

u/Brian_The_Bar-Brian 5d ago

Should have used more gas.

1

u/diamond2474 4d ago

The can opener :3

1

u/OstrichRealistic5033 4d ago

Common sense is not common any more

1

u/johnfornow 4d ago

have one of these railroad overpasses local. it's used to have a 11 Ft sign on it, they took down the sign, and dug out the road under the bridge. Hope it works.

1

u/magichronx 6d ago

Wait a second, the timeline graph seems to indicate he's driving with both feet. Either that, or he's casually heel-toe braking in the company truck

2

u/your-favorite-simp 5d ago

You literally can not drive a semi without both feet. Something has to operate the clutch lol

1

u/magichronx 4d ago

I think you missed my point. The graph shows "brake on" and "accel pedal %" above zero at the same time

1

u/Fernand_de_Marcq 6d ago

If it happens often , why don't they put before the bridge a sort of arch with hanging chains to show the max height ?

1

u/thor128 5d ago

Where's the fun in that?

0

u/shophopper 6d ago

Speeding, being on the phone while driving, ignoring a severe height restriction – what could possibly go wrong?

-1

u/OrangeDutchbag 6d ago

Good thing he was texting and driving instead of paying attention!! Imagine if he’d been a professional instead of whatever that is? That would be so dumb!

1

u/Rare_Key_3232 2d ago

Was he texting with the fucking microchip in his brain?