Herent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Herent faces frequent truck crashes under low bridges on Bijlokstraat, possibly dozens monthly. Simon Pardon uses realistic images, warning signs, and colored road lines to prevent accidents.
The town of Herent, province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, is trying to stop trucks from getting stuck under the low bridges. They are putting up a picture of a truck stuck under the bridge. The picture was made with the help of artificial intelligence and looks very real.
They are putting this picture on both sides of the bridge to make drivers think twice before driving through. They are also putting up signs that show the height limit. The town is also painting lines on the road to warn drivers about the low bridges.
They will paint yellow and white lines under the bicycle bridge and red and white lines on both sides of the train bridge. These lines will make it very clear that the bridges are low. Officials hope these new things will make drivers pay more attention and stop trucks from getting stuck.
“This combination of striking colours, images and clear warnings should make every driver think about the height of the vehicle,”
Says Pardon.
How Will Herent Stop Trucks Getting Stuck Under Bridges?
A local leader named Simon Pardon is worried about trucks getting stuck under bridges in Herent. He thinks it happens a lot, maybe even dozens of times each month. He mentioned that sometimes drivers can get their trucks unstuck and leave without calling for help. Pardon said he often hears about these incidents from people on Facebook. He says the people in the town are like an unofficial group that keeps track of these accidents.
“The many incidents are accompanied by a lot of hilarity among the residents, but of course, they suffer from the nuisance that is constantly caused.”
Simon Pardon
According to the officials, although people in Herent sometimes laugh about trucks getting stuck under bridges, it’s a serious problem. They mentioned that these crashes cause traffic jams, damage bridges, and put people in danger. The town has tried to stop it before, putting up signs, adding a beam to warn drivers, and even hanging chains. But none of these things worked.
“Porches with height restrictions, which residents requested, turned out not to be an option, because the passage for emergency services and agricultural vehicles would then not be protected,”
Pardon explains.
