Manitoba to slap heavy fines on bridge-hitting truckers

WINNIPEG — Slamming a truck into a bridge in Manitoba will cost carriers more than just the bill to fix their wrecked equipment.

The Manitoba government has introduced a $5,000 fine under the Highway Traffic Act for truckers that collide or get their tractor-trailers stuck under a low-clearing overpass, reports the Winnipeg Free Press.

There have been eight such accidents since October 2006, which have caused more than $2 million in damage, reports the paper. All the bridges are marked with their clearance and some have flashing lights.

One had a specialized sensor to warn drivers their trucks are too large to pass through.

The fine can be handed to the driver, his supervisor, the vehicle’s owner, and the persons responsible for loading the vehicle if it is determined the load caused the damage.

Currently, drivers can be charged with careless driving or failing to obey a traffic signal, which carry maximum penalties of $2,000.

— with files from the Winnipeg Free Press