Lorry driver closes Forth Road Bridge.

[Brandane]

What a plank. Despite signs to tell him that the bridge was closed to high sided vehicles due to high winds, he decided to chance it, and this was the result:

The incident happened about 2am today, and the rescue operation couldn't go ahead until the winds eased. The bridge is still closed in both directions, and after the lorry is moved they will have barrier repairs to carry out. There is traffic chaos for miles around on the diversion routes, and the driver is getting pelters on TruckNet UK..
Curries European may well be looking for a new driver, but from the stories I have heard about them in the trade, it's yet another "revolving door" company.
Driver has been charged with dangerous driving, and he's very lucky that there was nothing on the carriageway he was blown onto, right across the central barrier.

 

[Drago]

What an utter weenis.

 

[mustang1]

Agreed.

I wonder if he got any "encouragement" from his employers to hurry up and deliver the cargo.

 

[r04DiE]

Tool.

 

[Brandane]

Agreed.

I wonder if he got any "encouragement" from his employers to hurry up and deliver the cargo.

Quite possible, from my insider knowledge of the industry. He might have been heading for Amazon in Dunfermline with a pre-arranged book-in time which he was going to miss if he had gone the diversion route (which takes about an hour extra, via the Kincardine bridge). Or he could have been running out of driving time on his tacho, or any number of other factors. Speculation of course, but not unusual scenarios.
More likely that he was empty and on his way to collect freight. An empty trailer only weighs about 11 tonnes, and with those curtains down the side they act like sails. A fully loaded trailer weighs a maximum of about 36 tonnes (depends what it's carrying, obviously) and I doubt if the wind was strong enough to blow that over.

 

[L Q]

What an idiot, to chance it like that just to save time, he is lucky his cab wasn't blown off the bridge.

 

[DaveReading]

BBC now reporting that the bridge will remain closed until 0600 tomorrow (Thursday).

Ouch.

 

[marknotgeorge]

Aren't there barriers to stop pratts like this?

 

[Drago]

What sort of barriers?

 

[marknotgeorge]

Errr... Barriers or similar apparatus put in place to stop people driving onto the bridge when it's closed?

 

[Spinney]

I think the bridge was still open for cars, though, so barriers (if there are any) would not have been closed.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I think the bridge was still open for cars, though, so barriers (if there are any) would not have been closed.

That makes sense.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Yes, correct - closed to HGVs as per the link in the OP

 

[classic33]

Errr... Barriers or similar apparatus put in place to stop people driving onto the bridge when it's closed?

Height barriers?

 

[Drago]

Some kind of targetted taser linked to anpr. When it senses a banned vehicle it zaps the driver.

An yes, the bridge wasn't actually closed.