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Blackwall warning

19th May 1994, Page 38
19th May 1994
Page 38
Page 38, 19th May 1994 — Blackwall warning
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

s a newcomer to road .LlJiaulage, I have just purchased a R310 and have a contract pulling containers. Recently I had an argument with the northbound Blackwall Tunnel.

I rent a trailer on a weekto-week basis, in effect a different trailer every day or so. I loaded an empty 40ft box, standard height 8.5ft, on a flatbed with twistlocks. From my limited experience and advice from other drivers I assumed (incorrectly) that this trailer and load would be 13ft 3in.

I went to go through the Blackwall Tunnel northbound for the first time with an LGV, and realised there is a 13ft 4in height limit.

But I believed that I could get under it and the warning system would enable me to divert if I was wrong. No warning sounded just before the escape road so I started to go down the approach road. I tripped the portcullis which activated the lights to stop the traffic (this is the second warning).

The police had to clear the traffic and I had to reverse up the slope (thankfully without having to shunt—I could imagine the potential comments about women drivers). The police measured the load and found it to be well over—the flatbed was 4in higher than the skellies which I normally use.

My concern is that the first warning before the escape road did not work. The police admitted that it did not, but this did not stop them taking my licence and imposing either a £40 fine and three penalty points or, of course, I have the option of going to court.

I know I was wrong, I should have known the height of my load. However, as the tunnel authorities apparently knew that the initial warning prior to the slip road was defective, why did they not place warning signs? This letter is a warning to others and a request for any legal advice. Terri Webb Brighton.

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