Reps. Latimer, Bresnahan Introduce Legislation to Prevent Bridge Strikes by Large Trucks

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Congressman George Latimer (D-NY) and Congressman Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA) introduced the Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to tackle the issue of bridge strikes by large trucks and commercial motor vehicles.

Throughout the country, highways and local roads with low clearance bridges are vulnerable to strikes by large trucks. Too often, commercial drivers have a lack of awareness of their vehicle's size when driving on roads with low clearance bridges. This problem is exacerbated by our increased reliance on GPS systems, many of which are not designed to consider vehicle size on roadways meant solely for passenger vehicles. In Pennsylvania, there were more than 600 strikes to bridges and other overhead structures between 2013 and 2023. In New York, there were 350 bridge strikes in 2024 alone, usually involving large truck operators failing to recognize warning signs or vehicle height. However, these strikes are preventable.

"Bridge strikes by large trucks are preventable and are a real problem in the New York metropolitan area," said Congressman Latimer. "They strain local governments who often bear the financial burden of fixing damaged bridges or redesigning infrastructure to prevent future strikes. They also burden local law enforcement who must divert resources to remove trucks from under bridges and redirect traffic to alternative routes. In the past, I made eliminating bridgestrikes a priority and worked closely with state and local officials to find solutions. I am proud to continue that work as a member of the House of Representatives and working across the aisle with Rep. Bresnahan to get this done."

"Too many local bridges in NEPA are already in rough shape, the last thing they need is trucks driving into them," said Congressman Bresnahan. "When these crashes happen, it is our local communities that get stuck having to shuffle transportation dollars away from other much-needed projects just to fix the damage. The Bridges Not Bumpers Act will use modern technology, boost driver awareness, and identify high-risk locations so we can finally stop these preventable strikes before they happen."

"Bridge strikes are a serious safety hazard for both motorists and rail operations," said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. "With drivers increasingly relying on GPS, we have a real opportunity to ensure those tools are powered by accurate clearance data empowering drivers to make safer choices. Reps. Latimer and Bresnahan's legislation also provides the foundation for railroads and public agencies to better prioritize critical infrastructure investments that can further enhance safety."

"Bridge strikes not only damage critical infrastructure, but can also put other drivers at risk and create major traffic delays," said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. "All drivers have a responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings, read signs, and keep our roadways safe. ATA appreciates the leadership of Representatives Bresnahan and Latimer for including the trucking industry in this effort to increase education and resources to help prevent these crashes."

"In addition to the harm created by the originating accident, bridge strikes can cause economic disruption to a region for an extended period of time as repairs are underway - particularly if the bridgeis part of a railway line," said American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker. "Short line freight railroads privately own and maintain tens of thousands of bridges in the Unites States. ASLRRA supports H.R. 6531, the Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025, as it will improve safety for the public and railroads. The bill provides for education of motorists, particularly commercial truck drivers, an easily accessible bridgeinventory and identification of bridgeheights in GPS units, and funding to identify and implement countermeasures for reducing bridge strikes. We appreciate Representatives Latimer and Bresnahan's focus on eliminating these largely avoidable accidents."

The Bridges Not Bumpers Act of 2025 would:

Additional cosponsors include Reps. John Larson, Ryan Mackenzie, and Tim Kennedy. This bill is endorsed by the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and the American Trucking Associations.

Read the bill text here.

Watch Rep. Latimer's floor speech here.

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