More than 80 years ago, the legendary urban planner Robert Moses envisioned a system of New York state parkways free of commercial trucks and other heavy vehicles, where drivers could enjoy leisurely trips through scenic ribbons of natural land. The overpasses were built low to ensure that only passenger cars could get by.
But the rise of satellite-based navigation is causing new problems with these vestiges of the New Deal era, officials said.
Global positioning systems now frequently guide truck drivers onto the parkways, where they collide with overpasses as low as six feet, 11 inches high, according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York, who is calling for new regulations to prevent the accidents.
Driver’s Seat is a blog featuring news, views, and advice about cars, auto safety, driving, and transportation. Driver’s Seat is written by Jonathan Welsh with contributions from auto critic Dan Neil, columnist Joe White and Wall Street Journal staffers and others.