Progress in Reducing Bridge Strikes in Westchester

Originally published in WAMC Northeast Report

Democratic state Senator Shelley Mayer is from the 37th district.

“We are looking at the GPS legislation. There are issues with interstate commerce that make it a more complex issue than it ought to be, but that’s the way it goes,” Mayer says. “So we will be working hard to try to push towards commercial GPS in trucks that are driven in New York to the extent that we can regulate it. And we’ll be working with the county and the county board to see what we can do. It may take a federal push.”

Latimer says with heavy reliance upon GPS systems — ones not designed specifically for commercial use — bridge clearance heights are not identified.  Enter three U.S. Senators, include New York’s Charles Schumer, who say that while commercial-grade GPS apps are available for purchase, many truckers skip doling out the money and instead rely only on apps on their personal phones. Schumer and fellow Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ed Markey of Massachuetts are urging Google, Apple and Waze to provide clear and timely notification to commercial vehicle drivers using personal apps about potential restrictions on their route.