New York State Lawmaker To Hold Hearing On Trucks Driving Illegally On Parkways

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A New York State lawmaker has announced plans to try to crack down on a growing problem of trucks mistakenly getting onto parkways and slamming into overpasses.

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo said the truck strikes have cost taxpayers $7 million on Long Island alone.

He has announced plans to hold a hearing on the issue at Farmingdale State College on Oct. 25 to try to solve the issue.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports

"Since 2005 there's been over 200 truck bridge strikes," Fuschillo told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "The signage is inadequate, the posting, the education. There is no way that a commercial vehicle should be getting on a parkway on Long Island."

A similar call for action came from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer a few weeks back, who proposed national standards for GPS devices.

Schumer argued that there should be GPS devices specifically for trucks so they are not directed to parkways where they are not allowed. Fuschillo said he agreed with some change to the way GPS devices are programmed, but said human error may also be to blame.

"The GPS taking them to these parkways and it shouldn't be. The Department of Transportation in New York State shouldn't use that as an excuse," Fuschillo told Hall.

Fuschillo said the hearing will help lawmakers come up with a plan to hopefully solve the problem.

"There obviously has to be a better educational program from the Department of Transportation but we're going to find out from the trucking industry really what the root of the problem is."

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