A King County councilmember has called on the Washington State Department of Transportation to take stronger measures to prevent bridge strikes across the region.
In a letter sent to WSDOT, King County Vice Chair Reagan Dunn suggested the development of a “Stupid Motorist Law” to hold drivers of extremely tall loads accountable for bridge strike damage, alongside other countermeasures to prevent future incidents.
Dunn highlighted a troubling pattern of oversized-vehicle strikes, including recent incidents on SR 167 near the City of Pacific and the Bullfrog Road overpass on I-90. He urged WSDOT to conduct a comprehensive review of these incidents and called for continued support for Gov. Ferguson’s efforts to enhance infrastructure protections. Dunn also advocated for stronger accountability measures for negligent drivers, such as steeper fines and penalties for over-height violations.
“I believe this problem is getting worse, not better,” Dunn wrote, noting the heavy costs of these incidents, including repairs, lost time, public safety risks, disrupted freight movement, and economic harms. He encouraged the governor to prioritize these investments in upcoming budget negotiations and pledged to support funding efforts in Olympia.
The “Stupid Motorist Law” terminology borrows from Arizona legislation that requires drivers who ignore road closure signs during floods to reimburse emergency responders for rescue costs, applying similar personal accountability principles to bridge strikes.
The SR 167 near Pacific and Bullfrog Road overpass on I-90 incidents represent just two examples of recurring bridge strikes that close highways for hours while WSDOT inspects structures for damage and makes emergency repairs costing taxpayers millions annually.
Reagan Dunn’s position as King County Vice Chair gives his recommendations significant political weight, though actual implementation would require state legislative action during sessions in Olympia where transportation policy changes compete with numerous other priorities.
The economic harms from bridge strikes extend beyond immediate repair costs to include lost productivity from traffic delays, freight delivery disruptions affecting just-in-time supply chains, and potential long-term structural damage requiring expensive bridge replacements.
WSDOT currently relies on warning signs, height detection systems, and oversize load permitting to prevent strikes, though enforcement gaps allow unpermitted oversized vehicles or drivers ignoring warnings to damage infrastructure with limited consequences beyond traffic citations.
Steeper fines and penalties for over-height violations could create meaningful deterrence if set high enough to exceed the financial benefits drivers perceive from taking risky shortcuts rather than following approved oversize load routes with adequate clearances.
Gov. Ferguson’s infrastructure protection efforts mentioned by Dunn likely include capital budget requests for bridge strengthening, height detection upgrades, and better signage, though specific proposals await budget negotiations.
The freight movement disruptions from bridge strikes particularly affect the Seattle-Tacoma corridor where I-90 and SR 167 serve as critical links between the Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and distribution centers throughout the region.
Dunn’s pledge to support funding efforts in Olympia creates accountability for following through with legislative proposals or budget amendments that match his public statements calling for stronger bridge strike prevention measures.
The increasing frequency of bridge strikes Dunn references may reflect growth in e-commerce fulfillment requiring more truck traffic, aging infrastructure with tighter clearances than modern vehicles, or declining driver training standards in the commercial trucking industry.
