By Bridget Cook
A CONCERNED Beaconsfield man is warning people who tow horse floats of a potential traffic hazard on Beaconsfield Avenue.
Bob Stevens contacted the Gazette last week after he saw a vehicle towing a horse float become stuck under the 2.2 metre clearance bridge on the road.
Mr Stevens said this was the eighth time he had seen floats become wedged under the bridge since he moved to the area in 1991.
He said there were signs on both sides of the bridge which stated its height, so he didn’t understand why people with vehicles that exceeded the height still tried to go under it.
“The bridge is 7 foot 3 inch, which would not fit a float under it,” he said.
“There’s an alternative route if you follow Kenilworth Avenue instead of turning onto Beaconsfield Avenue.”
Mr Stevens said he believed most of the accidents that had occurred at the bridge involved locals.
He now wants to encourage others to take the safer option.
“There is going to be a major accident there one day if something’s not done,” he said.
“I think flashing lights could be used on the signs to draw more attention to them.”
The most recent incident occurred on Monday 28 December, 2009, when a car towing a float carrying a ride-on lawnmower became wedged under the bridge around 11.30am.
He said he had also been told that a tip truck with a woman and two children passengers tipped over when it collided with the bridge a few years ago.
