Overhead Clearings
An overhead clearing refers to the vertical space between the ground and an obstruction or object. It is often measured to ensure that there is enough clearance to safely navigate without the risk of colliding with objects or structures above.
In this module, there are two different types of overhead clearings that we look at and measure - footpath for pedestrians, and road for vehicles.
Overhead Clearing - Road
The first type of overhead clearing are found on the roads. You will often see these going into parking buildings or bridges. These are designed to provide a clear pathway for vehicles to pass beneath them without any height restrictions.
Please note, you only need to measure an overhead clearing on the road if it is for a parking building or area - you will not need to go on the road itself. You also will not need to measure it as it should say it on the sign.
Overhead Clearing - Footpaths
The next type of overhead clearings aren’t official ones that you will find with yellow signs. Overhead clearings found on footpaths can be things such as trees, objects, or a veranda overhang, etc. These will be things that could potentially be walked into head-on, depending on the height.
Something such as a shrub will count as Street Furniture/Obstacles rather than an Overhead Clearing, however, you will need to exercise your judgement as to whether it could pose a potential clothes line risk for those such as little children or someone who is blind/low vision who will not be able to see these and could potentially walk straight into them.
Let’s see how well you understood.