Guardrail and Barriers

Guardrail and Barriers

Guardrail

Roadway departure (RwD) crashes account for more than 50% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. There are a number of reasons a driver may leave the travel lane (e.g., an avoidance maneuver, inattention or fatigue or traveling too fast for weather or geometric conditions). Over the past few decades, different engineering countermeasures have been proposed, implemented and tested by various state and local agencies to mitigate RwD crashes. Improving median or roadside barrier design is one of the most effective countermeasures available to reduce RwD fatal crashes.


These devices suffered damage to their reputation as life savers because of some isolated unfortunate incidents, however the safety benefits beyond any doubt have been proven by numerous research studies. At this juncture, the life-saving qualities of roadside guardrails and median barriers need to be underscored.


ATSSA has a committee dedicated to the advancement of guardrails. The Association’s Guardrail Committee (member login required) works to preserve funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), a federal program which dedicates funds to infrastructure safety, promote a fully funded Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and other funding opportunities, work with ATSSA chapters and members to develop and deliver government relations services at the state level, encourage members to utilize these services and educate the administration on roadway safety infrastructure.


Download the Guardrail Inspection Checklist.

Resources

W-Beam Guardrail Repair Guidelines

Jess Howes 0 4765 Article rating: No rating

Guardrail Guidelines 2022The "W-Beam Guardrail Identification and Repair Guidelines" publication, 2022 edition, was developed and disseminated by the ATSSA Guardrail Committee's Repair and Maintenance Guidelines Task Force. The purpose of this guide is to provide highway and maintenance personnel with up-to-date information on how to identify systems and repair damaged W-beam guardrail.

View the interactive guidelines publication

FHWA issues letter to clarify eligibility process for cable barrier systems

Letter from the Office of Safety relates to the 2nd edition of MASH

Pam 0 9222 Article rating: No rating

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a letter clarifying the process to obtain an eligibility letter for cable barrier systems.

The “open letter” from Michael S. Griffith, director of the Office of Safety Technologies in the Office of Safety, is addressed to members of the “highway safety hardware and roadside design community.”

He notes that the FHWA received questions about the eligibility letter over the past several months.

Guardrails prove effective countermeasures to RwD crashes

Research shows median and roadside devices provide safety benefits to roadway users

SuperUser Account 0 14160 Article rating: 2.5

Though they may be overlooked, guardrails are important countermeasures to mitigating fatalities and injuries that result from roadway departure (RwD) crashes, which account for more than 50 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities.

Median and roadside guardrails: An essential and effective countermeasure for RwD crashes

Research and studies show how devices are important components of integrated traffic safety system

SuperUser Account 0 12548 Article rating: No rating

The guardrail did exactly what it was designed to do: The guardrail’s end terminal absorbed the energy of the impact and deflected the guardrail away from the vehicle.

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