Guardrails prevent people or vehicles from entering dangerous areas. They come in various designs and must meet specific conditions before installation. Safety concerns include finish treatment, strength, and height. Traffic engineers assess the risk before installation.
A guardrail is a device designed to promote public safety by preventing people or vehicles from crossing from an established path or road into a dangerous area. Many people are familiar with putting up guardrails along dangerous stretches of road, but any type of barrier intended to prevent falls or injuries could be considered a guardrail. For example, many hiking trails have railings in areas where steep drops are likely to occur. In general, a set of conditions must be met before installing a railing is considered.
The design of a railing can vary, depending on how it is going to be used. As a rule, the railing takes the form of a long strip of strong cast metal attached to the posts. The metal is stamped so that it has multiple ridges. When something hits the railing, the ridges crumble, spreading the energy along the railing. Multiple posts prevent a collapse, unless the impact is extremely heavy or at very high velocity. The impacted section will usually need to be replaced after the accident has been resolved. Guardrails save lives by preventing people from falling and absorbing the impact of accidents.
Although a guardrail is intended to protect the public, a number of safety concerns are associated with guardrails, particularly those designed to work with automobiles. The first is the “finish treatment,” or finishing at the end of the railing. Previously, the railings were not capped or finished in any way, leaving a sharp steel wedge at each end of the railing span. If someone were to end up at a high speed, the guardrail could penetrate the car and cause injury or death. Most modern end treatments are curved or flattened, and designed to resist light impact.
If the guardrail or end treatment is too strong, it also has the potential to push the car back into traffic. Therefore, most guardrails are designed to absorb energy, rather than divert it. Also, traffic engineers have to think about the height of a guardrail. A tall vehicle can roll over a low guardrail, but a motorcycle could slide under a tall one. Therefore, the height must be carefully considered before installing a railing.
In order for a highway guardrail to be installed, traffic engineers must determine that there is a serious risk of severe off-road collisions. In an area with a history of collisions, the risk is clearly illustrated and the stretch of road will be added to the list of areas that need guardrails. In other situations, engineers have to assess the surroundings of the guardrail, looking for a cliff or other abrupt change in elevation, and taking into account seasonal conditions such as ice and snow. If the risk is considered serious enough, a guardrail will be installed.
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