Citation

Walton NE, Hirsch TJ, Rowan NJ. Highw. Res. Rec. 1973; 460: 123-136.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1973, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Crash tests were conducted to determine the impact behavior of medianmounted light poles and secondary collisions of vehicles striking downed poles on a traffic lane. A relative hazard index was developed to describe the relative hazard created by the proximity and frequency of light poles. It was concluded that a 20-deg impact by a 2,900-lb vehicle at 45 mph would not cause a pole to encroach on the opposing traffic lane if the median is 40 ft wide. A 4,000-lb vehicle impacting at 25 deg and 60 mph would cause a pole to encroach approximately 11 ft into the opposing lane. Under both conditions, the impacting vehicle would cross into the opposing lanes and might be more of a hazard than the poles themselves. A medium-sized vehicle impacting a downed pole within the traffic lane presents no more hazard than the original impact. From a relative hazard standpoint, medianmounted luminaire systems produce less hazard than house-side systems for median widths of 30 ft or greater. /author/

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS; ACCIDENT PREVENTION; POLES; STREET LIGHTING; HIGHWAY SYSTEMS - Median Dividers