Citation

Ross HE, Walker KC, Lindsay WJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 769: 4-12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The results of seven full-scale crash tests conducted at the Texas Transportation Institute to evaluate the impact behvior of rural mailbox installations are reported. Three of the seven tests--two of single-box installations and one of a four-box installation--involved commonly used wood-post supports. Two test of single-box installations involved promising new support concepts that use standard steel pipe with a breakaway mechanism. The final two tests involved a steel-pipe, multiple-box support in the shape of an inverted U. The results showed that installations with multiple boxes mounted on boards pose a serious hazard to motorists because the board can easily penetrate the windshield. The inverted-U design eliminated the penetration problem, but the change in vehicle momentum on impact exceeded the recommended limit. The results also showed that, for a single-box installation, a pipe post performs better than a wood post. Careful attention must be given to the box-to-post attachment to prevent separation during impact and thus minimize the potential for windshield penetration by the mailbox