Citation

Bryden JE, Fortuniewicz JS. Transp. Res. Rec. 1986; 1065: 69-78.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Field investigations were completed at 3,302 traffic barrier accident sites in New York State to determine the effects of various parameters on barrier performance. Information gathered includes vehicle size and type, barrier type and rail height, and highway parameters. Performance was assessed in terms of occupant injuries, vehicle containment, and secondary collisions. New York's traffic barriers resulted in lower occupant injury rates than do roadside accidents in general, with modern barrier types resulting in fewer injuries than older barriers. Satisfactory vehicle containment was achieved in about 75 percent of the reported barrier accidents. Secondary collisions resulted in about 25 percent of all barrier accidents, primarily when the vehicle was not contained by the barrier. Secondary collisions with fixed objects were most common, followed by rollovers, but other vehicles or pedestrians were rarely involved. Injury rates were much higher when satisfactory containment was not achieved or secondary collisions resulted. Traffic barriers performed best for passenger automobiles and had somewhat reduced performance for vans and light trucks. Heavy trucks experienced about the same severe injury rates as passenger automobiles, but they also frequently penetrated traffic barriers and were involved in secondary collisions. Injury rates in motorcycle accidents were extremely high. Traffic barriers performed best in collisions with midsized passenger automobiles, followed by the smallest and then the largest passenger automobiles. The lower protection provided large automobiles appears to be related to more frequent barrier penetration and secondary collisions.

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS; TRANSPORTATION - Accidents; HIGHWAY SYSTEMS - Guard Rails