Road Crash Barrier vs. Guardrail: What’s the Difference?

 Road safety is a crucial aspect of modern transportation infrastructure. Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to road accidents caused by reckless driving or poor road conditions. As such, road crash barriers and guardrails have become essential components of road construction and maintenance. While they may seem like similar safety features, there are important differences between the two. In this article, we will explore the differences between road crash barriers and guardrails and how they help keep roads safe.

Road Crash Barrier

A road crash barrier is a physical barrier installed on roads to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway or colliding with other objects. These barriers are typically made of metal or concrete and can be used in a variety of settings, such as highways, bridges, and tunnels. The primary purpose of a road crash barrier is to reduce the severity of an accident by redirecting a vehicle that has lost control back onto the road or absorbing the energy of a collision.

Road crash barriers are designed to be highly durable and able to withstand a significant impact. They are often used in areas where there is a risk of a vehicle colliding with a stationary object, such as a bridge pillar or median. In these situations, a road crash barrier can prevent serious injury or death by stopping a vehicle from crashing into a solid object.

Guardrail

A guardrail, on the other hand, is a barrier that is typically used on the side of a road to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway. Guardrails are typically made of metal and consist of a series of connected panels that are designed to absorb the energy of a collision. They are most commonly used on highways, where there is a risk of a vehicle leaving the road and colliding with a ditch or embankment.

Guardrails are designed to be highly visible and to provide a visual cue to drivers that they are approaching the edge of the road. They are also designed to be flexible and able to absorb the energy of a collision, which reduces the severity of the impact and helps prevent serious injury or death.

Differences between Road Crash Barriers and Guardrails

While both road crash barriers and guardrails are designed to improve road safety, there are some important differences between the two. The main difference is their purpose. Road crash barriers are designed to prevent a vehicle from colliding with a solid object, such as a bridge pillar or median. Guardrails, on the other hand, are designed to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway and colliding with a ditch or embankment.

Another difference is their design. Road crash barriers are typically made of concrete or metal and are designed to be highly durable and able to withstand a significant impact. Guardrails, on the other hand, are typically made of metal and are designed to be flexible and able to absorb the energy of a collision.

Conclusion

Road safety is a critical aspect of modern transportation infrastructure, and traffic crash barriers and guardrails are essential components of this infrastructure. While both safety features are designed to improve road safety, they have different purposes and designs. Road crash barriers are designed to prevent a vehicle from colliding with a solid object, while guardrails are designed to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway and colliding with a ditch or embankment. By understanding the differences between road crash barriers and guardrails, we can better appreciate the importance of these safety features and how they help keep our roads safe.