FEWER OVERTURNS IN TEST OF SAND-FILLED BARRIER WALL

A sand-filled barrier designed to reduce impact severity eliminated vehicle overturns in a recent Florida test. Also, costs and damage were less for accidents involving the sand-filled barrier. The sand-filled barrier was tested along with shaped concrete median barriers on a portion of I-95 on the main north/south artery of Florida's east coast. Accident data during the test are reported. It was found that the sand barrier accidents were less likely to result in a fatality, and that the barrier shape and material greatly inhibit changes of a vehicle. Also, vehicle damage is reduced on low angle hits and accident costs are reduced. It was found that at locations where it is predicted that 10 or more impacts resulting in a reportable accident will occur each mile each year, the sand-filled barrier would be cost effective. The concrete barrer is effective in reducing accidents, but the curved bottom of the New Jersey design serves no significant purpose in reducing accident severity.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Publication Date: 1986-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 22-23
• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Costs; Crash severity; Crashes; Fatalities; Impacts; Loss and damage; Median barriers; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete safety shapes; Sand-filled barrier
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458440
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1986 12:00AM