ROADSIDE BUNKERS TO TRAP RUNAWAY TRUCKS

IN MOUNTAINOUS AND HILLY PARTS OF CALIFORNIA MANY TOWNS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF HIGHWAYS TRAVERSING THESE GRADES ARE ENDANGERED BY TRUCKS WHOSE BRAKES HAVE FAILED. THE PROBLEM WAS GIVEN OF THE MATERIALS AND RESEARCH LABORATORY OF THE DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS, WHICH IN TURN REQUESTED A COMPUTERIZED SEARCH OF THE FILES OF THE HIGHWAY RESEARCH INFORMATION SERVICE, SPONSORED BY THE HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS SEARCH REVEALED THAT THREE ENGINEERS AT THE ROAD RESEARCH LABORATORY IN ENGLAND HAD CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND PUBLISHED A REPORT THAT INDICATED SATISFACTORY RESULTS FROM CONSTRUCTION OF BEDS OF PEA-SIZE GRAVEL IN THE MEDIANS OF LONG DOWNHILL GRADES. BY TURNING HIS WHEELS INTO THE BEDS, THE DRIVER OF A RUNAWAY VEHICLE MIGHT HOPE TO BE A SLOWED TO SAFE SPEED BY THE ENERGY-ABSORBING INERTIA OF THE CAREFULLY SELECTED LOOSE MATERIAL. THE DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS IS NOW CONSTRUCTING THREE "ARRESTER BEDS" ON A TWO-MILE GRADE OUTSIDE LA CANADA, NEAR LOS ANGELES. SIGNS AT THE TOP OF THE GRADE WILL ENCOURAGE DRIVERS OF BRAKELESS VEHICLES TO ENTER THE MEDIAN. IF THE PROJECT IS SUCCESSFUL, THE METHOD WILL BE EXTENDED TO OTHER AREAS WHERE STATE HIGHWAYS TRAVERSE STEEP HILLS.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Publication Date: 1972-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 55
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brakes; Energy absorption; Failure; Gravel; Medians; Mountains; Slopes; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Grades
• Old TRIS Terms: Runaway vehicles
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00203671
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1973 12:00AM