THE RURAL MAILBOX: A LITTLE-KNOWN ROADSIDE HAZARD

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. (Authors)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/769/769-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=THE+RURAL+MAILBOX%3A+A+LITTLE-KNOWN+ROADSIDE+HAZARD&author=H.+Ross&author=K.+Walker&author=W.+Lindsay&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Ross Jr, Hayes E
  • Walker, Kenneth C
  • Lindsay, W J
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 4-12
• Monograph Title: Roadside hazards, traffic barriers, and safety appurtenances
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 769
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breakaway supports; Hazards; Highway safety; Impacts; Roadside; Rural areas; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Motor vehicle accidents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331271
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309031133
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM