ROADSIDE SAFETY DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES: ARE THEY WORKING?

An important element in the design of roadside safety improvements is the test criteria used to evaluate hardware systems. Although under continuous review, the underlying philosophies in design criteria have apparently not changed dramatically since the 1970s. To provide some background on roadside safety test criteria and the relation to current field studies, a short review of U.S. and European information was conducted. Three criteria were identified that may restrict the achievable limits of roadside safety hardware. A conservative approach to roadside design has been employed to account for uncertainty in crash conditions and ensure structurally viable systems. Vague requirements for the post-impact vehicle behavior also appear to limit the level of safety that can be achieved with the current approach. Use of simplified occupant injury criteria may introduce additional conservatism to the design process and also limits the linkage between field studies and controlled crash tests. Recommendations for improvements to current methods are presented based on some of the observed collision trends.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1102626X
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
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• Authors:
  • Thomson, R
• Conference:
  • Traffic Safety on Two Continents
  • Location: Malmo, Sweden
  • Date: 1999-9-20 to 1999-9-22
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 101-113
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
  • Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
  • ISSN: 0347-6030

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash cushions; Design; Evaluation; Guardrails; Highway safety; Impact; Injuries; Median barriers; Roadside; Tests; Traffic crashes; Vehicles
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795561
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: VTI konferens 13A, Part 4
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 31 2000 12:00AM