UK car insurance workers asks, "Why change motorway barriers?"

As UK car insurance suppliers, duck2water has a keen interest in safe driving initiatives nationwide. If you have been caught up recently in the congestion caused by motorway safety barrier replacement schemes, then you'll have an interest too.

It may be that your delay made you angry; mine curtailed my holiday by a wee while, however having investigated the reasoning behind these safety barrier schemes I am now at a point where I can see the necessity.

Crash barriers - Why?
According to Brake, the road safety charity, there are fewer car accidents on UK motorways than on other roads, per mile travelled, but when crashes happen, they carry greater risk of death or serious injury due to the higher speeds involved. Vehicles often travel in fast moving streams on motorways and therefore the likelihood of multi-vehicle "pile-ups" are increased.

Crash barriers are set up in the central reservation between carriageways and/or at the side of the carriageway. They are designed to stop vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic (crossover incident) or from entering roadside hazards such as railway lines etc.

In the UK, around 200 motorway crashes and 40 deaths a year are caused by crossover incidents on motorways.

Crash barriers should also absorb energy from the impact of the vehicle as it hits and should redirect the vehicle along the line of the barrier, thus preventing it from turning around, turning over or re-entering the stream of traffic. This is known as containment.

Types of barrier
Several types of barrier are currently used in the UK: flexible - steel wire rope or steel beam, and rigid - such as concrete barriers. All barriers need to conform to safety standard ES1317

All safety barriers on UK roads are governed by strict regulations regarding length, height and positioning.

Concrete or steel?
Presently, most UK central reservation crash barriers are of the flexible type. However, after a 2002 survey in conjunction with Britpave, the Highways Agency now recommends the use of concrete barriers. The main reasoning behind this is; concrete barriers are safer, lower maintenance, require fewer interventions for repair and reduce the risk of crossover incidents.

Brake recommends
The Highway Agency's policy of introducing concrete barriers on motorways should be implemented as soon as possible, nationwide, wherever they are deemed more suitable than present barriers.

The Highway Agency's decision to install concrete barrier on its motorways was based on the following benefits:

Its higher containment level of 13 tonnes, compared to the steel barrier of 1.5 tonnes, means that crossover incidents will be virtually eliminated

In the event of an accident, the concrete step barrier is specifically designed to enable the vehicle to be directed along the face of the barrier in the direction of the traffic flow

The smooth angle of the barrier face will cause fewer and less serious injuries to motorcyclists than steel barriers with protruding bolts, nuts and joints that can and do inflict severe damage

It has a 50 year life span and is maintenance free, which means no lane closures and therefore no congestion and delays

As it is almost maintenance free, no longer will barrier repair teams risk their lives to carry out work on site in dangerous conditions

Car insurance with duck2water
If you've read through this piece then you must be keen on road safety. If you are as keen to find cheap car insurance then give us a call today on 0333 123 1308 and see if we can find you the best quote for all your motor insurance needs.

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