Performance of Guide Rails in Serious Crashes

Our research group is examining the crash performance of guide rails in traffic accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries.

Collisions with Guide Rails are not always forgiving.

The reasons why guide rail impacts sometimes lead to fatality or injury are complex and not completely understood. Guide rail problems include, but are not limited to, many of the following issues (1) improper installation, (2) impacts with end treatments, (3) unfavorable roadside conditions, e.g. soft soil or excessive side slope (4) side impact, (5) improper redirection after a crash, and (6) wheel snagging. Guide rail performance can be affected not only by barrier design, but also by vehicle design. Poor guide rail performance may result from (1) light trucks overturning on impact with guide rail, (2) cars “submarining” under the rail, (3) airbag-induced injuries, and (4) incompatibility with heavy trucks.

Under the sponsorship of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the goal of our study is to evaluate fatal and injury-causing guide rail accidents in New Jersey. We are investigating this issue through the combination of a comprehensive literature survey, interviews with roadside safety researchers on ongoing research, examination of U.S. and state accident databases, and, most importantly, site investigation of guide rail accidents which result in either fatal or serious occupant injury.

 

Final Report

Gabler, H.C. and Gabauer, D.J., "Safety Audit of Fatalities and Injuries Involving Guide Rail", Report to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, FHWA-NJ-2007-001 (December 2006)