According to statistics, approximately 1.25 million people die each year due to road traffic accidents. One of the main causes of death is vehicles running off the road or colliding head-on with barriers on either side. Truck barriers, also known as guardrails, are designed to prevent this from happening. So how do truck barriers work, and which type is the most effective?
The Role of Truck Barriers in Road Safety
Traditional metal barriers have long been used to prevent vehicles from leaving their lanes. They run along both sides of the road and serve to deflect, reduce impact force, or at least stop out-of-control vehicles from running off the road. However, this type of barrier is not a comprehensive solution for protecting drivers. If the vehicle’s mass and speed are too great, the barrier’s ability to protect is limited. This is especially dangerous in high mountainous terrain, where ordinary guardrails may not be able to ensure that vehicles do not fall off the road.
Limitations of Traditional Metal Barriers
Ordinary guardrails are simply rigid steel plates without elasticity. Therefore, they cannot protect the safety of drivers traveling at high speeds. In many cases, they can even cause driver fatalities. Therefore, if a smart guardrail with a “soft” shock absorption system can be created, it will help increase the chances of saving lives.
Traditional steel barrier
Image: Traditional steel barriers are prone to serious accidents.
New Truck Barrier Solution: Rolling Barriers
A Korean company called ETI came up with the idea of a special roller-type guardrail system to solve this problem. The rolling barrier is essentially a system of plastic tubes arranged in a connected structure like a “rolled mat”. At first glance, the rolling barrier looks like a children’s massage toy, but in reality, its effectiveness is magical.
Rolling barrier structure
Image: Structure of the rolling barrier system with EVA plastic tubes.
How Rolling Barriers Work
They can do more than just absorb impact. Rolling barriers convert the vehicle’s impact force into a form of rotational kinetic energy, pushing the vehicle to continue sliding forward, which ordinary guardrails cannot do. This system consists of a collection of shock-absorbing tubes made from EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) plastic granules that are highly elastic, durable, and non-toxic. Each tube is attached to the guardrail with a sturdy three-dimensional cushioning frame. Each groove on the tube is coated with a reflective layer to signal at night. The final D-shaped shield at the end of each guardrail is responsible for absorbing the impact force a second time in the event of a long skid. The modular design makes this rolling guardrail easy to replace and maintain.
Truck colliding with rolling barrier
Image: Rolling barriers minimize the impact of collisions from heavy trucks.
Conclusion
Rolling truck barriers are a perfect solution to help minimize catastrophic accidents. Even trucks carrying tons are no match for this solid wall. With a simple but effective idea, rolling guardrails contribute to improving road safety and reducing casualties. This is a significant step forward in protecting road users.
