Types of Barriers in Use for Protection in Traffic Conditions

Traffic barriers are metal or concrete guidelines found on the edges of roadways used to prevent head-on collision between traffic. It is used to prevent damage to people and property as we find it near schools or residential areas. These barriers help traffic avoid colliding with dangerous obstructions such as trees by the roadside, boulders, signs, and transverse steep slopes.

Traffic barrier standards

Other names for traffic barriers are Armco barriers or guard rails. In Britain, they call it crash barriers. The standard for the manufacture of traffic barriers is IRC: 119 NCHRP: 350 in India. All vulnerable areas such as petrol tank storage areas, school areas, and pedestrian zones have these safety devices installed to prevent accidents from passing vehicles. The size of the barrier depends on both the number of vehicles and their size.

When the size of the vehicles is huge, thickness and weight of the barrier are more. Also, when the number of vehicles is more, there is more chance of collisions and so they must be stronger. You can get more details from the W Beam Highway Crash Barrier Manufacturers in your area. Common areas for installation include at roadway limits, bridge ends, near roadside elements like light posts that constitute a traffic obstruction, and near culverts.

Types of barriers

Usually, manufacturers classify barriers into those designed to serve a specific purpose and those designed to absorb a specific amount of shock or impact. Among those serving a specific function; you get the median barriers that it presents in the center of a road. This prevents vehicles coming in the opposite direction from encroaching the opposite side of the road and causing accidents. Median barriers must be capable of taking hits from both sides because it has traffic on both sides.

Work zone barriers are also functional barriers in that they have to protect a zone where work is ongoing. It does not serve to prevent damage or hits because they are there for visual guidance as much as for material protection. In most cases, the traffic will see them and take adequate precaution to keep a safe distance. Examples of this type include water filled barriers and temporary concrete blocks. You can get different models from the W Beam Highway Crash Barrier Exporters by going online and placing your order.

Classify according to impact

Among those that take up impact, we see two or three varieties. One is a flexible barrier that may consist of cables or a weak post corrugated guide rail system. These will deflect 1.6 to 2.5 meters when struck by a light vehicle. Next, we have the semi-rigid barriers that deflect 3-6 feet. It consists of a box beam guide rail, heavy post guide rail, and thrie-beam guide rail. The top choice of rigid barriers is concrete barriers. They can protect traffic from very close because there is little or no deflection. They are low maintenance and last for a long time.

Application of traffic barriers depends as much on the nature of the traffic as its density. When there are larger vehicles moving on a road, the need for a heavy and durable crash barrier is imminent.