In Australia, you may have noticed that highway-related fatalities often occur because of one car running off the road and colliding with an object. With this in mind, it becomes clear how important roadside design actually is. The implementation of a guardrail or barrier is an important safety consideration. Although roadside barriers can prevent this, they must be made of high quality and come from the best in Australia.
This is where Guardrail Direct comes in, with their range of incredible brands such as Armco Barrier and more. Here, you’ll learn more about the importance of guardrails and which one you need to choose, as well as the best place to get them.
Why a Guardrail?
The main purpose of a guardrail on the road is to form a safety barrier that helps to protect a driver who has driven off the road. If the car goes off the road for any reason, the best thing that can happen is that the car stops on its own without hitting any obstacles.
Occasionally, this is not possible, and this is where the guardrails come into play. In Australia, with its busy rural, yet metro landscape, roads may have embankments or side slopes adjacent to the highway or even be lined with trees. pillars, bridge piers and retaining walls are other obstacles. In such cases, hitting a guardrail would be much more advantageous than hitting barriers, so guardrails are installed.
Guardrail systems can work in a number of different ways, turning the vehicle back onto the road, braking or stopping it, or in some cases simply slowing it down enough to pass the guardrail.
Before installing a guardrail, engineers consider all possible factors to ensure that the arrangement will perform as well as possible under all conditions. The fact the size of the vehicle and the speed at which it hits road barriers clearly affects how effectively the barrier slows the vehicle down.
It’s also important to know that the guardrail works as a complete system, not just as individual pieces. Each piece serves a different purpose as part of the whole. Everything from posts sunk into the ground to how the guard rail is connected to the post is important and has a role to play. This makes installation just as important as design and distribution.
Types of Barriers Available
Guard Rails
Guardrails are designed to protect traffic from dangerous objects or slopes. Ideally, it should be installed next to all roads and eliminate a third of road deaths, but this is not an economical idea.
Barriers are usually installed in areas where runoff accidents are expected to occur or areas where off-road collisions are likely to occur.
Wire Rope
Wire cables are the most economical choice, but not suitable for all situations. This solution is considered a relatively soft system and therefore the occupants of the vehicle are less likely to be injured.
Choose Guardrail Direct
Guardrail Direct is Australia’s leading manufacturer and installer of Carpark and Warehouse Barriers, Road Safety barriers, End Terminals and Motorcycle Barriers. Operating out of Victoria and benefitting all of Australia, Guardrail Direct is the top choice of the safest in Australia.