Barriers are used to protect road users where there is an identified risk and where their use can be justified, both in cost and safety benefit terms. Crash barriers filled with water and also known as Water filled barriers are very effective in containing the damage caused during an accident and prevent vehicles from moving across lanes. A lot of lives have been saved over years thanks to these, and those that have heard of it only recently are quite eager to implement barriers in their traffic flow.
What are the other alternatives?
Water filled traffic barriers are not the only barrier in use today. Since ages, dividers have been used to manage traffic. Back then when plastic was not as common or versatile enough to suit the purpose, stone and concrete was used. Even today, you will see many cities where stone and concrete are still used to manage traffic flow. So why has water filled traffic barrier suddenly become more desirable than stone or concrete?
What’s wrong with concrete or steel barriers?
Concrete or steel form very rigid barriers and though these are great at stopping a 1 ton vehicle dead in its track, it is also known to cause complete wrecks, which is not desirable. The job of a barrier is to prevent accidents and minimize loss, concrete and steel fails miserably at the second job.
Water filled barriers are not as rigid and are great at absorbing the shock of an accident. Water filled inside a barrier spills out and reduces the risk of damage to a great extent. Installing water filled barriers is simple and since empty barrier units are lightweight and easy to move about, installing is as easy as moving individual units in place and filling it with water.
What are the other alternatives?
Water filled traffic barriers are not the only barrier in use today. Since ages, dividers have been used to manage traffic. Back then when plastic was not as common or versatile enough to suit the purpose, stone and concrete was used. Even today, you will see many cities where stone and concrete are still used to manage traffic flow. So why has water filled traffic barrier suddenly become more desirable than stone or concrete?
What’s wrong with concrete or steel barriers?
Concrete or steel form very rigid barriers and though these are great at stopping a 1 ton vehicle dead in its track, it is also known to cause complete wrecks, which is not desirable. The job of a barrier is to prevent accidents and minimize loss, concrete and steel fails miserably at the second job.
Water filled barriers are not as rigid and are great at absorbing the shock of an accident. Water filled inside a barrier spills out and reduces the risk of damage to a great extent. Installing water filled barriers is simple and since empty barrier units are lightweight and easy to move about, installing is as easy as moving individual units in place and filling it with water.
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