I read with amazement the letters written about the highway cable barriers that are going to be installed. Both writers apparently appear biased towards a specific product maybe their own!
Cable barriers, if done well, and by a company that carries a product that has tested scientifically with crash testing equipment, remain the way to go for the future of our roadways. The American Traffic Safety organisation has indicated the excellent method of highway safety utilising cable barriers. ATTSA has indicated the best safety device in cross highway accidents is the cable barriers. These cable barriers have been installed in developed countries, and are replacing the concrete barriers for use in cross-over accidents. The incidence of severe injury, and deaths have been decreased as much as seventy percent (70 per cent) in many studies.
Jersey barriers (concrete) cause undue harm when used as crash barriers. Vehicles are destroyed and the occupants severely injured during such impact on Jersey Barriers. The cable barriers disallow cross over accidents, and absorb the impact allowing the vehicle to rebound and stop with safety and without injury. These are new methods that allow the rods holding the cables to be replaced efficiently and rapidly, in a cost effective manner. The tension on the wire is redone with a specialised torque machine. There can never be severing of a vehicle. The cable absorbs the impact and becomes a cushion not a hard knife.
Hence, the cable system is best because:
Visibility is present
Impact absorption is excellent
Cross over deaths are markedly reduced
Less families are placed in distressing circumstances, due to death (as occurs now with New Jersey barriers)
Less motor vehicle damage
Safe
Jeffrey Paguands
Executive Director
Premier Road Maintenance Company Ltd
Sole Distributor for cable Safety System-Trinity Highway Safety Products Inc (USA)