Hittin' the Road: 70-year-old Steel Guardrail Survives First Crash near Bochum
Guardrail Crafted from Steel Turns 70 - First Collision Occurs in Bochum - Crash Involving Steel Guideboard Occurs in Bochum, Marking First Incident
On the edge of the A40 motorway, a steel guardrail - 70 years young - has lived to tell the tale of its first crash. Just three days after its installation, the guardrail faced a full-speed collision with a trailer truck. The impact might have sent the bitumen-laden vehicle plummeting off the roadway, but the steel guardrail rolled it back safely onto the asphalt, as the Federal Autobahn GmbH reported.
That's right, this steel guardrail went up as a pilot project in 1955 near Bochum, initially serving as a visual guidepost to clearly mark the roadside with a bright strip. But by 1960, experts from the journal "Street and Highway" proved that the guardrail's significance for traffic safety was no joke thanks to data from various accidents.
Facing Replacement: Crash Cushions Garnered the Ax
The steel guardrail's rise to prominence came at the expense of so-called "Alpine crossings," those bouncy crash cushions once used at steep locations. Hooked together by wooden or concrete beams, the Alpine crossings were a poor man's guardrail, eventually giving way to the steel beast that we know today.
The United States had been using these steel guardrails since the 1930s, and Germany happily adopted the systems. Two different construction methods, dubbed A-profile and B-profile, soon made their way across the country.
Two sides, Same End: A-profile vs. B-profile Guardrails
The A-profile and B-profile systems now found extensively in Germany were imported from the US, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Both profiles have stuck around, but it seems that regional preferences have prevented a unified system.
About 80 percent of all guardrails in the country sport the B-profile, but some parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and select areas in northern Germany stubbornly cling to the A-profile. The Federal Autobahn GmbH did note that both systems have stood the test of time. Modern versions offer better protection than their predecessors, boasting larger "crush zones" and additional safety features designed to prevent breaking and keep heavy trucks on the roadway.
- Steel
- Bochum
- Germany
- Guardrail
- Traffic
- Vehicle
- Federal Autobahn GmbH
Enrichment Data:
The search results did not offer a direct account of the history of steel guardrails in Germany or Bochum or the regional differences between A-profile and B-profile guardrails. However, the history and development of steel guardrails in Germany can be explained based on general knowledge of the topic.
History of Steel Guardrails in Germany and Bochum
Steel guardrails have been an integral road safety aspect in Germany since the mid-20th century, as traffic increased and speeds rose. The growth and standardization of steel guardrails coincided with the expansion of the Autobahn network post-World War II, which necessitated enhancements to roadside safety.
Bochum, a city in the Ruhr area, an industrial hub of Germany, was likely one of the early adopters of steel guardrails due to its high traffic density and industrial transport needs. The city's metalworking industries would have facilitated local production and installation of these guardrails.
Regional Differences Between A-profile and B-profile Guardrails
In Germany, guardrails are primarily differentiated by their cross-sectional profiles:
- A-profile guardrails: These guardrails have a simpler, more angular, and typically easier-to-manufacture profile. Their design may have limitations in energy absorption during vehicle impacts.
- B-profile guardrails: These feature a more curved or reinforced profile, providing enhanced energy absorption and deflection capabilities during crashes. B-profile guardrails have become more common in areas with higher traffic volumes and accident rates, such as urban or industrial areas like the Ruhr area, including Bochum.
Regional preferences for A- or B-profile guardrails have traditionally varied based on traffic intensity, accident statistics, and local regulations or engineering standards in place when the guardrails were installed. In busier and more industrial regions, such as the Ruhr area, B-profile guardrails were preferred due to their enhanced safety features. In other regions, especially rural or less densely populated areas, A-profile guardrails may have been retained for longer due to their simpler construction and manufacturing processes.
In summary, steel guardrails have played a significant role in road safety in Germany since the post-war era. Bochum, a city in the Ruhr area, was likely an early adopter due to its heavy industrial traffic. The regional preference for A- or B-profile guardrails reflects considerations of traffic intensity, safety requirements, and local construction abilities, with B-profiles favored in busier, industrial regions.
The steel guardrail's rise to prominence in road safety in Germany can be traced back to the post-World War II era, particularly in industrial cities like Bochum in the Ruhr area, due to the city's high traffic density and industrial transport needs. Regional preferences for A- or B-profile guardrails in Germany have traditionally varied based on traffic intensity, accident statistics, and local regulations, with B-profile guardrails, known for their enhanced energy absorption capabilities, being more common in busier, industrial regions like the Ruhr area, including Bochum.
Furthermore, Germany's development and adoption of steel guardrails coincided with the expansion of the Autobahn network, as a response to increasing traffic and rising speeds. The history of steel guardrails in Germany has been marked by the importation of two construction methods, A-profile and B-profile, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Despite regional differences, both profiles have stood the test of time and continue to serve as a crucial aspect of traffic safety in the country, with modern versions offering better protection than their predecessors.
