| RURAL SAFETY
Annual Showcase 2020 | Intertraffic World
175
Above: The
Protector M barrier
is specifically
designed to make
rural junctions safer
in the event of a car
leaving the road
A critical impact area is also
created by the corresponding
system because vehicles can crash
at a steep angle into the radius
beam or into the ramped start
and end section. These areas are
only conditionally designed to
absorb such impact energy.
In the worst-case scenario, the
beams cannot withstand the impact
energy, the vehicle breaks through
the steel crash barrier and collides
with the obstacle. The VRS cannot
fulfil its purpose.
A special case
How should one proceed if other
transport routes run parallel to the
rural road? How can it be avoided
when the start and end terminal is
crossed by vehicles at low heights in
the event of a detrimental angle of
impact, for example in an outer curve?
Problems arise from the fact that
the protective device may also have
been set up to protect cycle paths,
footpaths and railway lines. The
VRS may also have been installed
to protect the vehicle from the
impact of a collision. In such
cases, the short-ramped start and
end section described previously
already represents an unacceptable
impairment of this group. Therefore
an acceptable solution must be found
that takes into account both road
safety on rural roads and the safety
of other road users.
A solution: The Protector M
As an alternative, a final construction
with the Protector M could be
considered. Protector M offers the
possibility of securing individual
objects as optimally as possible
against impact on one side. The
advantage of using such a start/
end terminal is that sliding onto
the construction can be ruled
out. In addition, parallel traffic
and transport routes are not
unnecessarily restricted. The
vegetation is also less affected.
The Protector M is a tested
approach and departure
construction. It achieves the
P2A performance class and an
excellent classification in the range
of permanent lateral deflection of
X1/Y2. In addition, class Z2 A of
the impact area is achieved while
maintaining optimum impact
severity level.
In the event of impact, cars are
safely braked and deflected by the
patented honeycomb deformation
elements. The ramped start/end
terminal consists of high-quality
galvanised steel components
made from S235JR which is
permanently protected against
corrosion (and in accordance
with DIN EN ISO 1461).
The system consists of two
assemblies, the deformationsignificant
front assembly and
the connection assembly to the
VRS, for example an Eco-Safe 2.0.
In accordance with the regulations,
the guard rail beam and Protector M
are mounted overlapping in the
direction of traffic and bolted several
times. Sliding onto the start and end
terminal is near-impossible due to
its increasing minimum height from
650mm to 750mm.
The system offers advantages
because its design is maintenancefree
and easy to replace in the event
of a collision. The Protector M fulfils
all criteria to make traffic on rural
roads safer in these particularly
endangered areas – and beyond. n