Steeling the Roads: Bochum's Guardrail Milestone at 70 - First Accident on the A40
Seventy-year milestone for steel safety barrier in Bochum marked by its first collision incident - Collapsing Steel Guideboard Causes First Accident in Bochum (Rearranged)
Let's chat about that old-school steel guardrail, celebrating its big 7-0. After just a mere three days guarding the edge of the A40 motorway near Bochum, it was put to the test—with a crash. As reported by the Autobahn GmbH, a trailer smashed into the barrier at full speed, but thanks to the steel safety barricade, a tar truck was saved from plunging into the depths. It rolled back onto the road, avoiding disaster.
In 1955, this steel barrier, the first of its kind in Germany, was installed on the A40 near Bochum as a pilot project. Initially, its main function was more visual, a bright strip meant to clearly line the roadside, according to the Autobahn GmbH. But, after thorough analysis of accidents in 1960, experts began to appreciate its true traffic safety significance.
Those crash cushions connected with wooden or concrete beams saw their days numbered, replaced by the modern steel safety barricades that had been making waves in the US since the 1930s.
Tale of Two Profiles
Two distinct construction methods, the A-profile and B-profile, were imported into Germany and remain in use today. The incompatibility between both profiles has led to a bit of a contentious issue. Efforts to settle on a common standard have hit a brick wall. Roughly 80 percent of all safety barriers in Germany sport the B-profile, while Rhineland-Palatinate and certain regions in northern Germany cling to the A-profile.
Regardless of the profile, the difference in traffic safety doesn’t matter. Both systems are winners. Modern guardrails boast a larger "crumple zone" and additional safety features that prevent breaking and keep even the heaviest trucks on the road.
- Steel
- Bochum
- Germany
- Guardrail
- Traffic
- the Federal Autobahn GmbH
- Vehicle
Reference:
- TENADO Group's operations in Bochum further fuel the idea of local expertise in steel fabrication contributing to the implementation of effective steel guardrail systems. Source: tenado.de
- In light of Bochum's historical implementation of a steel guardrail on the A40 in 1955, it's worth exploring the role of local steel fabrication experts, such as TENADO Group, in ensuring the continued development of robust traffic safety systems in Germany.
- As the automotive, transportation, and finance industries invest in advancements in infrastructure, vocational training for steel fabrication plays a crucial role in equipping the workforce with the skills necessary to adapt and improve steel guardrail technology for safer roads.
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