Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 14,845
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

Just something I'm curious about...

I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.

Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?

Are they trying to tell drivers not to hit them because they won't
they provide the anticipated protection?

As far as I know, drivers don't typically have the option of choosing
where to have an accident. If we were able to avoid the impact
attenuators when they are marked with cones, don't you think we'd
avoid them at all times?

What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?
  #2   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 256
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

DerbyDad03 wrote:
Just something I'm curious about...

I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.

Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?

Are they trying to tell drivers not to hit them because they won't
they provide the anticipated protection?

As far as I know, drivers don't typically have the option of choosing
where to have an accident. If we were able to avoid the impact
attenuators when they are marked with cones, don't you think we'd
avoid them at all times?

What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


They are not barrels of sand, but barrels of water. They mark
them for a couple of reasons. One to indicate damage to the
safety devices and to help prepare regular commuters for future
repair crews which will come to replace them. The notice to
drivers is mostly a CYA for the governing authority.

Number two is that at certain times, someone MAY HAVE to choose
where to have an accident. Being one who drags trailers around
in the course of my work and working with some heavy equipment,
if the choice is between hitting the little old lady, the school
bus, or the collision barrels, I will choose the barrels. Unless
they are damaged. Brakes fail and other problems occur which can
make you have to choose.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX
  #3   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 14,845
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

On Apr 28, 12:37*pm, Robert Allison wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:
Just something I'm curious about...


I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.


Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


Are they trying to tell drivers not to hit them because they won't
they provide the anticipated protection?


As far as I know, drivers don't typically have the option of choosing
where to have an accident. If we were able to avoid the impact
attenuators when they are marked with cones, don't you think we'd
avoid them at all times?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


They are not barrels of sand, but barrels of water. *They mark
them for a couple of reasons. *One to indicate damage to the
safety devices and to help prepare regular commuters for future
repair crews which will come to replace them. *The notice to
drivers is mostly a CYA for the governing authority.

Number two is that at certain times, someone MAY HAVE to choose
where to have an accident. *Being one who drags trailers around
in the course of my work and working with some heavy equipment,
if the choice is between hitting the little old lady, the school
bus, or the collision barrels, I will choose the barrels. *Unless
they are damaged. *Brakes fail and other problems occur which can
make you have to choose.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


They are not barrels of sand, but barrels of water

I guess it depends on where you drive.

As per this site, none of the devices approved for permanent
installation use water, but one does use sand. Temp ones (e.g.
construction sites) are allowed to use water.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/EESC/Design/...er720/sand.htm

A doc found at an Ilinois site (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/EESC/Design/
Policy/RoadsideSafety/Chapter720/sand.htm) also mentions sand filled
attenuators - granted it's 2006 doc, but the Washington site appears
to be current.

The ones I've seen damaged (and marked with cones) were messy piles of
plastic and sand.

Anyway, you mentioned that given the choice, you'd hit an unmarked
barrier rather than an old lady, so I'll accept that as a valid reason
for marking them. I certainly hope you never have to make that choice
- especially if it's marked with cones.
  #4   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 14,845
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

On Apr 28, 12:37*pm, Robert Allison wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:
Just something I'm curious about...


I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.


Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


Are they trying to tell drivers not to hit them because they won't
they provide the anticipated protection?


As far as I know, drivers don't typically have the option of choosing
where to have an accident. If we were able to avoid the impact
attenuators when they are marked with cones, don't you think we'd
avoid them at all times?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


They are not barrels of sand, but barrels of water. *They mark
them for a couple of reasons. *One to indicate damage to the
safety devices and to help prepare regular commuters for future
repair crews which will come to replace them. *The notice to
drivers is mostly a CYA for the governing authority.

Number two is that at certain times, someone MAY HAVE to choose
where to have an accident. *Being one who drags trailers around
in the course of my work and working with some heavy equipment,
if the choice is between hitting the little old lady, the school
bus, or the collision barrels, I will choose the barrels. *Unless
they are damaged. *Brakes fail and other problems occur which can
make you have to choose.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


They are not barrels of sand, but barrels of water.

As per this wa.gov site, none of the attenuators approved for
permanent installations use water but one does use sand. Temp ones may
use water.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/EESC/Design/...hapter720B.htm

This doc from Illinois also mentions sand filled attenuators:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/desenv/specrev/80109.pdf

The ones I've seen damaged and marked were always piles of sand and
plastic. Maybe the water dried up. :-)

Anyway, your mention of making the choice the between an old lady and
the attenuators makes sense. I certainly hope you never have to make
that choice, and if you do, I hope the attenuator isn't marked by
cones. I'd feel real sorry for the old lady.


  #5   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage


"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
Just something I'm curious about...

I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.

Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


I work for our state's DOT, during the winter. I set out plenty of barrels,
when not keeping the xways free of snow & ice. Our barrels are empty, we
place a dual rubber base to keep it in place. By hand, you can move these
where ever you please. They are not meant to slow down a vehicle veering
out of control.

It's a liability thing on the State's part. Being the crash attenuator is
no longer functional, it must be marked. It relieves the state from
liability from someone claiming the state put potential hazard in their
right-of-way, intentionally.

If you look at any potential hazards in your State, chances are, they are
marked. That is, unless the marking has become defaced. A call to your
controlling authority, being local or DOT, will get the hazard
fixed.....ASAP. This is not to say exit sign posts are to be marked,
because they already use reflective letters or backing. Also, the post must
be able to bend or shear, or both.

Two years ago, in different district than ours, they had piled snow in
front of the exit signs, which are placed in the Gore (the triangle area
between the roadway and exit). They had rain, then freeze. What they ended
up with, was a giant ramp, which a vehicle had launched off of, when they
missed the exit ramp. The state settled out of court on this, since the
state had placed a hazard within their right-of-way.








  #6   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5,149
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

Kevin wrote:
"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
Just something I'm curious about...

I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.

Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


I work for our state's DOT, during the winter. I set out plenty of barrels,
when not keeping the xways free of snow & ice. Our barrels are empty, we
place a dual rubber base to keep it in place. By hand, you can move these
where ever you please. They are not meant to slow down a vehicle veering
out of control.

He was talking about the yellow barrels, not the orange ones. Around
here, the yellow ones are partially filled with sand, in two layers, one
at bottom, and one in an inner lid. Water freezes and leaks. The just
need to have enough mass so wind doesn't blow them around, and to create
enough friction to break the contact patch between the skidding car and
the ground. They may be ugly, but they work a lot better than the
telescoping sections of armco rail, which tend to rust together. (They
used to bury the rail approaches to avoid spearing people, until they
realized that just provided a launching ramp for a keen stunt driver
corkscrew.)

For awhile around here, they also went back to wood posts for the signs,
predrilled to break in a certain way when hit, and corkscrew over the
car instead of going through windshield. I guess they weren't durable
enough- they seem to have gone back to metal the last few years.

--
aem sends...
  #7   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage


"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Kevin wrote:
"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
Just something I'm curious about...

I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.

Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't damaged?


I work for our state's DOT, during the winter. I set out plenty of
barrels, when not keeping the xways free of snow & ice. Our barrels are
empty, we place a dual rubber base to keep it in place. By hand, you can
move these where ever you please. They are not meant to slow down a
vehicle veering out of control.

He was talking about the yellow barrels, not the orange ones. Around
here, the yellow ones are partially filled with sand, in two layers, one
at bottom, and one in an inner lid. Water freezes and leaks. The just
need to have enough mass so wind doesn't blow them around, and to create
enough friction to break the contact patch between the skidding car and
the ground. They may be ugly, but they work a lot better than the
telescoping sections of armco rail, which tend to rust together. (They
used to bury the rail approaches to avoid spearing people, until they
realized that just provided a launching ramp for a keen stunt driver
corkscrew.)

For awhile around here, they also went back to wood posts for the signs,
predrilled to break in a certain way when hit, and corkscrew over the car
instead of going through windshield. I guess they weren't durable enough-
they seem to have gone back to metal the last few years.

--
aem sends...


Hi aem,

I guess I should have _snipped_ the part about yellow barrels. I was
replying to the part about the _orange cones_ being set out after an
attenuator gets damaged. Instead of orange cones, we set out orange
barrels.


  #9   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 14,845
Default OT - Highway Impact Attenuator Damage

On Apr 28, 9:33*pm, "DanG" wrote:
An insurance lady I know says those barrels are about $1500 each
once you hit em and hurt em.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG *(remove the sevens)


"DerbyDad03" wrote in message

...



Just something I'm curious about...


I assume we've all seen the impact attenuators they put in front
of
concrete highway dividers and toll booths - the barrels of sand
or
large rubber bumbers. They're supposed to slow a vehicle down so
they
don't hit the solid obstruction at full speed.


Why do they mark them with orange cones after they get damaged?


Are they trying to tell drivers not to hit them because they
won't
they provide the anticipated protection?


As far as I know, drivers don't typically have the option of
choosing
where to have an accident. If we were able to avoid the impact
attenuators when they are marked with cones, don't you think
we'd
avoid them at all times?


What's the point of marking them with "caution cones" when no
one
would actually consider hitting them even if they weren't
damaged?- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -


An insurance lady I know says those barrels are about $1500 each
once you hit em and hurt em.

Ask her how much it costs if you hit and hurt an old lady or a school
bus.
Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
NEED HP-54111D attenuator assembly JVG Electronics Repair 0 December 23rd 07 01:09 AM
Tektronix TDS 744 Attenuator [email protected] Electronics Repair 3 December 14th 06 04:04 AM
HP/Agilent 8590A RF attenuator fault Neil Electronics Repair 0 June 15th 06 11:18 PM
Tektronix 485: How to get to vertical attenuator? [email protected] Electronics Repair 10 April 27th 06 10:02 PM
FS: Textronix 190A Attenuator head Jim Adney Electronics Repair 1 February 29th 04 07:42 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:11 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 DIYbanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about DIY & home improvement"