My city is reluctant to put up a guardrail ostensibly because it will
mean: another yearly budget item, an evesore and ?. I personally have
researched (2yrs) the section of roadway and under DOT guidelines, it is
elegible for one. This curve averages 3 crashes per year.
-Somewhere I have seen a new design that makes hitting them, less traumatic?,
is Federally approved (i think) and made of recycled plastic.
-The metal "W" -shaped ones, typical today, are considered dangerous in their
own right. They cost about $20/8ft.
-I've settled with the city, and the above, is part of my crusade to make
the city this make this section of roadway safer so no one else receives
deadly news. But at this point more will. |
Request for Question Clarification by
umiat-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 09:19 PDT
Hi, knowknot!
What, exactly, is your question? Are you looking for a reference to
the safer guardrail design that you mentioned?
umiat
|
Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 12:50 PDT
See related question:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=371449
Subject: response
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: knowknot-ga
List Price: $2.00
where do I respond to umiat-ga (371348) re his clarification q?
|
Clarification of Question by
knowknot-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 14:01 PDT
Hey umiat-ga
Since I would rather have suggestions, pictures, examples of a
safe rail with advanced design for the city, rather than just complain,
yes, I would appreciate any reccommendations or directions.
What do you suggest? Thanks knowknot
|
Request for Question Clarification by
umiat-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 14:36 PDT
Knowknot,
Thanks for your clarification. I have only found a few references to
plastic guardrails in my research, but don't know that any of them are
what you remember hearing about. Some of them are older articles.
The Ideal Shield Protection Guardrail System (does not mention highways)
http://www.cif.org/Nom2003/Nom19_03.pdf
BREAKTHROUGH FOR RECYCLED GUARDRAILS
http://www.amityplastics.com/Breakthrough.htm
"Plastics Hit the Road"
http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/s_apc/sec_innovations.asp?TRACKID=&CID=307&DID=1001
"Recycled plastic offset blocks for guardrails are becoming more
widely used throughout the country. Offset blocks are the spacers
between the guardrail and post that deflect the force of impact. In
1994, the Federal Highway Administration approved the use of plastic
offset blocks as the then-current all-steel construction failed to
meet more strict safety requirements."
"Design Could Improve Highway Guardrail Safety."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990330071058.htm
"A University of Wisconsin-Madison engineer has developed a
potentially safer replacement made from composite materials. The
unique design made from glass fiber-reinforced polymers is meant to
better "capture" the wide range of vehicles on the market, from
hulking 4-by-4s to the tiniest compact cars.
"UC Center Studies Ways to Design Safer Guardrails."
http://access.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Releases/98Releases/980504.OSC.html
"While guardrails cannot prevent accidents, new guardrail design may
reduce the severity of accidents. A University of Cincinnati
researcher is working to do just that. Ala Tabiei, assistant professor
of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics, was funded by the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to create a center to help
design safer guardrails. The University of Cincinnati Center of
Excellence is one of four similar centers in the United States that
will examine various aspects of roadside safety during the next two
years."
Do any of these articles strike a chord?
umiat
|
Clarification of Question by
knowknot-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 19:45 PDT
u, a chord, yes. minor, yes but in the right key.
The article from UW-M(4thlink)addresses my interest. What I still need is
more updated info on that 1999 design of lawrence bank @ university of
wisconsin-madison. My information has to indicate what it looks like,
what
it costs and is it approved by the FHWA. And it could be another if nothing
ever developed of mr banks creation.
now, I need to know just how far 20 bucks carries me or has the ride ended
awready. Not to cry poor, but a medical difficulty has stopped my
income for the time being. This information may be useful to me and I
value your efforts.
Also, in learning to navigate ga, I entered another question #371449 which was
simply a request how to get back to you to clarify. I'm uncertain if
I successfully cancelled it.
Finally, Friday am. I go for a proceedure. I expect to be back on
line in 24 hours. . . bye
|
Request for Question Clarification by
umiat-ga
on
08 Jul 2004 23:14 PDT
knowknot!
You might want to email Lawrence Banks directly, since it appears he
still works at the University of Wisconsin. He will be able to provide
you with the specifications and latest news about the guardrail
approval or state of use. He currently has a patent on the guardrail
design but I have found no other updated information.
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/cee/faculty/bank_lawrence.html
Patents (look further down the page referenced above)
"Composite Material Highway Guardrail Having High Impact Energy
Dissipation Characteristics," US Patent No. 6,149,134, Lawrence C.
Bank and T. Russell Gentry. Awarded November 21, 2000.
Here are a few pictures of sections of the guardrail that Banks has designed.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/wire/i031799/grail.html
(By the way, your other question was cancelled so no worries about
that) And since I have done nothing more than provide you with some
articles and a means for contacting Lawrence Banks, I will leave it up
to you about whether this is an acceptable bit of information for an
answer. Either way, it is fine with me!
umiat
|
Clarification of Question by
knowknot-ga
on
09 Jul 2004 19:13 PDT
umiat
With the addition of those last two links, both of which I've made use
of. I've emailed L. C. Banks and await a response.
If this goes nowhere, I may request you to continue?
I'm not sure how to complete this transaction. Aren't there tabs or links to
click on?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
umiat-ga
on
09 Jul 2004 21:34 PDT
Hello, knowknot!
I'm glad you have emailed Lawrence Banks. Hopefully, you will receive
a helpful response from him. You certainly should be commended for
your efforts in striving to make a dangerous roadway safer.
As for completing this transaction......there is nothing further that
you need to do unless you feel the information I have provided is
worthy enough as an answer to your question. If not, you will be
charged nothing since I have posted no information in the Answer box.
If you would like me to go ahead and receive payment for the
references I have supplied, simply let me know in another
clarification and I will post an acknowledgment as an anwer. If you
decide against that, I will understand.
Either way....good luck!
|
Clarification of Question by
knowknot-ga
on
10 Jul 2004 07:04 PDT
umiat
go ahead and post the answer. fyi, 2yrs ago, my son crashed into
a tree because there was no guardrail. he went instantly which was a
fortunate detail in this unfortunate mishap. my aim is to keep others
from
getting similar news.
Thanks very much for your help
|
Request for Question Clarification by
umiat-ga
on
10 Jul 2004 08:17 PDT
knowknot,
As one parent to another, my heart is with you. My sixteen-year old
daughter lost her friend early 4th of July morning in a vehicle
rollover. Let's leave this one for free, okay?
umiat
|
Clarification of Question by
knowknot-ga
on
10 Jul 2004 12:19 PDT
that kind of thing goes far
thank
you
|
