A large number of deaths occur mainly due to road accidents. Traffic barriers and gate systems are the road safety elements designed to prevent mishaps on the road. Barriers are placed halfway between the width of the road in order to prevent vehicles from entering into opposite lanes and avoiding head on collisions. They are also placed on both the sides of the roads in order to avoid collisions with obstacles like boulders, sign supports, trees and non-recoverable steep slopes that end in a river or a cliff. They are placed in vulnerable areas like schools to save pedestrians from erratic drivers.
Gate systems are most commonly seen at railway crossings, toll booths or parking areas. They maintain traffic and discipline in the movement of the vehicles. They avoid confusions and increase the efficiency of vehicular movements. Gate systems help in preventing accidents between vehicles and trains. They are most commonly installed after a speed breaker so that a standard queue is set up. During police interventions, the use of traffic barriers and gate systems is used on a large assortment.
Gate systems are most commonly seen at railway crossings, toll booths or parking areas. They maintain traffic and discipline in the movement of the vehicles. They avoid confusions and increase the efficiency of vehicular movements. Gate systems help in preventing accidents between vehicles and trains. They are most commonly installed after a speed breaker so that a standard queue is set up. During police interventions, the use of traffic barriers and gate systems is used on a large assortment.
Types of Traffic Barriers and Gate systems:
- Roadside barriers: These barriers are placed on both the sides of the roads and help in decreasing off road travel of vehicles and rollover crashes. These are usually made of metals. On highways, the barriers used are flexible. In case of skidding of vehicles these barriers absorb the force of vehicles and distribute it in themselves in the form of tension and correct the course of vehicular movements.
- Median barriers: Median barriers are usually made of concrete and are placed in between a road. It prevents vehicles from running onto one another.
- Bridge barrier: They are designed to restrain vehicles from jumping off a cliff or falling into water bodies. They are made of multi-rail tubular steel barriers or reinforced concrete.
- Work zone barriers: These type of barriers are usually found where there are a lot of pedestrians or people working on maybe construction of roads or people commutating on a daily basis. These use temporary concrete barriers or water-filled barriers.
- Electric gates: These gates are operated using electricity powered mechanism. These are most commonly seen in toll booths. They are made up of high density polymers so that they can withstand the collision with cars.
- Metallic gates: These are used at railroad crossings and had weights filled on one end of the gate and are tied in the other end to keep it from moving upwards. Nowadays, electronically controlled metallic gates have been made available.
