Crash Barrier Design Mistakes That Cost Millions – And How to Avoid Them
Crash barriers aren’t optional. They’re engineered safety systems that stand between life and death. When they’re properly designed, they protect drivers, passengers, and public infrastructure. But when they’re poorly designed, the consequences are brutal—both financially and in terms of human life. Many crash barrier projects run into the same costly design errors. Some seem minor at first glance, but over time, they lead to lawsuits, reconstruction, or worse—catastrophic failure in an actual crash. First, we’ll look at five of the most common and expensive design mistakes. Then we’ll walk through how to avoid each one, using clear, actionable steps. The Costliest Design Mistakes 1. Mismatching Barrier Type to Site Conditions One of the most common mistakes is using a barrier system that’s not appropriate for the environment. For example, using a cable barrier (a flexible system) on a narrow highway shoulder can create more problems than it solves. It may […]
