According to WHO road traffic crashes result in the deaths of about 1.19 million people around the world each year. Lack of warning signs and unsafe construction practices also contribute to these accidents. This is why a healthy road culture reinforced by road barrier investments is necessary.
A road barrier is often used to deviate traffic, slow down vehicles during construction activities, and separate lanes. They are also relevant to reduce the impacts of crashes in accident-prone areas such as sharp corners.
With these requirements choosing the right road barriers is a significant investment for road safety.
Here is a guide to ponder upon the key factors that need to be evaluated for road barrier investments.
Road Barriers: Safety, Effectiveness, and Cost Efficiency
- Safety Standards Compliance: The UAE Traffic Control Devices Manual provides guidelines on the design of various traffic control devices including barriers. Also, the road safety products in UAE follow British Standards such as BS EN 1317 or standards of AASHTO ( American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials). Strict adherence to such safety protocols is essential for road barrier investments.
- Barrier Type and Design: Road barrier manufacturers UAE offer product barriers made of different materials. They include concrete, steel, and plastic barriers.
The right choice of material should reflect the specific requirements of the road and surrounding environment. Plastic barriers made of high-quality polyethylene are the latest add-on to these varieties. It can offer UV, crack, and impact resistance. Considering the desert climate of UAE and the rigorous environments in which barriers are placed these are the best materials for road barriers.
- Impact Resistance: The chances of accidents on roads demands impact resistance in road barriers. Moreover, if these barriers can cushion the vehicles it will reduce the impacts of accidents. Polyethylene Barrier with a hollow space within can be filled with water or sand to cushion the impact of accidents. Unlike concrete or metal barriers they won’t cause injury to people.
- Ease of moving: Barriers serve varied purposes as mentioned earlier. Catering to those needs might require to move them. So it will be better to choose easy-to-move materials for road barriers. Concrete or metallic barriers offer resistance to changing positions while plastic barriers are easy to move. The water or sand within the cavity of these barriers can be emptied to move it to a new location.
- Cost Effectiveness: Initial Investment costs, installation expenses, and long-term maintenance costs have to be factored in before choosing the right materials for barriers.
Benefits of Choosing Right Road Barriers
- Enhanced Road Safety: By containing vehicles in their designated lanes, redirecting them from hazards, and cushioning vehicles in accidents, right road barriers prevent accidents and minimize the severity of collisions.
- Compliance with Regulatory Standards: The right barrier from road barrier manufacturers UAE ensures compliance with regulatory standards minimising liability risks for road authorities, contractors, and project developers.
- Long-Term Cost Savings: High-quality materials that stand the weather, impacts, and rigorous environment of the road save money that might have to be spent on maintenance or replacement.
- Public Confidence and Trust: The choice of the right road safety solutions including barriers improves public confidence in the transportation infrastructure.
The requirements and benefits of road barriers as mentioned above need to be evaluated in making road barrier investments.
Finding the best road barrier solutions with this evaluation could be another challenge. Because there are several road barrier manufacturers in UAE. Finding the best among them might appear to be a daunting task. Fortunately, Polycom is here to serve you with years of experience and a commitment to standards and quality. Our Polyethylene plastic road barrier is specially crafted for rigorous conditions.