ABSTRACT
Vehicle barriers are an essential part of a bridge, providing safety both for vehicles, as well as for people in the case of an errant vehicle. Barriers may be required to protect passengers in the vehicle, other users of the bridge or people in the near vicinity, and structures adjacent to the bridge from collapse that may cause injury or death. In detailing barriers, attention must be directed to ensuring they do not become hazards themselves during a crash. The objectives of a vehicle barrier are as follows. 1. Barriers should offer a level of protection commensurate with the level of risk
involved. 2. Barriers should minimise the deceleration of an errant vehicle and its
occupants. Colosimo (1996) suggests a limit of 5g or 50 m/sec2. 3. Barriers should redirect an errant vehicle in a direction parallel with the
barrier or intended direction of travel. Rebounding of the vehicle back into traffic must be avoided in order to prevent a second perhaps more lethal accident. Colosimo (1996) suggests the exit angle should be less than half the impact angle.
