Safety Barrier (WRSB) Presentation - 5th of May

[The Stranger:Me]

If you want to save lives we should start with educating people on how to drive safely with barriers as a last resort...rather than expect barriers to protect bad drivers...putting better barriers up is not going to solve the root of the cause.

Agreed, take a look at the BRONZ web site - education, not regulation saves lives. However, these vehicles you wish to save are driven by humans, humans make mistakes, they always have, they always will. NO amount of education will ever change that.

[R6_kid:Me]

damn wish i had read this before now (as i have an hours break from 3-4)... how did it go?

Went fairly well - extremely well if you consider I hadn't actually practiced it first! Was the best on the day compared to Do Men and Women think Differently, Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Violence in Society, and What About the Polar Bears?

If that is the case then the problem would be the installation and not the barrier itself.

This is correct, but if the installation is incorrect in this way then it is not actually doing it's job.

Kinda makes sense what the barrier is suppose to do..does it slow velocity better than concrete barriers is my next question

They are better at safely decreasing momentum - look up impulse. A smaller force over a longer time, vs larger force over a shorter time. WRSB being the first, concrete being the latter.

WRSB are actually very good at fulfilling their intended purpose - stopping smalll-medium sized vehicles in 'cross over' situations - they are also good for verge/cliff situations.

Basically all that is needed is large, flat longitudinal surface area to prevent bodies (aka Motorcyclists sans motorcycle) coming in contact with the posts or wires. Adding a cap of a similar nature with a smooth circumference will further enhance the safety of the WRSB. Not only does it increase the safety of the barriers, it also adds to their structural integrity - it makes them do their original job BETTER, safer, and also makes it easier to clean up in the event that a collision occurs as debris from the barrier is captured by the shielding.

[The Stranger:Me]

Do Men and Women think Differently

Fark, how long did you say you had for your talk?

[R6_kid:Me]

8 minutes - that one was done by a lovely asian girl. Needless to say which brain was doing the most work - lets just say WINJA would have been happy.

[SixPackBack]

8 minutes - that one was done by a lovely asian girl. Needless to say which brain was doing the most work - lets just say WINJA would have been happy.

$10 sez you didn't root her.

[sunhuntin]

Basically all that is needed is large, flat longitudinal surface area to prevent bodies (aka Motorcyclists sans motorcycle) coming in contact with the posts or wires. Adding a cap of a similar nature with a smooth circumference will further enhance the safety of the WRSB. Not only does it increase the safety of the barriers, it also adds to their structural integrity - it makes them do their original job BETTER, safer, and also makes it easier to clean up in the event that a collision occurs as debris from the barrier is captured by the shielding.

never mind the fact that every time they get hit by anything, someone [or several someones] needs to be sent out to replace the broken posts and then adjust the tension. ive never known concrete to need that amount of work after every single collision.

[R6_kid:Me]

never mind the fact that every time they get hit by anything, someone [or several someones] needs to be sent out to replace the broken posts and then adjust the tension. ive never known concrete to need that amount of work after every single collision.

This is the same for any other road side structure. While you are correct, concrete barrier generally doesn't need as much repair/maintenance, it also is not very forgiving - infact it makes the vehicle/person absorb all of the energy. They aren't so bad for glancing blows, but I wouldn't go calling them the safer option.

From what I have read and seen, a correctly installed & modified WRSB system is the best way of stopping vehicles leaving their lane.

SPB - when can I collect?

[The Stranger:Me]

SPB - when can I collect?

When the deed is done and we have the photos.

[The Stranger:Me]

They aren't so bad for glancing blows, but I wouldn't go calling them the safer option.

But isn't this the situation with median barriers?

[sunhuntin]

if concrete is no better, how can motorbike racers hit them and generally stagger away no worse for wear? racers generally go LOTS over 100k.

[Mom]

Agree but the barriers are suppose to stop cars that have people in them...guess same for bikes but the issue we are debating.

If you want to save lives we should start with educating people on how to drive safely with barriers as a last resort...rather than expect barriers to protect bad drivers...putting better barriers up is not going to solve the root of the cause.

Transit NZ are empowered to make NZ roads safe for ALL road users. If what you state here is true, then why should Transit install them? They are only designed for cars with people in them? I am not so sure that is true somehow. Cost will have been a big factor in deciding what kind of barrier is installed and where. They dont stop trucks from crossing over them, they kill and main motorcyclists (and yes I hear your argument that we seem to have had one death here as a reult of them, but documentary evidence from overseas proves this fact), they are not installed as they should be, with good safety catch zones either side of them. These things are a menace.

[Grahameeboy]

Expecting someone to know the subject they are arguing about is not being pedantic. I consider it fundemental.

I know you agreed "if", however you shouldn't need the "if" if you know the basic information.

Yes DB, he is another of your ilk who are happy to argue without knowing basic facts - look him up, you 2 should get on well.

I was referring to the grammatical aspect.

What are the basic facts...to me the issue is not complicated.

[Grahameeboy]

Went fairly well - extremely well if you consider I hadn't actually practiced it first! Was the best on the day compared to Do Men and Women think Differently, Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Violence in Society, and What About the Polar Bears?


This is correct, but if the installation is incorrect in this way then it is not actually doing it's job.



They are better at safely decreasing momentum - look up impulse. A smaller force over a longer time, vs larger force over a shorter time. WRSB being the first, concrete being the latter.

WRSB are actually very good at fulfilling their intended purpose - stopping smalll-medium sized vehicles in 'cross over' situations - they are also good for verge/cliff situations.

Basically all that is needed is large, flat longitudinal surface area to prevent bodies (aka Motorcyclists sans motorcycle) coming in contact with the posts or wires. Adding a cap of a similar nature with a smooth circumference will further enhance the safety of the WRSB. Not only does it increase the safety of the barriers, it also adds to their structural integrity - it makes them do their original job BETTER, safer, and also makes it easier to clean up in the event that a collision occurs as debris from the barrier is captured by the shielding.

Thanks for explaining in an intelligent way...I am happy to argue in ignorance and find out..the whole point of debate of course.

So basically, the barrier works well but needs tweeking.

[Grahameeboy]

Transit NZ are empowered to make NZ roads safe for ALL road users. If what you state here is true, then why should Transit install them? They are only designed for cars with people in them? I am not so sure that is true somehow. Cost will have been a big factor in deciding what kind of barrier is installed and where. They dont stop trucks from crossing over them, they kill and main motorcyclists (and yes I hear your argument that we seem to have had one death here as a reult of them, but documentary evidence from overseas proves this fact), they are not installed as they should be, with good safety catch zones either side of them. These things are a menace.

R6 has explained a bit more and I agree that the barriers need tweeking.

My comment has an element of truth I guess..if drivers were safe they would not have so many accidents and would not need barriers..I know that is a simplictic view, however, at the same time, I feel that we are sometimes the author's of our own misfortune...

Would be interesting to test having no barriers and do the stats..may be interesting eh..I mean where the Cheese Cutters are situated, there were no concrete barriers were there, just the iron ones...what were the stats before the Cheese Cutters were installed.

Oh and thanks for being nice to me Mom..

[MSTRS:Me]

What are the basic facts...to me the issue is not complicated.

The issue is not complicated...
The basic fact is that if you are on a motorcycle and for whatever reason hit a cheesecutter, you will suffer horrendous injuries, amputation of limbs or worse, and/or die. It's that simple.