Rethinking Road Restraint Systems: From legacy designs to performance-based safety : Importance of proper Road Restraint Systems (RRS)

Road Restraint Systems – including guardrails, crash barriers, end terminals and crash cushions – are critical components of roadside safety engineering. Their primary aim is to contain and redirect out-of-control vehicles, preventing severe collisions with roadside hazards or opposing traffic. A correctly specified and installed RRS can mean the difference between a minor incident and a fatal crash. For this reason, RRS must be treated with the same rigour as any other critical road design component, backed by risk assessments and proven performance data. As emphasised in South Africa’s newly developed road restraint systems manual (TMH 24), RRS design requires detailed knowledge of civil and traffic engineering and road safety principles – it is not a checkbox exercise, but a specialised discipline that directly impacts safety outcomes. See the PDF document for the full content

Spotlight on Roadside Safety article_KLTE_20250705_1.pdf

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