"Cheese-cutter" barriers: should they be used where other options are available?

[asobi]

See http://reddit.com/info/5yvd3/comments/ - Apparently a motorcyclist was cut in half by one of these in an accident.  Supposedly these wire barriers are better for cars because they don't destroy the vehicle as rapidly as a solid barrier would, but clearly they are very dangerous for motorcyclists at fairly low speeds.  Oh, and feel free to contribute to the reddit discussion.

Thoughts?

Edit: Links to kiwi forums:

Before the tragedy: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=56622

After: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=59344

Edit 2: A good document against these types of barriers - http://www.network.mag-uk.org/crashbarriers2005/MAGcrashbarrier2005.pdf

http://www.network.mag-uk.org/barriers/WRB-reportV9.pdf

[CndnMax]

theres a similar thread to thins on BARF. theses barriers are a horrible designed that only work with small cars, i doupt those videos would be the same if they used an SUV.

[darb85]

Thats scary.  I havent seen any in any of my travels and I hope I never do.



Brad

[Kasumi]

We have a few here in the UK.

The idea is if a car hits them the stantions that hold the cable barriers in place break free as the car hits them and the cable loosens up as more are knocked out, absorbing the impact of the car hitting. This is meant to reduce collateral damage as hard barriers when hit the car gets completely smashed up and bounces off into other traffic. The idea with these is the cable takes the impact and slows the car down without it bouncing off back across the traffic.

The job they are designed for they do well. For motorcyclists they suck. They cut limbs off, bikes in half. If i was heading towards one of those in a crash id bloody bail and try and use the bike as cover.

[bettingpython]

They have begun using them here in Oklahoma, their stated original purpose was for usage in areas where a crossover event could occur if a wreck happened or a driver fell asleep at the wheel. On straight line roads I have no issues with this barrier type. My problem occours in that the first Tulsa area installation of these I have seen is in a curved highway interchange ramp, the runoff area between the ramp is large and includes a steep ditch that  does not lend itself to a lane crossover situation. I have seen dozens of wrecks in this area in my time and to my knowledge none of them have ever crossed lanes of traffic. If you are looking for a solution to contain something to keep it from running into a ditch 'K' Rails would be the best solution. Another example of government idocy in my fair city and state.

[trumpetguy]

They have begun using them here in Oklahoma, their stated original purpose was for usage in areas where a crossover event could occur if a wreck happened or a driver fell asleep at the wheel.

In the Weatherford (OK) paper today, it was announced that work will begin soon on about 15 miles of this barrier in Western OK.  The official also said something to the effect of "Big picture is this type of barrier will span the entire state."

I have to agree with BP on this one (even though it pains me  ).  In high cross-the-median-accident areas, it's one thing.  But to blanket the state suggests that perhaps a contractor is well-placed with government officials.  When they put these in along I-35 in the last few years, it tied up traffic for miles at the bottlenecks and caused many fatal accidents as people got rear-ended in the construction areas.

[bettingpython]

Why should it pain you to agree with me

Does it bother you that I may be right about other points of view as well? 

The horrible crumbling of your beliefs has begun when you can find something that I believe in with which you can agree.

[trumpetguy]

The horrible crumbling of your beliefs has begun when you can find something that I believe in with which you can agree.

Now will you sing Kumbaya with me?

[bettingpython]

Now will you sing Kumbaya with me?