This article discusses EN 12767, a new standard for the passive safety of support structures for road equipment, which was recently approved by CEN and is now being issued by the National Standards organisations in all CEN countries. It is not a product standard, but a voluntary additional standard. It can be applied to most items of road equipment, although in practice it is most likely to be applied to lighting columns and traffic signs. The standard was drafted by working group CEN TC/226/WG10. A table in the standard, reproduced in the article, specifies the classification for the energy absorption level of structures, defined in terms of impact speed and exit speed. The introduction to EN 12767 advises that energy-absorbing structures slow a vehicle considerably in the event of a collision, thus reducing the risk of secondary accidents with structures, trees, pedestrians, and other road users. Non-energy-absorbing support structures allow the vehicle to continue after impact with a limited speed reduction; they may provide a lower injury probability than energy-absorbing structures. The article discusses whether national road authorities will apply EN 12767, and what benefits it might have. It also quotes some statistics for UK single vehicle accidents with lighting columns and traffic signs and signals.
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