The success of the breakaway concept for sign and luminaire supports led to investigations to see if it could also be used with timber utility poles. After crash testing, it was concluded that the slipbase design was the most suitable in terms of reducing the severityof vehicle impact and withstanding environmental loads. Research conducted at texas transportation institute is described, as well as amultiyear field evaluation of the breakaway utility poles in kentucky and massachusetts. The types of data being collected by the states and utility companies in these states are described. It is expected that the tests will prove that vehicle occupants involved in crashes with breakaway utility ples will likely survive the impact, and that the poles will successfully perform in multidirectional hits. The poles also will adequately withstand environmental loads.
Abstract