Most of these accidents occur off the driving platform (carriageway and hard shoulders) or as a result of crashing against the safety barriers. Distractions, sleepiness and the consumption of harmful substances are the principal causes. The authorities continue to install increasing numbers of barriers and while the impacts against them have declined, they do not prevent accidents. This paper defends the theory that care must be taken to avoid obstacles in proximity to the platform, for vehicles that go out of control. The adjoining elements: embankments and kerbs must be accessible without the vehicles overturning. The indispensable obstacles: piles, abutments, lighting columns and road sign supports, etc. must be located as faras possible from the platform. The separation between carriageways shouldbe ample. The use of braking strips (like those on racetracks) is defended over the use of concrete or metal protections. For the covering abstractsee ITRD E139491.
Abstract