Abstract
A test has been carried out to investigate the behaviour of a car when it collides sideways with a steel lighting column fitted with a break-away joint. The main findings were as follows; 1- to make it unlikely that any occupants would have been seriously injured. 2- both car and column would have come to rest wheel clear of the carriageway thus avoiding the possibility of secondary accidents. 3- damage to the test car was surprisingly light. 4- the root section of the column remained undamaged and serviceable.