UK: NEW HYDRAULIC CRASH BARRIERS TESTED AT BRANDS HATCH CIRCUIT.

Record ID: 383613

  • Title: UK: NEW HYDRAULIC CRASH BARRIERS TESTED AT BRANDS HATCH CIRCUIT.
  • Date: 18th October 1965
  • Summary: 1. LV CAR RACING INTO BARRIER 0.07 2. CU CRASH 0.12 3. LV CAR INTO BARRIER 0.19 4. SV MEN STRAIGHTEN CRASHED CAR 0.23 5. SV MEN STRAIGHTEN CRASHED BARRIER 0.29 6. LV DRIVER INTO LARGER CAR 0.35 7. SV CAMERAMEN 0.38 8. LV INTO BARRIER 0.44 9. CU MECHANICS STRAIGHTEN MUDGUARD 0.49 10. SV MEN STRAIGHTEN CRASH BARRIER 0.53 11. BV CAR CRASHES INTO BARRIER 1.00 Initials PBS/V/JH/ES PBS/V/JH/PC EDITORS: THIS FILM CONTAINS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd November 1965 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRANDS HATCH, KENT -- U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAD3FWENBIFENY0E5H6KNRKK628
  • Story Text: A TEAM OF BRITISH HIGHWAY ENGINEERS HAS DEVELOPED A NEW TYPE OF HYDRAULIC CRASH BARRIER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE MUCH OF THE DAMAGE AND INJURY CAUSED WHEN VEHICLES COLLIDE WITH CONVENTIONAL TYPES OF PROTECTIVE BARRIERS.

    THE ENGINEERS, DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW BARRIERS, STUDIED CRASH BARRIERS IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE AND THE EFFECTS WHEN THEY WERE STRUCK BY VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT SIZES AT VARYING SPEEDS.

    THEY DISCOVERED THAT BARRIER SUPPORT POSTS IN MOST CASES BROKE OR BENT BETWEEN EIGHT INCHES AND ONE FOOT ABOVE THE GROUND. IN MANY CASES THE FENCES WERE NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO PREVENT VEHICLES GOING OVER THE TOP OF THEM.

    THE HYDRAULIC BARRIER SERVES NOT ONLY TO ABSORB MUCH OF THE IMPACT, BUT ALSO PREVENTS VEHICLES FROM GOING OVER THE TOP OR OVERTURNING. BY MOUNTING THE SUPPORT POSTS IN THE FORWARD-LEANING POSITION THE FENCE IN FACT GAINS HEIGHT WHEN IT IS STRUCK. DEPENDING ON THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT THE FENCE 'GROWS' AS MUCH AS SEVEN INCHES.

    THE NEW BARRIER WAS PUT THROUGH A RUGGED TEST TODAY (MONDAY) AT THE BRANDS HATCH RACING CIRCUIT IN KENT WHEN LIGHTWEIGHT AND HEAVYWEIGHT STOCK CARS WERE DELIBERATELY DRIVEN INTO IT AT SPEEDS OF UP TO FIFTY MILES AN HOUR. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE FENCE WAS THE BENDING OF CORRUGATED PANELS WHICH WERE QUICKLY AND EASILY REPAIRED.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register