Kerbs play an important role in road/street design, however their proximity to roadside barriers can create challenges.
When kerbs are placed near barriers, they can alter the way vehicles interact with barriers, increasing the risk of underride, override, and vehicle instability. Additionally, kerbed roadsides with soil backfill can lead to increased stiffness in the system and higher rail loads, which may cause rail ruptures. Drainage features can also interfere with post placement, leading to the need for post omission.
In 2021 Midwest Roadside Safety Facility evaluated the performance of the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) when placed near a kerb and with an omitted post. The results from crash test, in which a 2270T pickup truck impacted the system at 100 km/h and at a 25-degree angle, were good. The vehicle was successfully contained and redirected without any rail tearing or instability. The system met all safety performance criteria as outlined in MASH test 3-11. (Barrier was 150mm behind kerb).
Video credit: Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
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