Farmwithjunk
Super Member
It's a stretch I'll admit, but this needs to be in the saftey forum I'd think.
Since many of us haul tractors on the interstates, highway saftey is an important consideration. I had a "demonstration" on this past Friday afternoon of a relatively new saftey feature on the highways in my area. Maybe you're already familiar with them. I'm talking about 3-strand cable barriers in the medians to prevent "cross-over" collisions.
I was on my way to the Massey Ferguson dealer pick up a few parts. It was early in the normal rush hour traffic flow. (around 3PM) Off in the distance, in the on-coming lanes, I could see cars and trucks starting to make what I'd call EVASIVE MANUEVERS. They were dodging a car that was driving too fast and too wreckless. It was a small "fast and furious" car replete with the popular rear wing, low profile 20" wheels, ect. Speed limit on this highway is 65. He was probably doing 100 in heavy traffic. I saw him pass a semi ON THE INSIDE saftey strip, NOT in a driving lane. Then he lost it. 2 wheels in the grass, then it drifted side-ways a bit. The driver over-corrected, went into the rear wheels of the truck, bounced off, and into the median. He got full sideways. Sliding along in the grass sideways, he was still going so fast that he was obviously passing other motorist's who were still travelling at the speed limit. He got lucky (so far) and the car turned back straight. It came back up on the pavement. He started to go towards another semi that was slightly behind the first one he hit. The driver turned back towards the grass. When he hit the grass this time, probably travelling at approx. 60 or 70 mph by now, the car swapped ends. He was backing up at almost the speed limit. The car went across the median, bound for the traffic lanes going in the opposite direction, MY direction. He WOULD have ran out into oncoming traffic, which was bumper to bumper, travelling at (or above) the posted 65 mph. It would have been a horrific wreck. Judging by the angle and timing, it would have involved me. Then, just along side of the lane I was in, he hit the 3-strand cables....backwards at 60 or 70 mph.
Ever see an aircraft carrier landing of a fighter jet?
The cables snagged the car, directing it along the cables for maybe 25 or 30 feet, slowing it's momentum in a heartbeat, preventing it from entering oncoming traffic, and PROBABLY saving numerous lives.
The top cable ended up on top of the car, holding it down. The middle cable slid along the side of the car, preventing it from continuing into oncoming traffic. The lower cable ended up under the car, guiding it straight and slowing it.
By the time everything was over, traffic was stopping in both directions. I pulled off the road into the median (on my side) I was in a state of shock for a few seconds. The driver of the car was out of his car in seconds. He was unhurt, but having what could best be described as a panic attack. He was "flipping out". His car was torn up, but still intact for the most part. No one was injured.
I was suitably impressed. (albiet a nervous wreck for a few minutes)
Every now and then, highway saftey engineers come up with a workable solution to prevent catastrophic auto accidents. They did in this case.
As much as anything, I'd like to make a public aknowledgment in favor of use of these cable restraint barriers. They do work. I'm here today BECAUSE they work. My thanks to Kentucky Dept. of Transportation. You all saved my butt on this day.
And for the record, the driver ended up being in his early 20's, DRUNK, and as the police noted when taking information from witness's, having no valid license. Also worthy of note, these cables were installed just this past winter and early spring. Timing IS everything.
Since many of us haul tractors on the interstates, highway saftey is an important consideration. I had a "demonstration" on this past Friday afternoon of a relatively new saftey feature on the highways in my area. Maybe you're already familiar with them. I'm talking about 3-strand cable barriers in the medians to prevent "cross-over" collisions.
I was on my way to the Massey Ferguson dealer pick up a few parts. It was early in the normal rush hour traffic flow. (around 3PM) Off in the distance, in the on-coming lanes, I could see cars and trucks starting to make what I'd call EVASIVE MANUEVERS. They were dodging a car that was driving too fast and too wreckless. It was a small "fast and furious" car replete with the popular rear wing, low profile 20" wheels, ect. Speed limit on this highway is 65. He was probably doing 100 in heavy traffic. I saw him pass a semi ON THE INSIDE saftey strip, NOT in a driving lane. Then he lost it. 2 wheels in the grass, then it drifted side-ways a bit. The driver over-corrected, went into the rear wheels of the truck, bounced off, and into the median. He got full sideways. Sliding along in the grass sideways, he was still going so fast that he was obviously passing other motorist's who were still travelling at the speed limit. He got lucky (so far) and the car turned back straight. It came back up on the pavement. He started to go towards another semi that was slightly behind the first one he hit. The driver turned back towards the grass. When he hit the grass this time, probably travelling at approx. 60 or 70 mph by now, the car swapped ends. He was backing up at almost the speed limit. The car went across the median, bound for the traffic lanes going in the opposite direction, MY direction. He WOULD have ran out into oncoming traffic, which was bumper to bumper, travelling at (or above) the posted 65 mph. It would have been a horrific wreck. Judging by the angle and timing, it would have involved me. Then, just along side of the lane I was in, he hit the 3-strand cables....backwards at 60 or 70 mph.
Ever see an aircraft carrier landing of a fighter jet?
The cables snagged the car, directing it along the cables for maybe 25 or 30 feet, slowing it's momentum in a heartbeat, preventing it from entering oncoming traffic, and PROBABLY saving numerous lives.
The top cable ended up on top of the car, holding it down. The middle cable slid along the side of the car, preventing it from continuing into oncoming traffic. The lower cable ended up under the car, guiding it straight and slowing it.
By the time everything was over, traffic was stopping in both directions. I pulled off the road into the median (on my side) I was in a state of shock for a few seconds. The driver of the car was out of his car in seconds. He was unhurt, but having what could best be described as a panic attack. He was "flipping out". His car was torn up, but still intact for the most part. No one was injured.
I was suitably impressed. (albiet a nervous wreck for a few minutes)
Every now and then, highway saftey engineers come up with a workable solution to prevent catastrophic auto accidents. They did in this case.
As much as anything, I'd like to make a public aknowledgment in favor of use of these cable restraint barriers. They do work. I'm here today BECAUSE they work. My thanks to Kentucky Dept. of Transportation. You all saved my butt on this day.
And for the record, the driver ended up being in his early 20's, DRUNK, and as the police noted when taking information from witness's, having no valid license. Also worthy of note, these cables were installed just this past winter and early spring. Timing IS everything.
In any case, I like to have one or the other.
