Guardrail Height Safety Requirements Given Recent Crash History and Evolution of Vehicle Design

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the adequacy of the current Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) guardrail height standard in response to recent changes in vehicle design. Through a comprehensive analysis of crash data and guardrail failures or breaches in sections with both 27¾-inch and 31-inch guardrail heights, the study aims to assess the effectiveness of the 31-inch height standard in preventing vehicle breaches and providing adequate protection for occupants and other road users. This project will address the performance and suitability of the current guardrail height standard, ensuring it aligns with the evolving dynamics of modern vehicle impacts.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $188,815.00
• Contract Numbers:

  BED32 977-03

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Managing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Project Managers:

  Kirts, Scott

• Performing Organizations:

  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  600 S. Clyde Morris Boulevard
  Daytona Beach, Fl  United States  32114
• Principal Investigators:

  Parr, Scott

• Start Date: 20250220
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Advanced Research
• USDOT Program: Data-centric Research; Conduct Studies of our Crash Data and Systems
• USDOT Program: Vehicle Safety Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash data; Guardrails; Height; Standards; Vehicle design
• Identifier Terms: Florida Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01946751
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: BED32 977-03
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 21 2025 10:48AM