While bridges and highway constructs are essential to connect one city or state with another, these are places where the potential of accidents increases tremendously. This is why it is important to establish safety parameters to ensure protection of drivers and vehicles.

The DOLRE bridge parapets are one of the well-known bridge parapets that is designed to ensure safety on bridges and highways. But what exactly is a bridge parapet? How can it ensure safety of the vehicle and the driver on bridges and highways?

If you seek answers to these questions and want to know all about bridge parapets then make sure to read until the end.

What are Bridge Parapets?

A parapet is a safety barrier that is designed as an extension of the wall at the edge of a bridge. Parapets are also found in walkways, terrace, highways and balconies. In almost every country, parapets are used to ensure safety of the bridges and other constructs.

In European countries, parapets are considered as a sub-classification of the pedestrian restraint system. There are a few parapet types available that are used according to the requirement.

Types of Parapets

Parapets are simple constructs that are designed to offer safety barriers on highways, bridges, balconies and other accident-prone areas. Some of the common types of parapets are –

Perforated Parapets: These are pierced parapets available in different designs such as trefoils, circles or quatrefoils.

Embattled Parapets: These paneled and pierced parapets which are essentially applied for defensive projectiles.

Paneled Parapets: These are composed of a series of panels either in square or oblong shape. Paneled parapets are enriched but aren’t perforated.

Significance of installing Parapets

Bridges, highways, balconies and other similar constructs where there’s a significant drop have a potential chance of accidents. Any mishap or disbalance of vehicles on these constructs could result in vehicles falling off the bridge.

The use of parapets or specifically bridge parapets, a barrier can be created that prevents accidental falling off. Parapets are also used for restricted views in order to avoid rubbish passing.

The installation of parapets is important because these constructs reduce the severity of an accident in case of an errant vehicle crossing on the roadway. They act as a passive defense line, diminishing the accident’s severity.

When vehicle impacts with parapets

Although parapets are designed to prevent fall offs, what exactly happens when a vehicle collides with parapets depends upon several factors. While the strength and rigidity of parapets are primary factors that influence the end results of collision, the angle of incidence, the speed of collision and other more factors also sometimes alter the results.

However, the most common results that might happen when a vehicle collides with parapets are –

·        The vehicle gets retained or stopped in case of collision. It may also rebound with the impact of parapets.

·        If the parapets are not high enough then the vehicle might collide over it.

·        The vehicle may penetrate the parapets if they aren’t rigid as per the standard.

This is why it is important to install high-quality bridge parapets such as DOLRE bridge parapets to get desired performance and ensure maximum safety.