How Was the Guardrail Supposed to Work?
The first guardrail terminal (the ET-2000) was designed to act as a highway airbag. The front-facing steel plate is attached to a ribbon of steel, cushioning the vehicle’s impact while the steel ribbon bends and folds like an accordion. When it works, it’s a safe solution. When cars strike the guardrail, it slows them down, limits the damage caused, and creates a safe way for the energy of an impact to be dispersed throughout the railing. The first one was designed by Texas A&M University, funded by the Texas DOT, and developed by Syro Steel Co. in 1989. Trinity bought Syro Steel Co. in 1992.