17.1 Overview

This chapter provides guidance on the use of safety treatments that minimize the likelihood of serious injuries when a driver runs off the road.
The roadside is defined as that area beyond the traveled way (i.e., driving lanes) and the shoulder (if any) of the roadway itself. Consequently, roadside delineation, shoulder surface treatments, and similar on-roadway safety features are not extensively discussed.
This chapter includes the following chapters and subsections:
17.1 Overview
17.2 Roadside Safety Hardware Crash Criteria
  • 17.2.1 MASH Background; and
  • 17.2.2 Current TxDOT MASH Implementation Timetable/Policy.
17.3 Longitudinal Barriers
  • 17.3.1 Types of Barriers;
  • 17.3.2 Applications; and
  • 17.3.3 Working Width.
17.4 Concrete Barriers (Median and Roadside)
  • 17.4.1 Application;
  • 17.4.2 Location; and
  • 17.4.3 Standard Installations.
17.5 Guard Fence
  • 17.5.1 Blockouts;
  • 17.5.2 Structural Considerations of Guard Fence;
  • 17.5.3 Placement of Guard Fence; and
  • 17.5.4 End Treatment of Guard Fence.
17.6 Determining Length of Need of Barrier
  • 17.6.1 Variables;
  • 17.6.2 Design Equations;
  • 17.6.3 Using Design Equations to Determine Length of Guard Fence; and
  • 17.6.4 Example Problems.
17.7 Median Barrier
  • 17.7.1 Application; and
  • 17.7.2 Placement.
17.8 Attenuators (Crash Cushions)
  • 17.8.1 Application;
  • 17.8.2 Crash Cushion Categories;
  • 17.8.4 Location; and
  • 17.8.5 Standard Installations.
17.9 Emergency Crossovers
  • 17.9.1 Location; and
  • 17.9.2 Construction.