In June 2016 there were two serious accidents involving HGV’s demolishing steel barrier on the M40 and M6. These serve to remind all involved in highway safety of the importance of rapidly replacing old steel barrier with concrete.

Ironically the accident on the M6 was just short of where BBS Licensee Joe Roocroft & Sons is installing the much safer and more robust BBS product.

Neither of these two accidents was a full blown crossover, but could easily have been so. Highways England (HE) continues to replace steel with concrete on the motorway network. The day cannot come soon enough when motorists can see an end to delays, unnecessary congestion and needless risk resulting from this type of accident.

Fact: Since 2005 concrete barrier has prevented cross over accidents in all but one occasion.
Fact: Concrete barrier, though struck many times, has only had major repairs involving a lane closure on less than 20 occasions.
Fact: Some 1100km of the strategic network is currently protected by BBS Concrete Barrier.
Fact: Although HE specify H1 (10 tonne) containment, BBS Concrete Barrier provides H2 (13 tonne) containment.
Fact: BBS concrete barrier has successfully contained lorries weighing 38 tonnes, well in excess of its designed performance.

These are facts, and show how wise was the decision, back in 2005, by HA to replace steel with concrete safety systems. It is now a question of ensuring the rest of the network is protected as soon as possible.

 M6- Central reservation appeared to be flattened after collision  M40 – Lorry carrying frozen offal crossed over central reservation