BUSINESS

Speciální motosvodidla snižují počet smrtelných úrazů motorkářů

Special barriers reduce the number of fatal injuries of motorcyclists

Safety barriers from ArcelorMittal Ostrava helping

to increase road safety on Czech roads for 50 years

This year marks the 50th year since ArcelorMittal Ostrava began producing crash barriers. More than

45,000 kilometers of crash barriers have been produced by the company since 1968, more than

enough to line a road that could encompass the globe. Road barriers from Ostrava represent vital

safety element on most Czech roads. According to the statistics of the Czech State Police, they have

helped reduce fatal accidents on roads in the Moravian-Silesian region by 38% and accidents with

serious consequences by 49%.

On July 10, 1968, Nová hutˇ, steelworks in Ostrava

started producing road barriers developed by the

Transportation Research Institute in Prague. Every year,

the company produces approximately 1,000 km of steel

safety barriers. More than 50  of them are installed

%

on the roads in the Czech Republic; the rest are used

in Slovakia, Lithuania and other countries. The Ostrava

steelmaker produces five types of road barriers which

include single-sided and double-sided road barriers,

bridge-type and balustrade road barriers and road

barriers with enhanced protection for motorcyclists, with

a total of 33 restraint systems.

“Thanks to our research and development we have come

up with a number of innovative solutions that have further

improved the road safety in the Czech Republic in recent

years. These include, lighter road barriers made from

micro-alloyed steel, which have better safety properties

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than road barriers from regular low-carbon steel, and

special road barriers for motorcyclists that protect them

from serious injuries,” explains Richard Toman, head

of the road barriers and mine supports department in

ArcelorMittal Ostrava.

Road barriers from Ostrava as a vital safety feature on

Czech roads

Before the safety barriers get from the steelworks onto

the roads, they have to undergo technical as well as crash

testing. Over the last 10 years the company has performed

38 crash tests, which represent approximately 76 crashes.

Each of the tests costs between 1,500,000 and 3,500,000

CZK, depending on the type of road barrier.

“Our task is to test these products and subsequently

certify that only the most reliable products are placed

alongside roads. Road barriers from Ostrava not only