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 28 ǀ POSITIV 2/2018

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