Submitted by NathanBacaNews t3_ym1ic7 in washingtondc
Comments
giscard78 t1_iv1bbob wrote
> the guardrail doesn't collapse and becomes a spear which can kill a driver
Wasn’t this an issue in Virginia about ten years ago, too? Might not have been quite that long, maybe 2014 or so, but I distinctly remember this issue occurring in the past.
I also somewhat remember that they had an issue either surveying the guardrails or going through the records to figure out which type of guard rail had been installed where.
NathanBacaNews OP t1_iv1bkzy wrote
The previous issue had to do with a particular brand of guardrail that was prone to failure. The problem here is when you mix and match two different brands. By themselves, they could work perfectly. But when Brand A is used with Brand B, then the guardrails and end terminals are prone to fail.
MsMrsh t1_iv3uxpr wrote
Thank you for reporting on this!
dcmcg t1_iv1dt59 wrote
Sounds like we should shutdown the beltway until WMSC approves a return to service plan ensuring the guardrails are removed.
thud_mantooth t1_iv1m2yj wrote
I would bet $1000 that shitting shutting(!) down the beltway would cause a greater loss of life, via delays for emergency vehicles, than these guard rails will cause in the time it takes to inspect and replace them.
HockeyMusings t1_iv1ym1p wrote
Popping a squat on the beltway is a sure fire way to get smooshed. No doubt. 💩 🚘 ☠️
thud_mantooth t1_iv1yuq2 wrote
Hahahaha wow that was quite the typo 😂😂😂
johnbrownbody t1_iv3cezw wrote
Thats true, a reasonable compromise is for emergency services to be able to use the highway while WMSC ensures that systems are safe for everyday usage, and commuters cannot use the service until that occurs.
thud_mantooth t1_iv3dlmg wrote
Shifting the entire commuting population into surface streets, with a significantly higher accidents/mile rate than the highway, is also not a good approach. It's kinda crazy to me how much people will ignore externalities because fuck the beltway or something.
johnbrownbody t1_iv3e8tq wrote
I think you're missing a joke about the amount of hoops that metro has to go through to get metro up and running while people can just kill each other on the highway and no one blinks an eye.
thud_mantooth t1_iv3hx06 wrote
Ahhhh that makes sense, thanks for explaining
cptjeff t1_iv4fbh2 wrote
You just got whooshed. The joke is that that's how WMATA is forced to operate even when it objectively makes the overall transportation system less safe.
NathanBacaNews OP t1_iv19wq9 wrote
I'm the WUSA9 reporter on this story. There's something called "Frankensteined" guardrails. That's when you have Brand A of a guardrail attached to Brand B of an end terminal. If a car hits that, the guardrail doesn't collapse and becomes a spear which can kill a driver. With the help of a dad who lost his daughter in a guardrail crash, we spotted some of these on and outside the Beltway. MDOT is now launching a statewide inspection expected to be complete April 2023 and has already begun to replace the frankensteined rails that exist. Virginia is replacing them too, but has not announced a statewide inspection. I'll try to answer any redditors questions!