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Some establishments have previously installed bollards within the clear zones of our state highways. To enhance safety and ensure compliance, we recommend relocating these devices outside the clear zones or implementing sufficient protective measures. However, some establishments have not yet adopted our recommendation. Please advise.

Thank you

The use of bollards inside the clear zone could pose a clear safety hazard in that area if not shielded.

Bollards would represent a fixed object hazard that could create the potential for rapid vehicle deceleration, vehicle instability, excessive occupant compartment deformation, and an associated increase in severe injury and fatality for the occupants of impacting vehicles.

Current automotive safety design testing under FMVSS, NCAP, and IIHS frontal impact standards only account for low-speed impacts with fixed objects. These tests are typically only conducted at 35-40 mph. Thus, impacts above these speeds would result in kinetic energy levels greater than the vehicle’s ability to dissipate safely. Additionally non-tracking impacts with narrow hazards like bollards would pose an even greater risk as the sides of vehicles cannot safely handle concentrated impacts at speeds above approximately 25 mph.

Looking at it from more of a roadside safety perspective, MASH currently limits the occupant velocity change to less than 40 ft/s. Thus, any bollard impact that brought the vehicle to a stop above 27.7 mph would be likely to violate the MASH criteria use for evaluation of roadside hardware. Occupant ridedown accelerations over 20 g’s would also be a concern.

Based on this, we would have similar concern to NJDOT regarding the use of bollards in the clear zone without shielding and would agree with your general recommendations.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks!