Why you may see concrete barriers on French roads near you

Several major roads across France are seeing traditional metal barriers replaced with concrete variants to reduce upkeep costs and improve safety. 

Various campaigns are underway to install concrete barriers at key areas (stretches of road with high accident rates, maintenance requirements, traffic build-up, etc).

This includes the southern portion of the Rennes ring-road, which has seen concrete barriers progressively introduced.

However, despite claims of improved safety there are concerns that high-speed collisions are more dangerous with concrete barriers. 

Why are concrete barriers being used?

Metal barriers, used on the boundary of larger motorways and central reservations, require consistent maintenance to retain their safety benefits.

This includes repairs after accidents and to ensure barriers still meet safety requirements, as well as general maintenance of both the barriers themselves and areas surrounding them.

In contrast, concrete barriers need to be repaired less often than their metal counterparts and are more durable in the event of an impact, even with lorries.

Reduced maintenance for the barriers has several benefits, including improved safety for workers roadside (less time spent at the barriers means less chance of an accident with nearby vehicles using the road) and lower maintenance costs in the long-run.

The concrete barriers also act as a prevention against weeds and other plants growing in central reservations and close to the road, further reducing the need for maintenance workers to deal with excess foliage, and prevents littering – common issues for metal barriers.

Another bonus in dropping the required upkeep for barriers is better traffic flow, as lanes need to be closed less frequently to allow workers to carry out their tasks.

Finally, concrete barriers are said to be safer for not just workers but drivers as well. 

Despite shuddering at the thought of colliding with a thick concrete barrier, these can actually be less dangerous, especially for motorcyclists.

Two-wheeled drivers may collide with metal barriers at such speeds that they are ‘guillotined’ upon impact by the metal, whereas with concrete they are roundly stopped.

While heavier vehicles such as HGVs may see collisions that are “a little less severe,” than with concrete ones, the latter are still completely safe, said head of the Crash Test and Simulation department at Transpolis Virgile Bavasso to TF1.

“It's ultimately up to the road authority to decide [which barriers to us]. If they're on our roads, it's because both products have met the standard's requirements. [Both types] are supposed to do the job,” he added.

Are concrete barriers the answer?

Criticisms have been levelled against such projects, however, including by motorcyclists deemed to be safer driving near them. 

"I have the impression that concrete will cause more damage; when you drive next to it, I actually find it more dangerous,” said one to media outlet TF1. 

If drivers have an aversion to barriers or find them imposing they may be hesitant to drive near them, increasing traffic on other lanes and potentially impacting the rate of accidents on major roads. 

While reduced maintenance costs will lead to savings in the long run – both in terms of time and money – initial installation of the cumbersome barriers can be disruptive and costs tens of thousands of euros at a time when authorities both national and local are struggling to find cash.