100 accidents – zero fatalities

Posted on Sep 01, 2009 - 08:54 AM

In the years since Lattix started operations in 1984, one hundred accidents involving Lattix products have been reported to us from our clients. As Lattix masts and gantries are often deployed along motorways, a large number of these accidents involved high velocity on impact. Still, not a single fatality resulting from hitting a Lattix mast or gantry have been reported to us.

An effective design

- Initially, we actually did not focus on road safety, says managing director Kim Heglund.
- The original Lattix design was a result of industrial and aesthetic considerations: The hollow, aluminium latticework design was the most cost effective use of aluminium to achieve the necessary support strength. Also, the contemporary and sleek look of the product was an important factor.
- It was during crash tests that we noticed the forgiving nature of the design. The lightweight structure was very strong, but also soft, crumpling and absorbing energy on impact, deforming the structure. Seeing how this would be a huge benefit in high velocity accident, we refined the design further, with emphasis on safety features. This was before anyone else were focusing on forgiving roadsides and passive safety.

Emphasis on Safety

Today, traffic safety is the foremost selling point of the Lattix products. International road authorities have in later years become very much concerned with passive safety and energy absorption. International regulations such as the EN 12767 have put these issues on the agenda, and Lattix are proud to conform to the strict demands of safety protocols for roadside structures. Especially with the extensive roll-out of Intelligent Traffic Managements gantries (also called Active Traffic Management – the “Hard Shoulder Running” project), Lattix looks forward to making roadsides safe and forgiving for motorists in the years to come.