No Cable Barriers at Site of Deadly Crash
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JACKSON, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation has installed cable barriers, designed to slow down or prevent crossover crashes on the interstate. The cables are like a safety net, and are installed in areas where such accidents are most common. “The cable barrier rails that you see along the interstate are there to serve the same purpose just like a normal guard rail,” said Nichole Lawrence with TDOT. “(They) help protect crossover accidents or any type of vehicles crossing over onto another lane of highway.” The stretch of Interstate 40 in Henderson County, which was the site of Tuesday night’s deadly wreck, did not have cable barriers. “It’s really hard to narrow down if guard rail or cable barrier rails could have made that less (violent),” said Lawrence. Through thorough research state-wide, TDOT determines which stretches of highway need cable barriers. “The crossover crash rate is taken into effect,” said Lawrence. “We look at these crash rates and the criteria through the interstate throughout the state.” TDOT officials said the cables are affective depending on the type of vehicle that guts them. The Henderson County wreck involved an 18-wheeler crossing over the median. “They have helped in the crossovers to a certain point,” said Lawrence. “They are designed to a certain level for the automobiles. They’re not designed to specifically stop a fully-loaded tractor trailer.”
