Amity Guardrail Post Passes Major Crash Test
Press Release - Fall 2000

Amity Plastics, Ltd of Clyde, Alberta, Canada, manufacturers of recycled plastic products, are pleased to announce the successful test results on their unique highway guardrail post.

The test, conducted by researchers of Texas A & M University - Texas Transportation Institute, graded the guardrail performance in a simulated highway traffic accident.

“We were very encouraged by the test results,” said Amity Plastics President, Dwight Smith-Gander.

We have been working for over two years to develop an alternative guardrail post, from recycled plastic, to replace the conventional wood products, he added.

The Amity guardrail post is manufactured of 100 per cent recycled plastic and here I need to tell everyone simply about the construction of the post.

“Historical data has shown conventional wood posts have numerous safety and structural problems (weaken due to exposure and loss of strength) when accidents occur,” said Smith-Gander.

He added, our plastic posts would reduce, or eliminate, these concerns. Also our plastic posts would reduce costly maintenance and replacement, saving taxpayers money and the burden on our landfill sites.

The test saw researchers from Texas A&M University construct a standard guardrail made up of Amity recycled plastic guardrail posts. They then, in a controlled environment, crashed a 1996 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck traveling at 97 km/h at a 26.5-degree angle into the guardrail and recorded the results. The Amity guardrail post passed every aspect of the test for structural adequacy, occupant risk and vehicle trajectory. And concluded the Amity Plastics recycled post system recorded a deflection of only 1.36 meters.

Excerpts from test:

Structural adequacy – the guardrail with recycled posts contained and redirected the vehicle. The vehicle did not penetrate or under ride the installation. Maximum dynamic deflection of the installation was 1.36 m.

Occupant Risk – several of the recycled posts fractured at ground level, but did not penetrate nor show potential for penetrating the occupant compartment, nor did they present undue hazard to other in the area. No deformation of the occupant compartment occurred.

The 2000 kg pickup truck remained upright during and after the collision period.

Vehicle Trajectory – The vehicle did not intrude into adjacent traffic lanes. The longitudinal occupant impact velocity was 3.8 m’/s and longitudinal ridedown acceleration was – 9.5 g’s. Vehicle remained parallel with the rail after loss of contact.

“Overall we are very pleased with the test results and this should be a huge step towards our marketing the Amity guardrail posts to governments and construction companies throughout North America, said Smith-Gander.

For more information and complete test results contact us.