The Essential Role of Road Safety Products in Preventing Accidents
With the collapse of both civilian and commercial rail transport in South Africa, road safety products are critical for protecting motorists, other road users, and infrastructure as traffic volumes soar across the country.
Vehicle numbers on our highways and urban roads are becoming unsustainable, and high-quality road safety equipment helps reduce the severity of collisions and saves lives across the nation. The experts at Armco Superlite explain.
Why Road Safety Products Matter
The surge in traffic, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and the lack of bulk public and commercial transportation logistics, has made our roads busier, more dangerous, and in need of constant upgrades and maintenance. Therefore, a safe road structure needs effective traffic barrier solutions and clearly defined zones to guide drivers.
Proper equipment can prevent vehicles from leaving carriageways or entering hazardous areas. Here is a condensed list of only some of the products needed to traverse our nation safely:
- W-Beam Guardrail Systems South Africa: Road safety products include guardrail systems, such as the well-known W‑Beam guardrail. These steel-and-timber systems are engineered to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, crashing into fixed hazards like trees or poles, or veering into oncoming traffic. At Armco Superlite, our standard steel or galvanised W‑Beam guardrails conform to SANS 1350 and international safety standards.
- Wire Rope and Water-Filled Systems: Other versatile traffic barrier solutions include wire‑rope safety fences and water-filled systems. The former requires little space and redirects vehicles, meeting NCHRP 350 and European CEN standards. Water-filled barriers are lightweight when empty, sturdy when filled, and visibly guide traffic around construction zones.
- Road Cones and Temporary Delineators: Lightweight, portable products like road cones and reboundable delineators are also indispensable. Used by both construction engineers and emergency services, they safely guide road users through various dangerous situations. Our superior-quality traffic cones are not only sturdy on their post, but they also feature bright, UV-resistant PVC for enhanced nighttime visibility and reshaping capabilities.
- Dura-Post® Delineators: Our signature Dura-Post® delineators are engineered for durability and high visibility. These yellow posts can withstand over 200 impacts at speeds up to 97 km/h and snap back upright. Their small footprints allow easy installation and are quickly set on the road surface with epoxy.
The Value of Investing in Safety
Traffic congestion is increasing across both cities and rural areas, with no end in sight. At the same time, the safe transportation of the public and the movement of commercial goods remain critical concerns. Add to this the ongoing need for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, and it’s clear that road safety solutions are more important now than ever.
For infrastructure developers, municipalities, contractors, and road authorities, investing in superior road safety products is more than compliance; it’s about protecting people and property and saving lives. At Armco Superlite, our solutions reduce crash severity, protect construction workers and their equipment, and lower long-term liability. They also improve incident recovery and decrease maintenance costs due to their durable materials.
Spotlight on Armco Superlite: Our Spectacular Road Safety Solutions
Helpful in preventing serious accidents and injuries, our product range covers temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent safety solutions, ensuring user safety at every stage. Aside from those already mentioned, our offerings include, but are certainly not exclusive to:
- Standard delineators
- New generation water-filled safety barriers
- Monster Man water-filled barriers
- The 1.8m Monster Road Cone
- Speed ramps
- EuroNEAT® Impact Barrier systems
- QuadGuard® Safety Impact Barrier systems, and more.
Our W-Beam Guardrail systems are manufactured locally in Gauteng, and our galvanised products carry the SATAS hot-dip stamp of approval. The balance of our impressive road safety collection meets the highest global standards and has all the necessary certifications.
Do it Right: Select Armco Superlite
At Armco Superlite, we are the leading road safety equipment supplier throughout southern Africa. Our portfolio includes a host of road safety equipment that surpasses international quality standards, including the ISO 9001:2015 quality system. So, if you’re looking to invest in the safety of your road users, arm yourself with Armco for a full complement of superior-quality road safety products.