70 years of steel safety barriers: From Bochum to safe road traffic!

70 years of steel safety barriers: From Bochum to safe road traffic!

A very special anniversary will be celebrated on June 21, 2025: Germany's first steel safety barrier is celebrating its 70th birthday. The robust protective device made its debut in 1955 on Autobahn 40 near Bochum. What was then intended as a simple roadside marking turned out to be a life-saving system that passed its first test after just three days. A tar truck crashed into the newly installed plank and was successfully saved from falling. Instead, he rolled back onto the road unscathed after the planks were dented by the impact but performed their function perfectly. This story almost sounds like a play, but it is reality, as [lokalklick](https://lokalklick.eu/2025/06/21/70-jahre-stahlschutzplanke-es-begann-mit-ein- bang-bei-bochum/) reports.

The steel guardrail was originally intended as a visual aid, but experts recognized its essential role in traffic safety as early as 1960 in the specialist magazine “Straße und Autobahn”. At a time when traffic on German motorways was increasing massively, the guard rail was increasingly perceived as an indispensable element of the transport infrastructure. This change led to the replacement of the so-called "Alpine railing", which consisted of curbstones and wooden or concrete beams, with the much more effective steel guardrail, as faz.net highlights.

The construction of the steel guard rails

With a clear structure and different construction methods, the steel guard rail has proven itself. The two common profiles, the A-profile and the B-profile, were imported from the USA and are still in use today. Around 80 percent of planks in Germany are based on the B profile, while in Rhineland-Palatinate and some northern regions the A profile is used. Despite these differences, both systems are equivalent in terms of road safety, which further increases their popularity. These developments, which Wikipedia reports in detail, are not only the result of technological adaptations, but also fruitful research in the field of traffic safety.

Over the last few decades, new materials and quality seals have been continuously introduced for quality assurance. For example, the standardization of impact tests at the end of the 1990s led to the development of more efficient protection systems. No less than 20 kilometers of new steel safety barriers are currently being installed on the A42 between Gelsenkirchen and Herne. These new planks are characterized by a larger “crumple zone” and improved security with a bar, making them even more effective at keeping even heavy trucks on the road.

Alternatives and challenges

Despite their many advantages, steel guardrails are not always the only solution. Concrete restraint systems are used where post ramming is problematic, but they pose a greater risk to vehicles because the impacts are more severe. They are therefore less common, especially in snowy regions. Steel guardrails on bridges are also equipped with additional fall protection to prevent heavy vehicles from breaking through.

In summary, it can be said that Germany's steel safety barrier is not only celebrating an anniversary, but is also making an important contribution to road safety. With its historical background and ongoing developments, it remains a central part of the road infrastructure and ensures that roads become safer for all road users.