Security barriers are not strong enough

American authorities no longer hide their concern about the growing problem of road safety, focused on weight of electric and hybrid vehicles. A concern that is rooted in the possibility that these vehicles, through them more weight to their thermal counterparts, can exceed the resistance of current safety barriers, thus endangering the integrity of the existing road infrastructure and, above all, the safety of road users.
Indeed, electric vehicles, which often weigh more because of the battery, create new challenges for existing infrastructure. Safety barriers along highways, designed to keep vehicles on the road and prevent serious accidents, are now being questioned in the face of the threat posed by this excess weight.
The latest crash test results released by the University of Nebraska underscore the point the amazing ability of electric cars to overcome steel protective barriers designed to stop them. These results raise concerns among road safety experts and demand that safety devices be adapted to technological developments in the automotive sector.

Heavier, but safer cars

Faced with this growing concern, EV manufacturers are emphasizing safety of their models. They would be safer and, therefore, in the event of a collision, passengers would have a lower risk of injury. But that is all, because if the vehicles in question are safer for passengers, it is important to adapt the infrastructure at the risk of causing great harm to other road users.
Therefore, the increase in vehicle weight should be taken very seriously, even if it is true in Europe that this problem is not taken very seriously at the moment. Of course, heavy vehicles are taxed in France, but not for the same reasons mentioned here. Should we tax them more? Not sure if buyers will like it… Therefore, manufacturers should pay attention to the weight of their models, and the authorities should adapt the infrastructure to make road traffic safe.

According to the American press, additional tests are underway, and an in-depth study is planned to determine how to improve road safety and ensure the protection of all road users.

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