State Halts Installation Of Guardrail Pieces Over Safety Concerns

BOSTON (CBS) – The state is taking action because of questions about a safety device which is all over highways in Massachusetts.

A guardrail part, which is supposed to help protect you in a crash, may be a hazard.

The piece is called the ET-Plus. If you are in a crash and you hit that piece, the guardrail is supposed to peel back, absorbing some of the impact of the crash.

A study from The Safety Institute in Rehoboth says that is not happening.

A crash involving a truck in North Carolina shows the potential dangers of the part. After the crash, the guardrail was driven right through the middle of the truck.

The driver lost his legs in the crash but survived.

MassDOT will now stop installing the end pieces on guardrails around the state, however it will not remove the ones that are already installed. The agency would not say how many of the pieces are on Massachusetts roads, but it's safe to say there are thousands of them.

The manufacturer insists the product is safe and the Federal Highway Administration has not found any problems with it.

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON