Truck-mounted attenuator protects roadside workers from motorists
Construction equipment supplier Innov8 Equipment has linked with truck manufacturer Iveco to develop a safety solution for traffic management and road construction applications.
Innov8’s attenuators are mounted to Daily and Eurocargo cab-chassis models to provide a rear safety barrier between traffic and maintenance workers.
The trucks contain fold-down, shock-absorbing crash cushions, constructed of energy-absorbing bars and galvanised steel support structures that protect workers from wayward motorists and prevent driver injury in the event of a collision.
The Light Truck Mounted Attenuator (LTMA) is fully tested to National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) TL-2 standards, meaning it is able to handle impacts of up to 70km/h.
The larger ‘Blade’ Truck Mounted Attenuator complies with TL-3 standards and can absorb a crash from heavy vehicle travelling at 100km/h, one of the most crash-resistant in its class according to industry testing, and has been recommended for acceptance by industry regulator Austroads Safety Barrier Assessment Panel.
Top 5 Iveco Trucks From the Last Decade. Read more
Innov8 managing director Nigel McKinley says the company has been pleased with the success of the partnership with Iveco with respect to safety, ease of use and environmental impact.
“Iveco’s engineering support has been first class and fitting the attenuators to the cab chassis is a streamlined process,” he says.
“From a customer perspective we’ve also received great feedback – every customer has been so impressed with the usability of the Iveco models. They comment favourably on the power and driveability of the Daily compared to other truck brands.
“The Euro 6 Eurocargo sets new safety standards in the medium-duty segment and also provides us with a truck that meets the most stringent emission requirements.”
He points to a real-life example of a collision in Melbourne, where a Blade TMA-fitted Eurocargo withstood a collision estimated between 90-100km/h and later passed a chassis laser alignment test, with workers shielded from any impact and the driver left uninjured.