By understanding breakaway sign supports, you’ll learn why the Federal Highway Administration requires them on roads. The short answer: They save lives.
Drivers may not know to notice them, but there are safety measures everywhere to protect them on the road. Traffic safety signs may look like firmly anchored immovable objects, but they’re engineered to yield when they’re struck by cars. They minimize damage and injuries—and save lives. By understanding breakaway sign supports, you’ll learn why they’re required for roads nationwide.
The most common kind of car accident involves hitting another vehicle. The next biggest kind involves hitting hard, immovable, narrow objects, and the consequences can be deadly. Striking a pole at any speed has the potential to penetrate deep into the front of your car, or even pierce through your windshield. But years ago, the Federal Highway Administration tackled the issue by insisting on breakaway sign supports on roads’ clear zones.
What’s a Clear Zone?
A clear zone is the part of the road available for errant drivers to regain control of their vehicles or stop altogether. It’s defined as the total roadside border area, starting at the edge of the traveled way. It can include shoulders, slopes, and clear run-out areas.
What’s a Breakaway Sign Support?
This umbrella term is used for approved, crash-tested sign poles that break or bend upon impact. They’ve been fully mandated by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices since 2019. Today, there are three main kinds of breakaway supports for traffic signs and custom safety signs, as well as mailboxes.
U-Channel Posts
The most common system is formed with an indentation in the form of a U, and is manufactured by using recycled railroad tracks. The safety splice breakaway system has a simple design, with galvanized posts used in urban areas.
Round Posts
These are sometimes used for decorative purposes: they look less industrial than U-channels. The bottom consists of a post, wedge and socket, and is suitable for small signs. Benefits include lower costs, and easier installation—there’s no need for digging, concrete, threading, nuts or bolts.
Square Posts
Square posts have perforations on all four sides, so that signs can be mounted in any direction at any height. Anchors can be driven in the ground first, so that crews can install or replace them more quickly.
Typical signs are too rigid to withstand car collisions. By understanding breakaway sign supports, you can see how potentially deadly roadside hazards can return signs to their original purpose: to guide and warn drivers of danger. At Custom Products Corporation, we offer every kind of sign, support, and additional safety measures. Contact us for more information.
