As an advanced passive safety facility, roller barrier systems effectively mitigate injury severity during vehicle-to-barrier collisions. They play a pivotal role in safeguarding drivers and passengers while maintaining traffic order on motorways, mountainous roads, and urban expressways.
Its core advantage lies in ‘rotational energy absorption’ – unlike the ‘rigid resistance’ of conventional concrete or metal barriers, drum barriers dissipate impact energy through drum rotation, minimising vehicle damage and casualties. Consequently, they are increasingly becoming the preferred solution for modern road safety upgrades.
This document primarily addresses road construction entities, traffic management authorities, procurement officers, and safety consultants. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the value and application scenarios of drum barrier systems, serving as a reference for project selection.
The rolling barrier system constitutes a specialised road safety barrier comprising horizontally arranged rotating drums, supporting posts, and connecting components. Upon vehicle impact, the drums rotate to dissipate collision energy while guiding the vehicle along the barrier's direction, thereby mitigating collision damage.
Based on the ‘energy absorption + guidance’ design principle, it abandons the traditional barrier approach of ‘rigidly resisting impact’. By converting the vehicle's linear impact force into rotational kinetic energy within the drums, it achieves ‘flexible buffering’. This approach protects both vehicles and occupants while minimising damage to the barrier itself.
(1) Materials
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and cost-effective, suitable for most standard applications.
Galvanised steel: High load-bearing capacity and superior impact resistance, suitable for heavy traffic sections.
Composite materials: Combines polyethylene's corrosion resistance with steel's strength, adaptable to complex environments.
(2) Design Features
Smooth surface minimises friction with vehicle bodies; sealed construction prevents water ingress and dust accumulation causing jamming; standardised lengths (2-4 metres) facilitate replacement and maintenance.
(3) Functionality
Instantly rotates upon vehicle impact, dissipating 30%-50% of collision energy to mitigate direct damage to vehicle bodies.
(1) Types
Galvanised steel pillars: Superior rust resistance and high strength, suitable for most road foundations.
Concrete-filled steel posts: Superior load-bearing capacity, suitable for soft ground sections.
Height-adjustable posts: Accommodate road surface elevation differences to ensure overall barrier levelness.
(2) Installation Method
Embedded into road edges (depth 50-80 cm) or fixed to concrete bases to withstand lateral impact forces and maintain structural stability.
(3) Function
Supports roller weight, maintains overall barrier form, and transfers residual impact energy to the ground to prevent barrier overturning.
(1) Common Types
Stainless steel bolts: Rust-resistant and durable, ensuring secure component connections.
Elastic washers: Absorb minor vibrations, reducing component wear.
Quick-connect joints: Simplify on-site installation procedures, enhancing construction efficiency.
(2) Function
Securely connect drums to support posts, guaranteeing flexible rotation without detachment; permit minor system deformation during collisions to prevent structural failure.
(1) Reflective Strips
Affixed to drum surfaces to enhance visibility at night or in low-visibility conditions, alerting drivers to maintain safe distances.
(2) Anti-corrosion coating
Steel components undergo dual corrosion protection via galvanisation and powder coating, extending service life in corrosive environments such as rain, snow, and coastal areas.
(3) End terminations
Installed at barrier ends to prevent vehicles from becoming snagged during collisions, reducing secondary injury risks.
When a vehicle veers off course and strikes the barrier, its body first contacts the rotating rollers. The smooth surface minimises initial friction between vehicle and barrier, preventing bodywork damage from scraping.
The impact force propels the rollers into rapid rotation. During this process, the rollers convert the vehicle's forward collision energy into rotational kinetic energy, significantly dispersing the impact force – with particularly pronounced buffering effects for side impacts.
The rotating drums guide the vehicle along the length of the barrier, preventing it from rebounding back onto the carriageway or rolling over. This effectively prevents the vehicle from leaving the road or colliding with oncoming traffic.
Following vehicle passage through the impact zone, the drums cease rotation. Provided no severe damage occurs, the support posts and connecting components restore the barrier to its original configuration, ensuring continued protection for subsequent traffic.
(1) Polyethylene roller Barriers
Lightweight, easy to install, and cost-effective, suitable for urban roads, suburban highways, or low-traffic areas (e.g., residential access points).
(2) Galvanised Steel roller Barriers
High impact resistance, capable of withstanding loads up to 100 kilonewtons, ideal for motorways, steep mountainous sections, or roads with heavy lorry traffic.
(3) Composite Roller Barriers
Combine corrosion resistance with high strength, suitable for coastal salt-spray areas or scenic routes — harmonising with natural environments while ensuring safety.
(1) Central Divider Roller Barriers
Installed in the median strip of motorways or urban expressways to prevent vehicles crossing the divider and colliding with oncoming traffic.
(2) Roadside Roller Barriers
Positioned along shoulders, cliffs, or slopes to prevent vehicles from veering off the road and falling, particularly suitable for mountainous highways.
(3) Bridge/Tunnel Approach Barriers
Installed at junctions connecting bridges, tunnels, and main carriageways, accommodating height differences or confined spaces to reduce collision risks in transition zones.
(1) Low-Protection Barriers
Suitable for roads with speed limits ≤60 km/h (e.g., urban collector roads), featuring 15-20 cm diameter drums and a lightweight overall structure.
(2) Medium-level protection drum barriers
Adapted for roads with speed limits 60-100 km/h (e.g., suburban highways), featuring 20-25 cm diameter drums and reinforced support posts.
(3) High-Protection roller Barrier
Employed on motorways or mountainous roads with sharp bends where speed limits exceed 100 km/h. roller diameter ≥25 cm, with thickened steel posts and reinforced connecting components.
(1) Reduced Casualty Rates
By absorbing impact energy, deceleration during collisions is reduced by 20%-40%, significantly lowering injury risks to critical areas such as the chest and head.
(2) Secondary Accident Prevention
Prevents vehicle rebound or rollover, minimising the probability of secondary collisions involving other vehicles or pedestrians post-impact.
(1) Suited to Complex Terrain
Installable on gradients ≤15°, curves with minimum radii of 50 metres, or uneven surfaces via adjustable posts.
(2) Withstands Harsh Environments
Features rust resistance, UV protection, and freeze-thaw tolerance, maintaining stability in temperatures ≥60°C, ≤-30°C, or during rain/snow.
(1) Low maintenance costs
Modular design allows replacement of damaged drums or posts without full barrier replacement — reducing average maintenance time by 50% compared to traditional barriers.
(2) Extended service life
Polyethylene drums last 8–10 years, while galvanised steel components endure 15–20 years, minimising overall replacement frequency and lowering long-term expenditure.
(3) Reduced accident-related losses
Minimises vehicle damage, lowering repair costs and insurance claims for road authorities.
(1) Enhanced construction efficiency
Prefabricated components eliminate on-site welding. Two to three workers can install 100 metres of barrier daily, minimising traffic disruption.
(2) Eco-Friendly
Polyethylene drums are recyclable, with no toxic emissions during production or use, meeting green construction standards.
Installed in central reservations to prevent vehicles crossing barriers and colliding with oncoming traffic, offering significant protection for lorries and high-speed vehicles.
Deployed on extended downhill gradients to guide runaway vehicles along the barrier for deceleration, preventing accidents caused by brake failure.
Installed along cliff-side road edges to prevent vehicles from plunging. The rotational function of rollers on steep slopes reduces the risk of vehicle rollovers.
Used on narrow bends to alert drivers to road boundaries, minimising collisions between vehicles and mountain terrain.
Installed in central reservations of urban expressways and flyover ramps to mitigate collision damage in high-traffic zones.
Scenic routes employ colours harmonising with natural surroundings (e.g., green polyethylene rollers), ensuring safety while avoiding the ‘oppressive feel’ of conventional barriers.
School perimeters and residential areas: Mitigate collision impact to protect pedestrians, particularly children.
Construction zones: Temporarily deploy lightweight polyethylene roller barriers to direct traffic flow and prevent unauthorised vehicle entry into worksites.
Motorways (speed limit ≥100 km/h): Select high-protection galvanised steel bollards with a diameter ≥25 cm.
Urban roads (speed limit ≤60 km/h): Opt for low-protection polyethylene bollards to balance performance and cost.
Heavy traffic sections (≥30% lorry traffic): Select steel rollers with reinforced posts to withstand significant impact forces.
Light traffic sections (predominantly passenger cars): Polyethylene or composite rollers suffice, reducing procurement costs.
Coastal areas (high salt spray): Opt for composite rollers or steel components with enhanced anti-corrosion coatings.
Cold regions (frequent freeze-thaw cycles): Employ elastic connectors to prevent structural damage from material contraction and expansion.
Remote areas (difficult maintenance): Select long-life steel roller barriers to reduce replacement frequency.
Temporary construction zones: Employ lightweight, easily dismantled polyethylene drum barriers for repeated reuse.
Drum barrier systems, leveraging their unique rotational energy-absorption principle, advanced structural design, and multiple advantages, have become a key direction for upgrading road safety infrastructure. They not only safeguard the lives of drivers and passengers but also reduce operational costs for road authorities, achieving a ‘win-win for safety and efficiency’.
Intelligent Upgrades: Integrating collision sensors to transmit real-time accident alerts to traffic management centres.
Eco-Friendly Material Development: Creating biodegradable composite rollers to further minimise environmental impact.
Modular Optimisation: Streamlining installation procedures to enhance construction efficiency and adapt to more complex scenarios.
Should you have road construction projects, safety enhancement plans, or bulk procurement requirements, our specialist team stands ready to assist. We deliver bespoke drum barrier solutions encompassing material selection, design planning, and on-site installation guidance, backed by a five-year product warranty. This ensures your road safety investment remains both efficient and enduring.
