Eliminating cross-median fatalities: statewide installation of median cable barrier in Missouri

High speeds and ever-increasing traffic volumes contribute to the loss of thousands of lives each year nationwide. The Missouri Department of Transportation (DOT) identified cross-median crashes on interstate highways as a category to address. Missouri DOT decided to install median cable barriers on its interstate highways. These have performed successfully, with the cable catching 95% of vehicles entering the median. They were determined to be a valuable safety engineering tool in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the state's most heavily traveled roads.