A crash attenuation system having an improved, controlled axle release mechanism for a truck trailer mounted attenuator. The axle release mechanism has an axle release insert disposed within an outer bursting tube which is urged downstream by a mandrel resulting in controlled shearing of the fasteners passing through different size elongated slots in the insert and retaining the insert within the bursting tube. Differential shear forces cause the fasteners to shear at different times as the insert is urged downstream resulting in a controlled release of the breakaway axle assembly.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an autonomous mobile attenuator system for mitigating vehicular collisions. The system includes one or more mobile attenuators that receive data indicating a need for deployment from one or more sensors. The one or more mobile attenuators perform a collision risk assessment on the received data to determine a probability of a potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators determine the probability of the potential vehicle collision exceeds a predetermined risk threshold value. The one or more mobile attenuators determine a predicted location for the potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators proceed to the predicted location to mitigate the potential vehicle collision.

A driverless traffic management vehicle has a control system having a controller interfacing steering and drive interfaces for control of respective steering and drive subsystems of the vehicle. The vehicle also has an impact attenuator and actuator therefor for configuring the attenuator in deployed and stowed configurations. The control system comprises at least one driverless mode controller operably controlling the steering and drive interfaces for controlling the vehicle in at least one of follow mode, remote-control and autonomous driverless mode of operation. To control traffic, the vehicle may be driven to a roadside location and set in the at least one driverless mode of operation to control the steering and drive interfaces accordingly.

Right and left safety module embodiments are designed to be installed in openings located midway along right and left sides of flatbed trucks. The modules include a standing platform and an intermediate platform. While the truck is being driven alongside a roadway work zone, a worker standing on the module's standing platform either 1) moves traffic delineators one at a time from the intermediate platform, and then places the delineators at spaced locations alongside the roadway work zone, or 2) removes traffic delineators one at a time from spaced locations alongside the roadway work zone, and then places the delineators onto the intermediate platform. Vertically movable safety rails and pivotal safety gates of the modules prevent falls from the modules of workers standing on the standing platform.

Embodiments of safety trucks incorporate multiple connection points to which a variety of attachments, or combinations of attachments, can be releasably and interchangeably coupled to enable their use with increased effectiveness to safeguard roadway construction, maintenance and repair personnel as they perform tasks within or relatively near to roadway workzones and worksites. Also, methods of operation of the safety truck embodiments enhance their ability to guard and protect roadway construction, maintenance and repair personnel while they work within or relatively near to roadway workzone and worksite locations.

The present invention is directed to differing embodiments of safety trailers, which have first and second platforms and a safety wall positioned therebetween. The platforms and safety wall define an area protected from vehicular incursions.

A safety truck includes: an over-cab storage rack to store nested stacks of barrel-type safety barriers (traffic delineators); a man basket (safety module) mounted within an inset formed in a flat bed of the safety truck along the left or right side thereof to provide a support platform below the flat bed to enable personnel to ergonomically place the barrel-type safety barriers on a roadway; a sign cage mounted to the flat bed to store components of warning signs; a display board that includes speed detection radar to detect a speed of a vehicle approaching the safety truck, at least one display device to display a message readable from behind the safety truck, and a camera to capture an image of the approaching vehicle; and/or a truck-mounted attenuator (TMA) connected to the rear of the safety truck to absorb kinetic energy of the approaching vehicle colliding with the TMA.

The present invention is directed to differing embodiments of safety trailers, which have first and second platforms and a safety wall positioned therebetween. The platforms and safety wall define an area protected from vehicular incursions.

A safety trailer is shown including first and second platforms, at least one of said first and second platforms having an axle and wheels attached thereto; a plurality of interconnected wall sections positioned between and connected to the first and second platforms, the plurality of wall sections defining a protected work area on a side of the trailer; and wherein the trailer supports a ballast member, the ballast member being positioned near a first side of the trailer and the wall sections near a second, opposing side of the trailer, the ballast member offsetting, at least partially, a weight of the plurality of wall sections.

A safety trailer has semi-tractor hitches at both ends and a safety wall that is fixed to one side of the trailer. That side, however, can be changed to the right or left side of the road, depending on the end to which the truck attaches. A caboose can be attached at the end of the trailer opposite the tractor to provide additional lighting and impact protection. Optionally, the trailer can be equipped with overhead protection, lighting, ventilation, onboard hydraulics, compressors, generators and other equipment, as well as related fuel, water, storage and restroom facilities and other amenities.