[watch] Cable Median Barrier Just Prevented A Serious Crash In Minnesota

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They've been around in Minnesota for over a decade but these devices once again showed their usefulness in preventing another serious crash on a Minnesota highway.

You've probably seen them along the shoulder of various highways across the Gopher State and didn't give them much thought. But these median cable barriers are incredibly helpful in preventing serious crashes, as a new video from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) just proved.

According to MnDOT, these barriers can reduce crashes by nearly 95 percent. They were first installed in the Bold North back in 2004, and since then, it's been estimated that they have saved approximately 80 lives so far.

Here's how cable median barriers work:

Instead of concrete, these barriers are made of three or four steel cables strung on posts. When a car hits the barrier, the posts break and the cables flex, absorbing much of a crash’s kinetic energy. This redirects the vehicle along the median, preventing a cross-median or head-on crash.

Plus, these cable median barriers are cheaper and easier for MnDOT to replace after a crash. And, they really do work!

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Check out the following MnDOT video posted on the MN Crime Police/Fire/EMS Twitter page. It shows a car (a grey Ford Mustang) careening out of control along Highway 36 at Snelling Avenue between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The car slams into the cable median barrier, which works as it was designed and absorbs the car's energy, slowing it down and preventing it from heading into the oncoming lane of traffic. 'No injuries reported,' the post said.

Check out the video below, as well as an older video of median cable barriers on the job preventing other crashes here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And speaking of driving and highways, keep scrolling to check out the Must-Drive Roads in Every State-- including here in Minnesota!

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