The new Safe-Stop™ 180° Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) that tilts 180° in the center to a total system height of just 6’10” (2.o8 m) for easier transport, storage and low underpasses, has been introduced by Energy Absorption Systems, Inc. to provide maximum protection with minimal length, height and weight.

The system meets NCHRP 350 Test Level 3 criteria for protection at design impact speeds up to 62 mph (100Km/h), and is ideal for high-speed applications .
The unit attaches to existing Safe-Stop™ TMA mounts for standard and tailgate operations, and is over 50 percent reusable after typical design impacts.

“This new tilt feature on the Safe-Stop™ 180° TMA is significant for several reasons,” explains Quixote Transportation Safety Senior Vice President of Marketing Mike Dreznes. “One way to add higher speed protection to a TMA is by adding length to the unit. While this provides wanted and needed protection for high-speed applications, the downside is that the added length and height make transport and storage more difficult because of size, bounce and vibration.”

“Our ability to tilt the system at the center so that the two energy absorbing cartridges literally stack on top of one another allows us to provide work vehicles and their drivers maximum protection with minimal length, width and height complications.”

The unit can be folded for storage or transport with the push of a button. When activated, the two lightweight aluminum energy-absorbing cartridges (that are contained in a reusable steel support frame) fold at the center, reducing the total system’s up position height to just 6’10” (2.08 km). When tilted to a full 180°, the unit’s length from the back of the truck is reduced from 14’5” (4.93 m) to 7’10” (2.39 m). Its width remains the same at 7’9” (2.63 m).

The new Safe-Stop 180° Tilt System has been road tested over 2,500 miles (4,000 km).

The Safe-Stop line of TMAs from Energy Absorption, Inc. is the culmination of years of TMA engineering and in-field experience. When impacted, the unit’s steel support frame collapses and the aluminum cartridges crush to absorb the energy of impact, bring the impacting vehicle to a controlled stop.