Drivers depend on numerous safety devices to ensure that they reach their destination. A major safety component of most highways is the metal guardrail barrier. A standard guardrail works by absorbing the energy of a moving vehicle. The guardrail collapses and takes the brunt of the impact, reducing the damage to the vehicle and the potential injuries of the driver.
However, an investigation into Trinity Industries, the manufacturer of the ET-Plus guardrail system, found that their guardrails could increase the chances for driver injury. The probe found that Trinity guardrails used a faulty design that could lead to severe injuries, or even fatalities, when struck by a vehicle. The investigation also found that the company lied about the flaws in Trinity guardrails in order to secure funding from federal and state highway departments.