Breakaway Sign Posts: An Introduction For Business Owners
Whether a vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed or at a slower pace, the sudden impact of running into a sign which is unyielding in form can cause great damage and injury. As a business owner who maintains your parking area and the lead-in stretch of pavement to your business, you should make sure the signs you erect going forward and the ones you already have in place have breakaway posts. If you are new to the idea of breakaway sign posts, it is likely you have some questions. Here are a few of the most common questions about breakaway sign posts and the answers you need to know.
What exactly are breakaway sign posts?
Breakaway sign posts are usually designed in a U-channel shape in which one section of the sign post slips into the lower section. While the two sections of the post are connected with hardware, upon impact, the sign would bend or break at this weakened point, which would greatly reduce the severity of impact if the sign were to be hit by a vehicle. There are a few other forms of breakaway sign posts, such as the V-lock channel design, but the U-channel shape is the more common.
Should all business and parking signage be placed on breakaway posts?
On roadways, both public and privately owned, it is mandated that sign posts be designed in either a yielding or breakaway form when located in the zones where impact would be a possibility during an accident. While the same restrictions may not apply to your parking area, it is a measure of safety for vehicular travelers on your property for you to go ahead and use breakaway sign posts.
If a breakaway sign post is broken during an accident, can it be reused?
In many cases, the breakaway sign post can be reused after an impact or accident. The sign post itself is technically not what usually breaks upon impact, but the hardware that keeps the two sections of the sign connected. Therefore as long as the two post sections are not bent or otherwise damaged, you may be able to simply buy replacement hardware to re-attach the post pieces together.
All in all, making the change to breakaway sign posts in your parking area as a business owner is a smart way to keep your customers protected in the event of an accident. For more information about breakaway sign posts, contact a supplier near you.
