Video: Pros and Cons of Cable Median Barriers

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OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- If you’ve driven along Highway 82 in Mississippi, you’ve seen the cable barriers dividing the west and east bound lanes.

The cables are there to keep drivers from crossing the median and for protection when there’s a crash, however, the barriers are also a hindrance to law enforcement and first responders.

It can take several life saving minutes for help to arrive.

First responders have to find an exit and then go back around the accident.

But that’s not the only problem, State troopers say these barriers make drivers believe they have the green light to speed.

“I think the fastest we’ve had out here lately is 168,” said Trooper First Class Greg Mitchell.

There are very few median crossover locations. This means if a state trooper catches someone speeding they can’t immediately turn around to write a ticket.

“The public sees that we have trouble getting across them while they’re speeding and it lets them drive a little more aggressively,” said Mitchell.

However, troopers said this doesn’t mean they won’t catch you.

“We’ve got a few extra tools that we like to use, we’re utilizing one of our lazars, we have radars at the front and back of our vehicles that detect speeds coming towards and away from us,” Mitchell said. ”

Patrolman also have another option they use to catch speeders, they call it, speed detail.

“Basically what we’ll do is set up in between the cable barriers, the cables are lines up on the east and west bound lanes dividing those medians, and what we’ll do is pretty much just pick a location that we’ve been having issues with,” said Mitchell.
Now although these cables can be a hassle for law enforcement and first responders, however they do serve a purpose.

“Without a doubt, without a doubt, they do what they’re intended to do, which is prevent median crossover and lane departure crashes,” said Mitchell.

MHP said the pros of the cable barriers outweigh the cons because they help save lives.

From Oktibbeha county, to the Alabama state line, there are  39 miles of cable barriers.