A type of guardrail used on Missouri highways poses safety risk

Intro:	A new study shows that thousands of guardrails on Missouri highways put public safety at risk.
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Wrap: The Missouri Department of Transportation said a certain type of guardrail used on highways can cause injuries and even death.

The statement came after a study by the non-profit organization The Safety Institute showed that ET-Plus guardrails with blunt ends aren't absorbing impact like they should and can impale cars.

Safety Institute president Sean Kane said the state should be looking into these rails.

Actuality:	KANE2.WAV
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Description: "So they raise some concerns and it seems to validate that there's real reason to be looking at these guard rail end terminals and their performance in the field."

A statement by MoDot said they don't know where the rails are and how many are in use but they are studying the highways.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.

Intro:	Thousands of Missouri guardrails put public safety at risk according to a recent study.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The study by the non-profit organization The Safety Institute showed that ET-Plus guardrails with blunt ends aren't absorbing impact properly and can impale cars.

These guardrails can cause injury and death, and are used on multiple Missouri highways.

Institute president Sean Kane said these rails are significantly more dangerous than older models.

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Description: "What we learned is that the ET-Plus was was showing a three times greater fatality rate in impacts and almost a two times increase in injury rates in the impacts compared to the predecssor."

A MoDOT statement said they aren't sure how many are in Missouri and where they are, but they are studying the highways.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.

Intro:	Thousands of Missouri guardrails can cause injury or fatality on impact according to a new study.
RunTime:	0:45
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The study by The Safety Institute showed that ET-Plus guardrails with blunt ends aren't properly absorbing impact and can spear cars that run into it.

This type of guardrail is used on multiple Missouri highways.

Institute president Sean Kane said the state and federal government should be doing more to look at these rails.

Actuality:	KANE3.WAV
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Description: "The study was really a response to the lack of response from the feds and also from the states. We wanted we wanted to be a catalyst to get them to examine how these end terminals are really performing."

A Missouri Department of Transportation statement said they don't know exactly how many of these rails are in use and where they are, but they are looking into it.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.