VIDEO: The Little Secret to Secure New York's Guardrails

There are secrets everywhere on New York State roads... you just need to know where to look.

It can be easy to take common things for granted, but the truth is that hard work (and a few trade secrets) go into building even the most common items local drivers see every day, including the thousands of miles of guardrails.

There's one detail that can't be overlooked when installing important guardrails on New York roadways (NYSDOT via Facebook)

Impressive New York Driving Statistics

There are over 11 million licensed drivers in New York State that travel on more than 114,000 miles of public roads. Everyday, their friends and neighbors are working hard to get them to their destination safely.

Safety Measures on New York Roads

Nearly every commuter has witnessed lanes being painted or potholes being fixed (and even toll booths being removed), but there's another safety measure that often flies under the radar.

Many New Yorkers may be surprised to learn exactly how deep guard rail pots are inserted into the ground (NYSDOT via Facebook)

Installing Guardrails on New York Highways

"[Guardrails] aren’t just metal fences—they’re critical safety barriers designed to redirect vehicles away from dangerous obstacles", the New York State Department of Transportation recently shared on Facebook. The accompanying video (below) show exactly how secure the system actually is.

The "Secret" to Installing Secure Guardrails

The NYSDOT employee shown in the video seems to be using a pneumatic post driver to insert the posts deep in the ground - the secret to success if they're expected to stop large, heavy vehicles. In fact, most safety posts are far more powerful at stopping vehicles than the public might expect (below).

New Yorkers who are used to bad drivers could argue that guardrails are the only thing keeping many cars from becoming off-road vehicles. Check out which local roads might benefit the most from more safety precautions below.