SCDOT’s statement on X-Lite guardrail end terminals

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SCDOT, like other states, utilizes the national crash testing requirements adopted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for roadside safety hardware, like guardrails.  FHWA issued a safety eligibility for the X-Lite guardrail end-terminal in September 2011 which remains in effect and was revisited by FHWA as recently as May of 2017.  Based on the September 2011 safety eligibility letter, SCDOT approved the X-Lite end terminal for use on the State Highway System.   Due to the recent controversy surrounding the X-Lite end-terminal, SCDOT has suspended the installation of any new  X-Lite devices on the state’s highways. The agency is monitoring the additional crash research testing performed on these controversial devices and FHWA guidance to determine the disposition of the existing devices that are in place today.   Due to pending lawsuits concerning this product, SCDOT will make no further comment about this matter.   Submitter via email Kudelka, Robert P., KudelkaRP@scdot.org