These truck-mounted crash barriers were created due to drivers' inability to stop looking at their phones.
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Were you one of those kids in elementary school fascinated by cars, pondering aloud, “If bumpers are so effective in crashes, why don’t we use them everywhere?” If you're like me, you had an adult who patiently explained that doing so would waste taxpayer money, given that most drivers are generally safe and sensible.
Fast forward to 2026, and we’re attaching pinball bumpers to the backs of dump trucks to prevent people from crashing into the scene of an already occurred accident. These aren’t theoretical concepts; they’re real and, as highlighted by our friends at Jalopnik, they’re being implemented in the real world. Have we mentioned recently that the future isn’t great?
This device is known as the Scorpion II and is produced by TrafFix Devices. So it’s a bumper that attaches to the back of a truck. Sounds trivial, right? However, as an added bonus, these barriers meet MASH standards (not the television show). This indicates that they perform similarly to fixed barriers. Essentially, it’s akin to having a full median divider affixed to the rear of your vehicle.
“The Scorpion II TMA features strut and cartridge sections that are interconnected on a support frame,” TrafFix explained. “The curved side rails are constructed from corrosion-resistant aluminum tubes, providing full-width impact protection along the entire unit. The side rails are designed to redirect wayward vehicles away from the rear of the truck (coffin corner). Other manufacturers’ crash attenuators offer minimal to no side-angle impact protection.”
“The aluminum boxes are filled with a moisture-proof aluminum honeycomb material,” TrafFix added. “These boxes, in conjunction with the curved side rails, absorb the energy from an impacting vehicle. The aluminum boxes are coated in a bright yellow powder finish for enhanced durability.”
TrafFix states that you’ll need a truck weighing at least 15,000 pounds to install the Scorpion II. This weight ensures minimal movement during an impact. The trailers can also be fitted with monitoring equipment and illuminated signage—just in case you want to give distracted drivers something other than their phones to look at just before a collision. Stay safe out there, everyone.
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These truck-mounted crash barriers were created due to drivers' inability to stop looking at their phones.
We're so poor at managing this that we require barriers to prevent people from colliding with the crash that has already occurred.