A recent crash into a median barrier on State Highway 2 near Bethlehem is showing how effective flexible road safety barriers are at catching vehicles before they hit something harder – like a pole, tree or oncoming car.

Flexible road safety barriers are installed down the middle of a road to prevent head-on collisions or along the side of the road to help stop run-off-road crashes.

A police spokesperson say one person received minor injuries after a vehicle went into the median barrier on SH2 between Bethlehem Road and the Waihi Road off-ramp at about 2.30pm, on Friday, May 26.

The east bound lane was partially blocked while the vehicle was removed from the scene.

The scene of the crash on SH2 near Bethlehem. Photo: Supplied.

James, a South Islander, recently wrote to Waka Kotahi about his experience, demonstrating the life savers these barriers are.

Last year, James was travelling along the Christchurch motorway at a speed of 100km/hr. On his journey, he began travelling towards the centreline, where he struck the flexible road safety barrier.

"The barrier acted as it should, preventing James from crossing the centreline—avoiding a head-on crash with traffic on the other side of the road, allowing him and the others on the road that day, to get to where they were going safely," says a Waka Kotahi NZTA spokesperson.

Here's how James describes the crash:

‘Hitting the barrier at 100km/h was very different to what I perceived it would be like. The first thing I noticed was that the car did not bounce off the barrier.

"The car appeared to hug the wire cables and stabilize the movement of the car. The vertical posts broke into small pieces and quickly fell to the road.

"While being hugged by the barrier, this gave me enough time to take control of the event and attempt to direct the car to the side of the road once I had washed off enough speed to do so safely.

"There appeared to be little to no impact on my body when I collided with the barrier. Had the barrier not been present I would have been involved in a head on collision with a line of cars heading towards the city."

James says there is no doubt in his mind that the barrier saved him from injury that morning.

"Had the barrier not been in place, I, and several other people that morning, would have experienced an event that would have changed their lives.

"I am thankful for the barriers that have been place on the motorways and roads around New Zealand."