The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) definition of “Breakaway” refers to crash-tested devices that break or yield upon impact. FHWA guidelines require the specification of Breakaway poles and bases meeting rigorous impact testing to mitigate the potential severity of crashes, providing a safer outcome in the event of a collision.

Accepted Bases Accepted Decorative Bases Accepted Direct Buried

HAPCO Leads the Industry in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Accepted Breakaway Options.

Protecting What’s Important

Breakaway Pole and bases provide a safer outcome in the event of a collision. During an automobile collision, standard roadway lighting poles and bases stay planted in the ground, allowing the vehicle to absorb a sizable amount of the energy. Hapco breakaway poles and bases fracture at ground level and yield out of the way of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to pass through the pole and not absorb as much energy, reducing the severity of impact from the crash. 

The FHWA accepts certain poles and bases for use on breakaway applications under provisions adopted from the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals. Testing parameters used in determining acceptable breakaway performance are found in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features.