When we drive on a highway or highway, it is common to experience a feeling of immersing ourselves in a state of monotony. The repetitive sequence of asphalt, signs and similar landscapes becomes a constant throughout the kilometers traveled with our car.
Among the elements that accompany us during the different phases of our journey, there is a common denominator in the form of a bush that emerges from the medians that divide the road in two directions. This is the oleander, scientifically known as nerium oleander, a thicket that can reach 6 meters in height and is characterized by having evergreen foliage throughout the year.
The function of this poisonous shrub that stands out for its large and showy flowers is not only ornamental as many drivers believe. Due to their density and height, oleanders play an essential role in the configuration and functionality of highways.
They are highly appreciated bushes by those responsible for road safety because, apart from the fact that they are economical and do not require a large budget to purchase them, they also do not require maintenance. They grow quickly without needing to be watered.
Being strategically planted in the medians of highways and highways, oleanders play a crucial role as a kind of natural barrier that separates the directions of travel. Thanks to their lush vegetation, they exert a cushioning effect that is especially significant in cases of vehicles exiting the lane towards the median.
In situations in which a car leaves its lane and threatens to invade the opposite direction, the presence of oleanders as bushes would become a breaking factor. Although they cannot avoid the situation completely, they could help prevent the vehicle from abruptly continuing in its trajectory, helping to maintain a certain degree of control. In fact, by absorbing part of the vehicle’s kinetic energy, the oleanders – also known as baladres – help mitigate the effects of the impact.
Oleanders, on the other hand, play an additional role of great importance on roads. They contribute significantly to road safety by performing a fundamental function: mitigating glare from vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
Due to their characteristics and their arrangement in the medians, they act as a kind of natural screen that reduces the intensity of headlights and lights coming from cars in the opposite direction. This effect, often underestimated, is essential to reduce eye fatigue and improve drivers’ concentration, creating a safer and more comfortable environment on two-way roads.
However, the Mapfre Foundation, through its publication Circula Seguro, warns that on the margins and medians of roads, the thickets or bushes that accompany the oleanders could be considered dangerous when their branches acquire a certain robustness. He claims that various studies show that when driving at more than 50 km/h, the impact of any vehicle against fixed parts of the road, even if they are natural, causes significant damage, not only material but also personal.
It also highlights that the rigidity of the oleanders would not have the desired level of containment if they are close to the edge of the road or are not protected with the metal side safety barriers. Likewise, he adds that the branches of the oleanders could cause more damage in the event of an impact and that the lack of maintenance can cause them to obscure vertical traffic signs.
Finally, warn that the roots of oleanders, when they grow, can affect the asphalt soil, creating speed bumps on the shoulders and, consequently, be dangerous for driving.
