In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, an
end treatment of a guardrail safety system includes a terminal portion of
a guardrail beam that has a downstream end and an upstream end. The
terminal portion of the guardrail beam slopes from a first vertical
height appropriate for redirecting an errant vehicle to a second vertical
height proximate the surface of the ground at an upstream end of the
terminal portion of the guardrail beam. A flattening portion forms a
channel through which the terminal portion of the guardrail beam is
disposed. A vertical dimension of the channel is greater at a downstream
end of the flattening portion than at an upstream end of the flattening
portion. An impact plate is connected to the flattening portion for
engaging an impacting vehicle at an end of said guardrail beam. During an
end-on impact, the impact plate and the flattening portion are advanced
longitudinally along the guardrail in a downstream direction by the
vehicle. The advancement of the impact plate and flattening portion
dissipate energy to decelerate the impacting vehicle. As downstream
portions of the guardrail beam are forced into the flattening portion,
the guardrail is flattened vertically.