A stationary system designed to keep people or vehicles from falling off the bridge is called:

• A. Guard rail
• B. Expansion joint
• C. Unseating prevention device
• D. Bridge collapse prevention device

Answer: (A)

Guard rails provide edge protection on bridges. They are stationary barriers fixed along the bridge edge to prevent people or vehicles from leaving the deck and falling off. Their purpose is specifically to act as a physical barrier and to withstand impacts enough to keep traffic safely on the roadway. Expansion joints, by contrast, are gaps that allow the deck to move with temperature changes and structural movement, not barriers. The other terms aren’t standard edge-safety components and don’t describe a barrier designed to stop falls.