Collapsible highway barrier

A highway barrier for protecting an impacting vehicle from colliding with a roadside structure positioned alongside a roadway, said barrier comprising:

• a band pivotably secured to the roadside structure;
• a beam mounted to the band to extend axially alongside the roadway such that the beam is pivotable about the roadside structure;
• a plurality of fender panels, each defining an axial slot, said fender panels extending generally axially in overlapping configuration;
• a plurality of fasteners, each extending through a respective one of the slots and secured into a forward end of an adjacent rearward fender panel to allow the fender panels to telescope together in response to an axial force;
• means for securing a rearward one of the fender panels to the beam;
• a plurality of panel supports, each secured to the forward end of a respective one of the fender panels;
• and
• a plurality of slip bases, each secured between a respective one of the panel supports and a support surface, said slip bases oriented to allow axial movement of the panel supports while preventing lateral movement of the panel supports;
• said slots and fasteners positioned to cause the fender panels to move away from the roadway as the fender panels collapse following telescoping;
• said beam and band effective to swing the impacting vehicle away from the roadway.