Design, Testing, and Safety Performance of Movable Guardrail Systems: A PRISMA-Based Systematic Review

Movable guardrail systems are increasingly used in work zones, reversible lanes, and temporary traffic operations; however, evidence on their crashworthiness, material performance, and operational reliability remains dispersed across multiple design typologies and regulatory frameworks. This PRISMA-compliant systematic review synthesizes 78 studies involving full-scale crash tests, validated finite-element simulations, field performance evaluations, and compliance evaluations under MASH, EN 1317, NCHRP 350, and AS/NZS 3845.1. The findings indicate that modular rigid barriers reliably achieve TL-3/TL-4 performance when joint alignment and foundation conditions are properly controlled; semi-rigid steel systems provide a practical balance between containment capacity and redeployability, but remain sensitive to post spacing and connector detailing; and flexible polymer systems are best suited for short-duration, low-speed applications. Material-focused research highlights the advantages of UHPC section refinement, high-strength steels, and hybrid FRP–metal configurations in enhancing energy absorption without exceeding occupant-risk thresholds. Across studies, connection integrity consistently emerges as the dominant factor governing redirection stability and working-width performance. Field evaluations confirm satisfactory operational performance in constrained environments, while life-cycle assessments identify refurbishment intervals and mass-related logistics as major cost contributors. This review provides an integrated, evidence-based synthesis and a structured engineering foundation for advancing next-generation movable barrier designs, testing protocols, and deployment strategies.